Interface systems and methods for accessing stored data

• US 8,266,397 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Prahlad, Anand, DeMeno, Randy, Schwartz, Jeremy A., McGuigan, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Namazi, Mehdi
• Application Number:
  US13/328,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20120089800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 270 Days
• Field of Search: 707/999.203, 707/999.204, 711/161, 711/162, 711/163
• US Class Current: 711/161
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/185 Hierarchical storage management [HSM] systems, e.g. file migration or policies thereof details of archiving G06F16/11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2477 Temporal data queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/026 using e-messaging for transporting management information, e.g. email, instant messaging or chat
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A modular data and storage management system. The system includes a time variance interface that provides for storage into a storage media of data that is received over time. The time variance interface of the modular data and storage management system provides for retrieval, from the storage media, of an indication of the data corresponding to a user specified date. The retrieved indication of the data provides a user with an option to access specific information relative to the data, such as content of files that are included in the data.

Claims

1. A method for accessing electronic data on a user specified date, the method comprising:

accessing with one or more computer processors, data associated with one or more folders of electronic mail data stored in a storage media;

displaying a first folder hierarchy of the one or more folders of the electronic mail data as of a first date;

receiving a second date that predates the first date; and

upon receiving the second date, displaying a second folder hierarchy of the one or more folders as of the second date, wherein the second folder hierarchy has at least one folder that is different than the first folder hierarchy.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying one or more electronic mail messages associated with the one or more folders of the first folder hierarchy.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein upon receiving the second date, displaying one or more electronic mail messages associated with one or more folder of the second folder hierarchy.

4. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising indexing the electronic mail data according to the date the electronic mail data was originally received.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing in storage media, index information of the electronic mail data; and

storing in a second storage media, substantive data that corresponds to the index information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the second date comprises receiving the selection of the date from a user through a graphical user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising providing through a user interface a usage history of a selected one of a plurality of electronic mail messages.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a user interface comprises a scroll bar that displays additional history of an electronic message.

9. A system for accessing electronic mail data on a user specified date, the method comprising:

a storage media that stores information about one or more folders of electronic mail data;

a user interface executing on one or more computer processors, wherein the user interface is configured to display a first folder hierarchy of the one or more folders of the electronic mail, data as of a first date and in response to receiving a second date that predates the first date, the user interface is configured to display a second folder hierarchy of the one or more folders as of the second date, wherein the second folder hierarchy has at least one folder that is different than the first folder hierarchy.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the user interface is further configured to display one or more electronic mail messages associated with the one or more folders as of the first date.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the user interface, upon receiving the second date, is configured to display one or more electronic mail messages associated with the one or more folders as of the second date.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein a first subset of the storage media is configured to store indexing information about the electronic messages, and wherein a second subset of the storage media is configured to store substantive data about the indexing information.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the interface displays a usage history of a selected one of a plurality of electronic mail messages.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising an index of the electronic mail data according to the date the electronic mail data was originally received.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the user interface provides a usage history of a selected one of a plurality of electronic mail messages.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the user interface comprises a scroll bar that displays additional history of an electronic message.