Systems and methods for classifying and transferring information in a storage network

• US 8,285,964 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2011
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Prahlad, Anand, Schwartz, Jeremy A., Ngo, David, Brockway, Brian, Muller, Marcus S.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HIEP T
• Application Number:
  US13/188,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20110276664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 711/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1435 using file system or storage system metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1451 by selection of backup contents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1461 Backup scheduling policy
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1466 to make the backup process non-disruptive
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1471 involving logging of persistent data for recovery
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/11 File system administration, e.g. details of archiving or snapshots file system backup G06F11/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/119 Details of migration of file systems migration mechanisms in storage systems G06F3/0647
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/122 using management policies backup systems G06F11/1446; file migration policies for HSM systems G06F16/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/134 Distributed indices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/14 Details of searching files based on file metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/148 File search processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/16 File or folder operations, e.g. details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1727 Details of free space management performed by the file system saving storage space on storage systems G06F3/0608; management of blocks in storage devices G06F3/064
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1734 Details of monitoring file system events, e.g. by the use of hooks, filter drivers, logs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2228 Indexing structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 : Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/80 : Database-specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0604 : Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 : by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0649 : Lifecycle management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0685 : Hybrid storage combining heterogeneous device types, e.g. hierarchical storage, hybrid arrays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 : Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 : Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 : Archiving or backup

Abstract

Systems and methods for data classification to facilitate and improve data management within an enterprise are described. The disclosed systems and methods evaluate and define data management operations based on data characteristics rather than data location, among other things. Also provided are methods for generating a data structure of metadata that describes system data and storage operations. This data structure may be consulted to determine changes in system data rather than scanning the data files themselves.

Claims

1. A system for identifying data based on entities associated with the data, comprising:

an entity definition component that defines one or more entities;

a data identification component that locates data and determines one or more entities associated with the data;

a data classification component that determines at least one characteristic of the data related to patterns describing interactions with the one or more entities associated with the data; and

a metabase component that stores metadata and responds to requests to perform data storage operations based on the metadata.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the entity definition component comprises a Microsoft Active Directory.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the entity definition component defines one or more users of the system.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the entity definition component defines one or more groups of users of the system and the groups are based on job functions within an organization.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the entity definition component defines one or more groups of users of the system.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the data identification component determines an entity that created the data.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the data identification component determines one or more entities that accessed the data.

8. A method for identifying data based on entities associated with the data, comprising:

defining or receiving definitions of one or more entities;

locating data and determining one or more entities associated with the located data,

wherein the entities are associated with rights to access the located data;

determining at least one characteristic of the located data,

wherein the at least one characteristic is related to patterns describing interactions with the one or more entities associated with the data;

storing metadata associated with the located data and the one or more entities; and

responding to requests to perform data storage operations based on the stored metadata and the definitions of the one or more entities.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein defining or receiving definitions of one or more entities comprises accessing a Microsoft Active Directory.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein defining or receiving definitions of one or more entities comprises defining one or more users of the system.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein defining or receiving definitions of one or more entities comprises defining one or more groups of users, wherein the groups are based on job functions within an organization.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein defining or receiving definitions of one or more entities comprises defining one or more groups of users of the system.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein defining or receiving definitions of one or more entities comprises determining an entity that created the located data.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein defining or receiving definitions of one or more entities comprises determining one or more entities that accessed the located data.

15. One or more computer-readable media storing instructions for identifying data based on entities associated with the data, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one computer, cause the computer to perform steps, comprising:

defining or receiving definitions of one or more entities;

locating data and determining one or more entities associated with the located data,

wherein the entities are associated with rights to access the located data;

determining at least one characteristic of the located data,

wherein the at least one characteristic is related to patterns describing interactions with the one or more entities associated with the data;

storing metadata associated with the located data and the one or more entities; and

responding to requests to perform data storage operations based on the stored metadata and the definitions of the one or more entities.

16. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15 wherein defining or receiving definitions of one or more entities comprises defining one or more users of the system.

17. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15 wherein defining or receiving definitions of one or more entities comprises defining one or more groups of users, wherein the groups are based on job functions within an organization.

18. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15 wherein defining or receiving definitions of one or more entities comprises defining one or more groups of users of the system.

19. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15 wherein defining or receiving definitions of one or more entities comprises determining an entity that created the located data.

20. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15 wherein defining or receiving definitions of one or more entities comprises determining one or more entities that accessed the located data.