Storing a variable number of instances of data objects
First Claim
1. A system for storing multiple instances of a data object in a data storage network, wherein the data storage network includes data storage devices coupled via a computer network, and wherein the computer network also couples to a computer storing a primary copy of data that includes a first set of N number of the same data objects, the system comprising:
- multiple data storage devices, wherein each of the multiple storage devices is distinct from, and coupled via the computer network to, the computer;
a variable instance database configured to store information associated with secondary copies of the data that includes a second set of reduced instanced data objects, wherein the information includes, for each data object of the reduced instanced data objects of the second set;
a unique identifier generated for the reduced instanced data object, anda number of instances of the reduced instanced data object, to store for the reduced instanced data object that is based on a classification assigned to the reduced instanced data object,wherein the number of instances of the reduced instanced data object is less than the N number of instances of the data object stored in the primary copy of data,wherein at least one of the reduced instanced data objects of the second set has multiple instances stored among the multiple storage devices, andwherein a pointer is stored in the variable instance database, to a storage location for each instance of the reduced instanced data object;
a secondary storage computing device that includes a processor and is configured to;
receive an indication to perform a storage operation on the primary copy of the data, including the first set of N number of the same data objects, where N is a number greater than 3,wherein the indication specifies that fewer than N instances but greater than one instance of the N number of data objects of the first set are to be stored, andwherein each of the data objects of the first set are to be stored on a distinct one of the multiple storage devices;
generate a unique identifier for each of the N number of data objects of the first set;
access the variable instance database and for the N number of data objects of the first set, use the generated unique identifier and the number of instances to store based on the classification assigned to the reduced instanced data object to determine the fewer than N instances but greater than one instance to store for the first set of N number of data objects; and
store the fewer than N instances of the data object but greater than one instance of the data object on the multiple storage devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described are systems and methods for storing a variable number of instances of data objects (e.g., 1, 2, 3, or up to N−1 instances, where N is the number of instances of the data object included in primary data) in secondary storage across a data storage network. In some examples, a system for storing a variable number of instances of data objects includes, one or more computing devices storing a set of data objects and multiple storage devices distinct from the one or more computing devices. Each of the multiple storage devices is configured to store at least a single instance of a data object. The system also includes a database configured to store information associated with the data objects. This information includes substantially unique identifiers for the data objects and, for each of the data objects, a number of instances of the data object stored on the multiple storage devices.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for storing multiple instances of a data object in a data storage network, wherein the data storage network includes data storage devices coupled via a computer network, and wherein the computer network also couples to a computer storing a primary copy of data that includes a first set of N number of the same data objects, the system comprising:
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multiple data storage devices, wherein each of the multiple storage devices is distinct from, and coupled via the computer network to, the computer; a variable instance database configured to store information associated with secondary copies of the data that includes a second set of reduced instanced data objects, wherein the information includes, for each data object of the reduced instanced data objects of the second set; a unique identifier generated for the reduced instanced data object, and a number of instances of the reduced instanced data object, to store for the reduced instanced data object that is based on a classification assigned to the reduced instanced data object, wherein the number of instances of the reduced instanced data object is less than the N number of instances of the data object stored in the primary copy of data, wherein at least one of the reduced instanced data objects of the second set has multiple instances stored among the multiple storage devices, and wherein a pointer is stored in the variable instance database, to a storage location for each instance of the reduced instanced data object; a secondary storage computing device that includes a processor and is configured to; receive an indication to perform a storage operation on the primary copy of the data, including the first set of N number of the same data objects, where N is a number greater than 3, wherein the indication specifies that fewer than N instances but greater than one instance of the N number of data objects of the first set are to be stored, and wherein each of the data objects of the first set are to be stored on a distinct one of the multiple storage devices; generate a unique identifier for each of the N number of data objects of the first set; access the variable instance database and for the N number of data objects of the first set, use the generated unique identifier and the number of instances to store based on the classification assigned to the reduced instanced data object to determine the fewer than N instances but greater than one instance to store for the first set of N number of data objects; and store the fewer than N instances of the data object but greater than one instance of the data object on the multiple storage devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium storing data and instructions, the data and instructions comprising:
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data including a variable instance database configured to store information associated with secondary copies of data that includes a second set of reduced instanced data objects, wherein the information includes, for each data object of the reduced instanced data objects of the second set; a unique identifier generated for the reduced instanced data object, and a number of instances of the reduced instanced data object, to store for the reduced instanced data object that is based on a classification assigned to the reduced instanced data object, wherein the number of instances of the reduced instanced data object is less than N number of instances of the data object stored in a primary copy of data, wherein at least one of the reduced instanced data objects of the second set has multiple instances stored among multiple storage devices, and wherein a pointer is stored in the variable instance database to a storage location for each instance of the reduced instanced data object; instructions to perform a method to be executed by at least one data processing device, the method comprising; receiving an indication to perform a storage operation on the primary copy of the data, including a first set of N number of the same data objects, where N is a number greater than 3, wherein the indication specifies that fewer than N instances but greater than one instance of the N number of data objects of the first set are to be stored, and wherein each of the data objects of the first set are to be stored on a distinct one of the multiple storage devices; generating a unique identifier for each of the N number of data objects of the first set; accessing the variable instance database and for the N number of data objects of the first set, using the generated unique identifier and the number of instances to store based on the classification assigned to the reduced instanced data object to determine the fewer than N instances but greater than one instance to store for the first set of N number of data objects; and storing the fewer than N instances of the data object but greater than one instance of the data object on the multiple storage devices. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-implementable method to reduce an amount of stored data, that the method:
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receiving an indication to perform a storage operation on a primary copy of data, including a first set of N number of data objects, where N is a number greater than 3, wherein the indication specifies that fewer than N instances but greater than one instance of the N number of data objects of the first set are to be stored, wherein each of the data objects of the first set are to be stored on a distinct one of multiple storage devices, and wherein the method employs a variable instance database configured to store information associated with secondary copies of data that includes a second set of reduced instanced data objects, wherein the information includes, for each data object of the reduced instanced data objects of the second set; a unique identifier generated for the reduced instanced data object, and a number of instances of the reduced instanced data object, to store for the reduced instanced data object that is based on a classification assigned to the reduced instanced data object, wherein the number of instances of the reduced instanced data object is less than N number of instances of the data object stored in the primary copy of data, wherein at least one of the reduced instanced data objects of the second set has multiple instances stored among multiple storage devices, and wherein a pointer is stored in the variable instance database to a storage location for each instance of the reduced instanced data object; generating a unique identifier for each of the N number of data objects of the first set; accessing the variable instance database and for the N number of data objects of the first set, using the generated unique identifier and the number of instances to store based on the classification assigned to the reduced instanced data object to determine the fewer than N instances but greater than one instance to store for the first set of N number of data objects; and storing the fewer than N instances of the data object but greater than one instance of the data object on the multiple storage devices. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification