System and method for containerized data storage and tracking

• US 7,584,227 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Gokhale, Parag, Kottomtharayil, Rajiv
• Primary Examiner(s): Corrielus; Jean M
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHONG H
• Application Number:
  US11/313,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20070162359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 707/103.Z, 707/104.1, 707/201, 707/204, 705/1, 720/626
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system for automatically aggregating data items and storage media and placing each in a container, based on a storage preferences. The items in the container are generally of a similar type or classification. The container may be tracked by the system instead of individually tracking and monitoring each of the data items and storage media contained in the container. The location of the container is tracked within the storage system and at offsite storage, for administrative, reporting or other uses.

Claims

1. A method for tracking a location of electronic data stored to removable media, the method comprising:

receiving a storage preference, the storage preference including a data characteristic and a retention characteristic;

identifying at least one data item that satisfies the data characteristic and the retention characteristic and identifying a first set of one or more storage media including the at least one data item;

copying the at least one data item from the first set of one or more storage media to a copy set of one or more removable media;

aggregating the copy set of one or more removable media in a container;

tracking a location of the container, wherein the container is not a vehicle, and wherein tracking the container includes updating an index associated with the copy set with data relating to a current location of the container and not tracking the copy set of one or more removable media individually, and wherein the tracking includes receiving data associated with the container, wherein the data is received from the container automatically; and

,

restoring the at least one data item, wherein the restoring comprises;

receiving a request to restore the at least one data item;

identifying both the container having the copy set on which is stored the at least one data item, and the location of the container;

providing a request for return of the container from the location; and

,

upon receiving the container and after at least one of the removable media in the copy set is loaded into a storage device, restoring the at least one data item.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein tracking the container comprises receiving tracking data from an offsite storage location;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein tracking the container comprises receiving tracking data based on a RFID tag affixed to the container;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting an alert to an administrator if the tracked location of the container changes.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the retention characteristic indicates that data satisfying the data characteristic is due for one or more of:

an export operation or a migration operation.

6. A method for tracking a location of data stored to a removable medium, the method comprising:

receiving one or more removable media from a plurality of storage devices;

receiving a storage preference, the storage preference including a data characteristic and a retention characteristic;

determining whether the one or more removable media includes data satisfying the storage preference; and

aggregating the one or more removable media in a container, wherein the container is not a vehicle;

tracking a location of the container, and not a location of the one or more removable media, individually, and wherein the tracking includes receiving data associated with the container, wherein the data is received from the container automatically; and

,

returning the one or more removable media, wherein the returning comprises;

receiving a request for data stored on the one or more removable media;

identifying both the container having the one or more removable media, and the location of the container; and

,

providing a request for return of the container with the one or more removable media from the location.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein tracking the container comprises updating an index with data relating to the current location of the container.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein tracking the container comprises receiving tracking data from an offsite storage location;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein tracking the container comprises receiving tracking data based on a RFID tag affixed to the container;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising transmitting an alert to an administrator if the tracked location of the container changes.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the retention characteristic indicates that data satisfying the data characteristic is due for one or both of:

an export operation or a migration operation.

12. A method for tracking data stored to a removable medium, the method comprising:

storing an identifier for a first data item, of a plurality of data items, in an index entry;

receiving a storage characteristic, the storage characteristic including a data classification and a retention characteristic;

determining that the first data item satisfies the storage characteristic;

updating the index entry for the first data item with data pointing to a container, wherein the container contains an aggregation of the first data item, and wherein the container is not a vehicle;

tracking a location of the container, wherein the tracking includes receiving data associated with the container, wherein the data is received from the container automatically;

updating the index entry for the location of the container;

receiving a request for data stored on the first data item;

identifying both the container having the first data item, and the location of the container;

providing a request for movement of the container with the first data item based on the request; and

,

again updating the index entry for a current location of the container.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the index entry is updated with tracking data based on a RFID tag affixed to the container;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the index entry is updated with tracking data received from an offsite storage location;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising transmitting an alert to an administrator if the tracked location of the container changes.

16. A tangible computer readable storage medium storing computer executable code, which when executed causes a computer to perform a method for tracking a location of electronic data stored to removable media, the method comprising:

receiving a storage preference, the storage preference including a data characteristic and a retention characteristic;

identifying at least one data item that satisfies the data characteristic and the retention characteristic and identifying a first set of one or more removable media including the at least one data item;

copying the at least one data item from the first set of one or more removable media to a copy set of one or more removable media;

aggregating the copy set of one or more removable media in a container, wherein the container is not a vehicle; and

tracking a location of the container, and wherein the tracking includes receiving data associated with the container, wherein the data is received from the container automatically;

identifying both the container having the copy set of the one or more removable media, and the location of the container; and

,

providing a request for return of the container with the one or more removable media from the location.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein tracking the container comprises updating an index with data relating to the current location of the container and not tracking the copy set of one or more removable media location individually.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein tracking the container comprises receiving tracking data from an offsite storage location;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein tracking the container comprises receiving tracking data based on a RFID tag affixed to the container;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 further comprising transmitting an alert to an administrator if the tracked location of the container changes.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the retention characteristic indicates that data satisfying the data characteristic is due for one or more of:

an export operation or a migration operation.

22. A tangible computer readable storage medium storing computer executable code, which when executed causes a computer to perform a method for tracking a location of data stored to a removable medium, the method comprising:

receiving one or more removable media from a plurality of storage devices;

receiving a storage preference, the storage preference including a data characteristic and a retention characteristic;

determining whether the one or more removable media includes data satisfying the storage preference;

logically associating the one or more removable media with a single container, wherein the container is not a vehicle;

tracking a location of the container, and not a location of the one or more removable media, individually, and wherein the tracking includes receiving data associated with the container, wherein the data is received from the container automatically;

identifying both the container having the one or more removable media, and the location of the container; and

,

providing a request for return of the container with the one or more removable media from the location.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22 wherein tracking the container comprises updating an index with data relating to the current location of the container.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22 wherein tracking the container comprises receiving tracking data from an offsite storage location;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22 wherein tracking the container comprises receiving tracking data based on a RFID tag affixed to the container;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22 further comprising transmitting an alert to an administrator if the tracked location of the container changes.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22 wherein the retention characteristic indicates that data satisfying the data characteristic is due for one or both of:

an export operation or a migration operation.

28. A tangible computer readable storage medium storing computer executable code, which when executed causes a compute to perform a method for tracking data stored to a removable medium, the method comprising:

storing an identifier for a first data item, of a plurality of data items, in an index entry;

receiving a storage characteristic, the storage characteristic including a data classification and a retention characteristic;

determining that the first data item satisfies the storage characteristic;

updating the index entry for the first data item with data pointing to the container, wherein the container contains an aggregation of the first data item, and wherein the container is not a vehicle;

tracking a location of the container, and wherein the tracking includes receiving data associated with the container, wherein the data is received from the container automatically;

updating the index entry for the location of the container;

receiving a request for data stored on the first data item;

identifying both the container having the first data item, and the location of the container;

providing a request for movement of the container with the first data item based on the request; and

,

again updating the index entry for a current location of the container.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28 wherein the index entry is updated with tracking data based on a RFID tag affixed to the container;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28 wherein the index entry is updated with tracking data received from an offsite storage location;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

31. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28 further comprising transmitting an alert to an administrator if the tracked location of the container changes.