System and method for containerized data storage and tracking

• US 7,877,362 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• 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): Breene; John E
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHONG H
• Application Number:
  US12/501,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20090307448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 707/661, 707/667, 707/671, 707/679, 707/812, 707/999.204
• US Class Current: 707/661
• 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 data stored to removable media, the method comprising:

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

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

wherein the first set of one or more storage media are associated with a first data storage device;

copying the at least one data item from the first set of one or more storage media to a second set of two or more removable data storage media,

wherein the two or more removable media are associated with a second data storage device communicatively coupled to the first data storage device;

removing the second data storage device or the two or more removable media from communicative coupling with the first data storage device;

tracking a location of a container, wherein the container contains at least the second set of the two or more removable media, wherein the container is not a vehicle,

wherein tracking the container includes updating an index associated with the second set with data relating to a current location of the container,

wherein tracking the container includes either tracking the current location of the container and not tracking the second set of the two or more removable media individually, or tracking both the current location of the container and the second set of the two or more removable media individually, and

wherein tracking the container includes automatically receiving data associated with the container; 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 second set of the two or more removable media 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 that contains the second set of the two or more removable media, and after at least one of the removable media in the second 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 automatically receiving tracking data based on a barcode label or RFID tag associated with 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:

determining whether at least one of two or more removable media include data satisfying a storage preference;

tracking a location of a container,

wherein the container contains the two or more removable media,

wherein the two or more removable media were communicatively coupled to a computing device before being contained within the container;

wherein tracking the location of the container comprises determining the location of the container alone or determining both the location of the container and a location of the two or more removable media, and

wherein tracking the location of the container further comprises automatically receiving data associated with the container; and

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

receiving a request for data stored on at least one of the two or more removable media;

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

,

providing a request for return of the container with the two 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 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 an index with the received tracking data.

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

and updating an 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 storage item, of a plurality of data storage items, in an index entry;

determining that the first data storage item satisfies a storage characteristic;

updating the index entry for the first data storage item with data pointing to a container, wherein the container contains two or more data storage items, including the first data storage item,

wherein the container is not a vehicle, and

wherein the two or more data storage items were previously communicatively coupled to a computing system before being contained within the container;

determining a location of the container, wherein the determining includes automatically receiving data associated with the container;

updating the index entry for the location of the container;

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

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

providing a request for movement of the container with the first data storage 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 barcode label or RFID tag associated with 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:

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

wherein the first set of one or more storage media are associated with a first data storage device;

copying the at least one data item from the first set of one or more removable media to a second set of two or more removable media,

wherein the two or more removable media are associated with a second data storage device communicatively coupled to the first data storage device;

removing the second data storage device or the two or more removable media from communicative coupling with the first data storage device;

determining a location of a container,

wherein the container contains the second set of two or more removable media,

wherein the container is not a vehicle, and

wherein the determining includes determining the location of the container alone, or the location of the container and a location of the two or more removable media;

identifying both the container having the second set of the two or more removable media, and the location of the container; and

,

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

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein determining the location of the container comprises updating an index with data relating to the current location of the container alone, and not determining the location of the second set of two or more removable media location individually.

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

and updating an index with the received tracking data.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein determining the location of the container comprises automatically receiving tracking data based on a barcode label or RFID tag associated with the container;

and updating an index with the received tracking data.

20. 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 a storage preference;

determining whether two or more removable data storage media include data satisfying the storage preference,

wherein the two or more removable media were previously communicatively coupled to a computing system before being contained within the container;

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

determining a location of the container, wherein the determining includes automatically receiving data associated the container;

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

,

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

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein tracking the container comprises updating an index with data relating to the current location of the container.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein tracking the container comprises automatically receiving tracking data based on a barcode label or RFID tag;

and updating an index with the received tracking data.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein the storage preference includes a retention characteristic that indicates that data satisfying the data characteristic is due for one or both of:

an export operation or a migration operation.

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

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

determining the first data storage item;

updating the index entry for the first data storage item with data pointing to the container, wherein the container contains at least two data storage items, including the first data storage item,

wherein the container is not a vehicle, and

wherein the at least two data storage items were previously communicatively coupled to a computing system before being contained within the container;

identifying a location of the container;

updating the index entry for the location of the container;

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

identifying both the container having at least the two data storage items, including the first data storage item, and the location of the container;

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

,

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

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 24 wherein the index entry is updated with tracking data received from an offsite storage location;

and updating the index with the received tracking data.

26. A computer-readable storage medium including computer executable code, which when executed causes a computer to perform a method for managing electronic data, the method comprising:

identifying a set of data satisfying a desired storage characteristic;

among the identified set of data, identifying a first subset of data satisfying a first storage characteristic and a second subset of data satisfying a second storage characteristic, wherein the first and second storage characteristics differ;

identifying two or more first removable media that store the first subset of data;

identifying two or more second removable media that store the second subset of data;

exporting to a first container the two or more first removable media that store the first subset of data; and

exporting to a second container the two or more second removable media including the second subset of data,

wherein the first and second containers are not one or more vehicles, and

wherein the two or more first removable media and the two or more second removable media were previously communicatively coupled to at least one computing system before being contained within the respective first and second containers;

receiving a request to import at least a portion of the first subset of data;

receiving the first container containing the two or more first removable media; and

after receiving the first container, importing at least a portion of the first subset of data.