System and method for backing up and restoring data

Patent 6948038 Issued on September 20, 2005. Estimated Expiration Date:

July 24, 2021. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Method and apparatus for efficiently backing up files using multiple computer systems
Patent #: 6003044
Issued on: 12/14/1999
Inventor: Pongracz, et al.

System and method for real-time data backup using snapshot copying with selective compaction of backup data
Patent #: 6061770
Issued on: 05/09/2000
Inventor: Franklin

Mechanism for incremental backup of on-line files
Patent #: 6101585
Issued on: 08/08/2000
Inventor: Brown, et al.

Computer method and apparatus for file system block allocation with multiple redo
Patent #: 6185663
Issued on: 02/06/2001
Inventor: Burke

System and method for disk control with snapshot feature including read-write snapshot half
Patent #: 6341341
Issued on: 01/22/2002
Inventor: Grummon, et al.

Method and system for backing up and restoring files stored in a single instance store Patent #: 6513051
Issued on: 01/28/2003
Inventor: Bolosky, et al.

Inventors

Assignee

Microsoft Corporation

Application

No. 09912615 filed on 07/24/2001

US Classes:

711/162, Backup711/161, Archiving714/6, Redundant stored data accessed (e.g., duplicated data, error correction coded data, or other parity-type data)707/204, Archiving or backup711/156, Status storage714/15State recovery (i.e., process or data file)

Examiners

Primary: Padmanabhan, Mano
Assistant: Song, Jasmine

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Merchant & Gould P.C.

International Class

G06F013/00

Abstract

Described is a system and method for allowing applications to interact with a common backup program in a uniform way. The system and method provides a communication mechanism for one or more applications to exchange information with the backup program regarding components of the applications. The information exchanged may include an identification of the components of each application. A component may be considered a group of files or resources that should be backed up or restored together. In this way, when a backup operation is initiated, each application may provide to the common backup program instructions describing the specific components to be backed up. In addition, each application may add other application-specific information useful during a restore of the backed up data.

Other References

“Building Writers; How to make a service or application backup aware,” Microsoft Corporation, 1999, pp. 1-19.
“Design Guide for backup Applications Using Snapshot Services,” Microsoft Corporation, 2000, pp. 1-29.