System and method for backing up and restoring data

Patent 7162599 Issued on January 9, 2007. Estimated Expiration Date:

November 24, 2024. 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.

Inventors

Assignee

Microsoft Corporation

Application

No. 10996772 filed on 11/24/2004

US Classes:

711/162, Backup711/161, Archiving707/204, Archiving or backup714/6, Redundant stored data accessed (e.g., duplicated data, error correction coded data, or other parity-type data)711/156, 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

G06F 13/00

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.