# US 11,030,054 B2 · Methods and systems for data backup based on data classification > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,030,054 B2 - Document ID: US11030054B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/257,498 - Filed: 2019-01-25 - Published: 2020-07-30 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-25 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Joseph Dain; Nilesh P. Bhosale; Gregory Kishi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11030054B2 ## CPC - G06F 11/1451: {by selection of backup contents} - G06F 11/0793: {Remedial or corrective actions (recovery from an exception in an instruction pipeline G06F9/3861; by retry G06F11/1402; for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity H04L69/40)} - G06F 11/1435: {using file system or storage system metadata} - G06F 11/1458: {Management of the backup or restore process} - G06F 11/1464: {for networked environments} - G06F 11/1469: {Backup restoration techniques} - G06F 16/14: Details of searching files based on file metadata - G06F 11/3006: {where the computing system is distributed, e.g. networked systems, clusters, multiprocessor systems (multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50)} - G06F 11/3034: {where the computing system component is a storage system, e.g. DASD based or network based (digital input from or digital output to record carriers G06F3/06; digital recording or reproducing G11B20/18; for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097)} - G06F 11/3065: {Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in reporting the monitored data (error or fault reporting or logging G06F11/0766)} - G06F 2201/84: Using snapshots, i.e. a logical point-in-time copy of the data - G06F 2201/86: Event-based monitoring - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Systems and methods for intelligent backup of data are disclosed. The methods include maintaining a plurality of data storage systems in communication with an external metadata management system, operating the metadata management system to store metadata corresponding to data residing on the plurality of data storage systems, identifying a candidate data set residing on at least one of the plurality of data storage systems on which at least one backup action should be performed based on information included in the metadata management system, and identifying the at least one backup action in response to identifying the candidate data set. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-executed method comprising: maintaining a plurality of data storage systems for storing electronic data containing one or more processors having circuitry and logic that perform calculations and logic operations in communication with an external metadata management system containing one or more processors having circuitry and logic that perform calculations and logic operations; operating the metadata management system to store metadata corresponding to the electronic data stored on the plurality of data storage systems; identifying, using information included in the metadata management system, a candidate electronic data set stored on at least one of the plurality of data storage systems on which at least one of a plurality of backup actions should be performed; in response to identifying the candidate electronic data set, identifying the at least one of the plurality of backup actions, wherein identifying the at least one of a plurality of backup actions comprises: identifying one or more custom tags for metadata corresponding to the candidate electronic data set; and using the one or more custom tags to identify the at least one of a plurality of backup actions; and executing the at least one of a plurality of backup actions on the candidate electronic data set stored on the plurality of data storage systems, wherein each of the plurality of backup actions comprises storing the candidate electronic data set in secondary storage different than the plurality of data storage systems and in a form different than the format stored on the plurality of data storage systems. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of a plurality of backup actions comprises at least one of the following: a full backup, a partial backup, or a snapshot operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the at least one of a plurality of backup actions comprises: extracting one or more facets of the candidate electronic data set stored with the metadata in the metadata management system; and using the one or more facets to identify the at least one backup action. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the extracted one or more facets are identified by performing data analytics on the candidate electronic data set. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the extracted one or more facets are identified by performing data analytics on at least one component of metadata corresponding to the candidate electronic data set. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the candidate electronic data set residing on at least one of the plurality of data storage systems on which at least one of a plurality of backup actions should be performed comprises receiving a query from a user that includes one or more rules for selecting the candidate electronic data set using metadata stored in the metadata management system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the candidate electronic data set residing on at least one of the plurality of data storage systems on which at least one of a plurality of backup actions should be performed comprises identifying the candidate electronic data set based on metadata received in response to a data operation event performed on the candidate electronic data set. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying a backup level associated with the candidate electronic data set based on at least one of the group consisting of: one or more facets extracted from the candidate electronic data set and stored with the metadata in the metadata management system, one or more facets extracted from metadata associated with the candidate electronic data set and stored with the metadata in the metadata management system, one or more custom tags corresponding to metadata associated with the candidate electronic data set, and combinations thereof; and using the backup level to identify the at least one of a plurality of backup actions. ### Claim 9 A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising programming instructions executable on a processor that when executed cause the processor to: maintain a plurality of data storage systems for storing electronic data in communication with an external metadata management system; operate the metadata management system to store metadata corresponding to the electronic data stored on the plurality of data storage systems; identify, using information included in the metadata management system, a candidate electronic data set residing on at least one of the plurality of data storage systems on which at least one of a plurality of backup actions should be performed, wherein causing the processor to identify the at least one of a plurality of backup actions comprises causing the processor to: identify one or more custom tags for metadata corresponding to the candidate electronic data set; and use the one or more custom tags to identify the at least one of a plurality of backup actions; in response to identifying the candidate electronic data set, identify the at least one of a plurality of backup actions; and execute the at least one of a plurality of backup actions on the candidate electronic data set stored on the plurality of data storage systems, wherein each of the plurality of backup actions comprises storing the candidate electronic data set in secondary storage different than the plurality of data storage systems and in a form different than the format stored on the plurality of data storage systems. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the at least one backup action comprises at least one of the following: a full backup, a partial backup, a copy operation, or a snapshot operation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein causing the processor to identify the at least one of a plurality of backup actions comprises causing the processor to: extract one or more facets of the candidate electronic data set stored with the metadata in the metadata management system; and use the one or more facets to identify the at least one of a plurality of backup actions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the extracted one or more facets are identified by performing data analytics on the candidate electronic data set. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the extracted one or more facets are identified by performing data analytics on at least one component of metadata corresponding to the candidate electronic data set. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising programming instructions that when executed cause the processor to: identify a backup level associated with the candidate electronic data set based on at least one of the group consisting of: one or more facets extracted from the candidate electronic data set and stored with the metadata in the metadata management system, one or more facets extracted from metadata associated with the candidate electronic data set and stored with the metadata in the metadata management system, one or more custom tags corresponding to metadata associated with the candidate electronic data set, and combinations thereof; and use the backup level to identify the at least one of a plurality of backup actions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising programming instructions that when executed cause the processor to: receive a real-time alert comprising a threat to the at least one of a plurality of backup actions; and identify at least one remedial action for countering the threat. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein causing the processor to identify the candidate electronic data set residing on at least one of the plurality of data storage systems on which at least one of a plurality of backup actions should be performed comprises causing the processor to receive a query from a user that includes one or more rules for selecting the candidate electronic data set using metadata stored in the metadata management system.