Method and apparatus for automatically synchronizing data to electronic devices across a communications network
OwnerStephen Larry McBride, Russell Glen Polson +1inventors
InventorsStephen Larry McBride, Russell Glen Polson, Troy Davidson
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Abstract
A data file mirroring application that monitors data files stored in a source directory for archiving to a remote storage medium at a destination node through a communications network. The mirroring application archives the data files to the remote storage medium in accordance with user-configured settings, and without user intervention. The data files may be archived based on a time period elapsing or a data file being revised and saved. The application may identify the remote storage medium in accordance with a unique identifier.
Claims24
A system for backing up electronic data and data files stored in a computer-readable format, said system comprising:
- at least two nodes;
- and
- a communications network over which said nodes communicate with each other;
- wherein a first said node comprises a first data storage device on which original electronic data is stored, a processor, and a communications interface for interfacing said first node with said communications network;
- and
- wherein said first node further comprises an agent application executed by said processor of said first node, said agent application monitoring said original electronic data stored in said first data storage device and transmitting said electronic data through said communications network to a second node for storage in a second data storage device of said second node.
A method for backing up electronic data and data files stored in a computer-readable format, said method comprising monitoring original electronic data stored in a first data storage device of a first node and transmitting said electronic data through a communications network to a second node for storage in a second data storage device of said second node.
The method of claim 17, wherein said monitoring and transmitting are performed in accordance with predetermined user-controlled configuration settings.
The method of claim 17, wherein monitoring is performed periodically and said transmitting is performed only if said electronic data has been changed.
The method of claim 17, wherein said electronic data is an electronic data file and said method further comprises storing a new version of the electronic data file on said second node each time the data file is transmitted from said first node.
A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions, comprising:
- a configuration module containing configuration settings;
- a reading module to read data files contained within a source directory on a selected storage medium in accordance with the configuration settings;
- and
- a sending module to send the data files to a destination node storage medium in accordance with the configuration settings if changes are detected in said data files by said reading module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.