Method and apparatus for independent and simultaneous access to a common data set

Abstract

A data network with data storage facilities for providing redundant data storage and for enabling concurrent access to the data for multiple purposes. A first data processing system with a first data facility stores a data base and processes transactions or other priority applications. A second data storage facility, that may be physically separated from the first data storage facility, mirrors the data in the first data storage facility. In a concurrent access operating mode, the second data storage facility makes the data available to an application concurrently with, but independently of, the operation of the other application. On completion of the concurrent operation, the second data storage facility can reconnect with and synchronizes with the first data storage facility thereby to reestablish the mirroring operation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.