# US 2010/0169668 A1 · Obtaining backups using a portable storage device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0169668 A1 - Document ID: US20100169668A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/319,136 - Filed: 2008-12-31 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-31 - Assignees: Decho Corporation - Inventors: Clint Gordon-Carroll; Cody Cutrer; Jeremy Stanley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100169668A1 ## CPC - G06F 11/1456: {Hardware arrangements for backup} - G06F 11/1464: {for networked environments} - G06F 11/1451: {by selection of backup contents} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A backup site and a client are coupled to a network and the backup site obtains backup data for the client using a portable storage device by providing a direct coupling between the portable storage device and the backup site. The portable storage device contains full backup data for the client. The direct coupling is separate from the network. Full backup data is uploaded from the portable storage device to the backup site via the direct coupling. At least one incremental backup, based on the prior full backup, is performed to transfer data from the client to the backup site through the network. The network may be the Internet. The direct coupling may be USB, Firewire, or eSATA. Only a subset of data corresponding to a backup dataset may be provided on the portable storage device. Data on the portable storage device may be encrypted. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for a backup site to obtain backup data for a client using a portable storage device, the backup site and the client being coupled to a network, the method comprising: providing a direct coupling between the portable storage device and the backup site, wherein the portable storage device contains full backup data for the client and wherein the direct coupling is separate from the network; uploading the full backup data from the portable storage device to the backup site via the direct coupling; and performing at least one incremental backup from the client to the backup site through the network, wherein the at least one incremental backup is based on the prior full backup. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method, according to claim 1, wherein the network is the Internet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method, according to claim 1, wherein the direct coupling is one of: USB, Firewire, and eSATA. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method, according to claim 1, wherein only a subset of data corresponding to a backup dataset is provided on the portable storage device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method, according to claim 1, wherein data on the portable storage device is encrypted. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method, according to claim 5, wherein a portion of the data is encrypted with a first key that is known at the backup site and another portion of the data is encrypted with a second key that is not known at the backup site. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method, according to claim 1, wherein prior to providing a direct coupling between the portable storage device and the backup site, the portable storage device is shipped from the client to the backup site. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method, according to claim 7, wherein prior to being shipped from the client to the backup site, the portable storage device is provided to the client from the backup site. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A method, according to claim 8, wherein a user orders the portable storage device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A method, according to claim 8, wherein prior to the portable storage device being provided to the client from the backup site, the portable storage device is correlated with the client at the backup site. ### Claim 11 Computer software, provided in a computer-readable medium, that obtains, at a backup site, backup data from a client using a portable storage device, the backup site and the client being coupled to a network, the software comprising: executable code that uploads full backup data for the client from the portable storage device to the backup site via a direct coupling between the portable storage device and the backup site, wherein the direct coupling is separate from the network; and executable code that causes at least one incremental backup to be performed from the client to the backup site through the network, wherein the at least one incremental backup is based on the prior full backup. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Computer software, according to claim 11, wherein the network is the Internet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) Computer software, according to claim 11, wherein the direct coupling is one of: USB, Firewire, and eSATA. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) Computer software, according to claim 11, wherein only a subset of data corresponding to a backup dataset is provided on the portable storage device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) Computer software, according to claim 11, wherein data on the portable storage device is encrypted. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) Computer software, according to claim 15, wherein a portion of the data is encrypted with a first key that is known at the backup site and another portion of the data is encrypted with a second key that is not known at the backup site. ### Claim 17 A system that backs up data, comprising: a network; a backup site, coupled to the network to receive data from at least one client; and a portable storage device that contains full backup data from the at least one client and provides the full backup data to the backup site, wherein at least one incremental backup is performed from the at least client to the backup site through the network after providing full backup data to the backup site and wherein the at least one incremental backup is based on the prior full backup. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A system, according to claim 17, wherein the network is the Internet. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A system, according to claim 17, wherein the portable storage device is coupled to the backup site via a direct coupling using one of: USB, Firewire, and eSATA and wherein the direct coupling between the portable storage device and the backup site is separate from the network. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A system, according to claim 17, wherein the portable storage device is correlated with the client.