Method of and system for enhanced data storage
AssigneeMaxSP Corporation
InventorRobert O. Keith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of and system for enhanced storage allows more data to be backed up than would otherwise be possible. Instead of storing uncompressed base images and incremental images, differentials of non-current base images are compressed and stored. Furthermore, incremental images that are older than the current base image are removed. By only saving differential base images that are compressed, aside from the newest base image, and deleting older incremental images, a significant amount of space is saved. A removable drive is used as temporary storage in the process of generating a compressed differential base for previous base images. Additionally, a process ensures that previous base images are differentials of the most recent base image and not each other.
Claims31
A method of providing data storage, comprising:
- a. storing an uncompressed base image on a main storage;
- b. writing a new base image to an additional storage;
- c. compressing the uncompressed base image based on the new base image;
- and
- d. storing the new base image.
(canceled)
8-13. (canceled)
A system for providing enhanced data storage, comprising:
- a. a computing device;
- and
- b. a storage appliance coupled to the computing device, wherein the storage appliance further comprises:
- i. a main storage component for storing an uncompressed base image;
- and
- ii. a removable storage component coupled to the main storage component for temporarily storing base images;
- wherein the removable storage component temporarily stores a first compressed base image while a second compressed base image is decompressed, wherein the decompressed second base image is re-compressed based on a current base image.
(canceled)
An apparatus for providing enhanced data storage, comprising:
- a. a main storage component for storing an uncompressed base image;
- and
- b. a removable storage component coupled to the main storage component for temporarily storing base images;
- wherein the removable storage component temporarily stores a first compressed base image while a second compressed base image is decompressed, wherein the decompressed second base image is re-compressed based on a current base image.
(canceled)
A network of devices for providing enhanced data storage, comprising:
- a. a network;
- b. a plurality of computing devices for sending data to be backed up;
- and
- c. a storage appliance coupled to the plurality of computing devices through the network, wherein the storage appliance backs up the data from the plurality of computing devices and further comprises:
- i. a main storage component for storing an uncompressed base image;
- and
- ii. a removable storage component coupled to the main storage component for temporarily storing base images;
- wherein the removable storage component temporarily stores a first compressed base image while a second compressed base image is decompressed, wherein the decompressed second base image is re-compressed based on a current base image.
(canceled)
A system for providing enhanced data storage, comprising:
- a. a computing device;
- and
- b. a storage appliance coupled to the computing device, wherein the storage appliance further comprises:
- i. a main storage component for storing an uncompressed base image;
- and
- ii. a removable storage component coupled to the main storage component for temporarily storing base images;
- wherein the removable storage component temporarily stores a new uncompressed base image, while the uncompressed base image is compressed using the new uncompressed base image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.