Search filtered file system using secondary storage, including multi-dimensional indexing and searching of archived files

A system for enabling a user to search from a user computing device for content stored in archive copies of data files, based on multi-dimensional indexing of the data files being archived, the system comprising:

• a user computing device comprising data files;
• a secondary storage device for storing a file archive comprising archive copies of the data files;
• a media agent in communication with the user computing device and with the secondary storage device;
• an indexer that is configured to index content attributes of the data files in the course of the data files being archived to respective archive copies;
• wherein, for any given data file being archived to a respective archive copy, the indexer is further configured to:
• (a) identify content attributes of the given data file, including at least one of:
• textual content, picture content, video content, and audio content,
• (b) generate a searchable content index of the identified content attributes,
• (c) associate the content index with the respective archive copy, and
• (d) store the content index to at least one of:
• the media agent and the file archive;
• a search filter that is configured to search context indexes stored in the system for one or more user-supplied search criteria;
• wherein the search filter is further configured to present to the user an indication of one or more archive copies that satisfy the search criteria;
• and
• wherein the search filter is further configured to present to the user, for a given archive copy that satisfies the search criteria, a fast-forward progression through a plurality of content-indexed smaller portions of the archive file, without restoring the plurality of smaller portions of the archive copy.

A computing device for multi-dimensional content indexing of data files stored on the computing device, the computing device comprising:

• one or more processors and corresponding computer-memory;
• one or more data files;
• an indexer that is configured to index the one or more data files according to a plurality of content attributes in the course of the one or more data files being archived to respective archive copies,
• wherein the plurality of content attributes comprises:
• textual content, picture content, video content, and audio content, and
• wherein the indexer is further configured to:
• (a) generate a searchable content index of identified content attributes for the one or more data files being archived, and
• (b) associate the content index with the respective archive copies;
• and
• a search filter that is configured to search in the content index for one or more user-supplied search criteria, and
• wherein the search filter is further configured to present to the user a fast-forward progression through a plurality of smaller portions of respective one or more archive copies that satisfy the one or more user-supplied search criteria, without restoring the plurality of smaller portions to the computing device.