# US 2021/0240573 A1 · Method and system for adaptive incrementally updated backups with dynamic data file detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0240573 A1 - Document ID: US20210240573A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/782,104 - Filed: 2020-02-05 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-05 - Assignees: EMC IP Holding Company LLC - Applicants: EMC IP Holding Company LLC - Inventors: Navneet Upadhyay; Shraddha Chunekar; Rejith Mohan M - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210240573A1 ## CPC - G06F 11/1458: {Management of the backup or restore process} - G06F 11/1461: {Backup scheduling policy} - G06F 11/1451: {by selection of backup contents} - G06F 11/1464: {for networked environments} - G06F 16/162: {Delete operations (erasing in storage systems G06F3/0652)} - G06F 2201/84: Using snapshots, i.e. a logical point-in-time copy of the data - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract In general, the invention relates to a method for performing backup operations. The method includes generating a full backup of a user asset at a first point in time, generating an incremental backup after the full backup is generated, applying the incremental backup to the full backup to generate a second full backup, obtaining a distinct data files subset associated with the second full backup, and deleting the distinct data files subset from the second full backup to obtain a third full backup. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for performing backup operations, comprising: generating a full backup of a user asset at a first point in time; generating an incremental backup after the full backup is generated; applying the incremental backup to the full backup to generate a second full backup; obtaining a distinct data files subset associated with the second full backup; and deleting the distinct data files subset from the second full backup to obtain a third full backup. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the distinct data files subset is generated comparing a first control file to a second control file, wherein the first control file is associated with the user asset, wherein the second control file is associated with the second full backup. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the incremental backup is stored in an incremental directory on a backup storage and wherein the third full backup is stored in a working directory. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, the method further comprising: cloning the third full backup to generate a set of pointers to data in the third full backup; and storing the set of pointers in a snapshot directory, wherein a recovery catalogue is updated using the set of pointers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating a fourth full backup of the user asset at a second point in time; obtaining a second distinct data files subset associated with the fourth full backup; generating a fifth full backup of the second distinct data files subset; applying the fifth full backup to the fourth full backup to generate a sixth full backup; generating a second incremental backup after the sixth full backup is generated; and applying the second incremental backup to the sixth full backup to generate a seventh full backup. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the second distinct data files subset is generated comparing a first control file to a second control file, wherein the first control file is associated with the user asset, wherein the second control file is associated with the fourth full backup. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the second distinct data files subset specifies files added to the user asset since the fourth full backup. ### Claim 8 A system, comprising: a processor; a client protection agent, which when executed by the processor performs a method, the method comprising: generating a full backup of a user asset at a first point in time; generating an incremental backup after the full backup is generated; applying the incremental backup to the full backup to generate a second full backup; obtaining a distinct data files subset associated with the second full backup; and deleting the distinct data files subset from the second full backup to obtain a third full backup. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the distinct data files subset is generated comparing a first control file to a second control file, wherein the first control file is associated with the user asset, wherein the second control file is associated with the second full backup. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the incremental backup is stored in an incremental directory on a backup storage and wherein the third full backup is stored in a working directory. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the method further comprising: cloning the third full backup to generate a set of pointers to data in the third full backup; and storing the set of pointers in a snapshot directory, wherein a recovery catalogue is updated using the set of pointers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the method further comprising: generating a fourth full backup of the user asset at a second point in time; obtaining a second distinct data files subset associated with the fourth full backup; generating a fifth full backup of the second distinct data files subset; applying the fifth full backup to the fourth full backup to generate a sixth full backup; generating a second incremental backup after the sixth full backup is generated; and applying the second incremental backup to the sixth full backup to generate a seventh full backup. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the second distinct data files subset is generated comparing a first control file to a second control file, wherein the first control file is associated with the user asset, wherein the second control file is associated with the fourth full backup. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the second distinct data files subset specifies files added to the user asset since the fourth full backup. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program code, which when executed by a computer processor enables the computer processor to perform a method, the method comprising: generating a full backup of a user asset at a first point in time; generating an incremental backup after the full backup is generated; applying the incremental backup to the full backup to generate a second full backup; obtaining a distinct data files subset associated with the second full backup; and deleting the distinct data files subset from the second full backup to obtain a third full backup. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the distinct data files subset is generated comparing a first control file to a second control file, wherein the first control file is associated with the user asset, wherein the second control file is associated with the second full backup. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the incremental backup is stored in an incremental directory on a backup storage and wherein the third full backup is stored in a working directory. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprising: cloning the third full backup to generate a set of pointers to data in the third full backup; and storing the set of pointers in a snapshot directory, wherein a recovery catalogue is updated using the set of pointers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprising: generating a fourth full backup of the user asset at a second point in time; obtaining a second distinct data files subset associated with the fourth full backup; generating a fifth full backup of the second distinct data files subset; applying the fifth full backup to the fourth full backup to generate a sixth full backup; generating a second incremental backup after the sixth full backup is generated; and applying the second incremental backup to the sixth full backup to generate a seventh full backup. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the second distinct data files subset is generated comparing a first control file to a second control file, wherein the first control file is associated with the user asset, wherein the second control file is associated with the fourth full backup.