Computer apparatus and method for merging system deltas
AssigneeDeltaTech Research, Inc.
InventorMark Squibb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer apparatus and method for merging system deltas, and more particularly, to a computer apparatus and method for 1) merging a number of system deltas with a copy S of a system's files (primary input stream) to create a revised copy of a system's files (primary output stream), 2) merging a plurality of system deltas with one another to create a compiled system delta, 3) creating inverse system deltas, and 4) merging inverse system deltas as in 1) and 2), supra. The methods may be used to save, construct and/or retrieve current and historical system states. The apparatus and method may be used in conjunction with a computer backup process, version manager, or the like.
Claims29
In a programmable computer, a method of backing up a newly created data element which is a duplication of an existing data element, the method comprising:
- a) generating a system delta comprising a clone transaction, the clone transaction comprising:
- i) an identifier of the newly created data element;
- and
- ii) a reference to the existing data element;
- wherein the data content of the newly created data element is the same as the data content of the existing data element;
- and
- b) storing the system delta in a computer readable medium.
In a programmable computer, a method of merging a number of system deltas with a primary input stream to build a primary output stream, said primary input stream being associated with a primary input stream directory, the method comprising:
- a) setting up a system filter;
- b) merging the number of system deltas with the primary input stream, in a single pass of the primary input stream, said merging comprising:
- i) processing each element of a physical element set through the system filter, in an order dictated by the primary input stream directory;
- ii) either before or after i), processing each element of a new-in-scope element set through the system filter.
A physical storage media programmed to control a computer in merging a number of system deltas with a primary input stream in a single pass, the media comprising a system filter having:
- a) a primary input;
- b) a primary output;
- and
- c) a number of base filter elements, corresponding to the number of system deltas, wherein,
- i) each of the number of base filter elements has a system delta input;
- and
- ii) if more than one base filter element exists, each of the number of base filter elements links to one another to form a sequence of is base filter elements between the primary input and the primary output.
A computer comprising a system filter, programmed to merge a number of system deltas with a primary input stream in a single pass, the system filter comprising:
- a) a primary input;
- b) a primary output;
- and
- c) a number of base filter elements, corresponding to the number of system deltas, wherein,
- i) each of the number of base filter elements has a system delta input;
- and
- ii) if more than one base filter element exists, each of the number of base filter elements links to one another to form a sequence of base filter elements between the primary input and the primary output.
In a programmable computer, a method of merging a number of system deltas to create a compiled system delta, the method comprising:
- a) setting up a system filter;
- b) merging the number of system deltas, in a single pass of each of the number of system deltas, said merging comprising:
- i) processing each element of the number of system deltas which corresponds to changes in a physical element set through the system filter, in an order dictated by a primary input stream directory;
- and
- ii) either before or after i), processing each element of a new-in-scope element set through the system filter.
In a programmable computer, a method of creating a number of inverse system deltas corresponding to a number of system deltas, the method comprising:
- a) setting up a system filter;
- b) merging a number of system deltas with a primary input stream, in a single pass of the primary input stream, said merging comprising:
- i) processing each element of a physical element set through the system filter, in an order dictated by a primary input stream directory;
- and
- ii) either before or after step i), processing each element of a new-in-scope element set through the system filter;
- and
- d) as each element is being processed through the system filter, recording a number of inverse transaction types, said inverse transaction types corresponding to a number of transaction types contained in said number of system deltas, in the number of inverse system deltas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.