US 6,839,721 B2Granted

Integration of a database into file management software for protecting, tracking, and retrieving data

AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.

InventorKeith Schwols

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A data protection system that integrates a database with Windows Explorer in the Microsoft Windows 9X and NT Environments that mimics the Windows Explorer user interface, enabling the user to apply already known use paradigms. The data protection system appears as an extension to Windows Explorer and visibly appears as a folder item called the data vault. The data vault is a virtual disk that represents the underlying database. The database creates records and stores information about files backed up to removable secondary storage medium. Files may be backed up manually or automatically. A schedule can be set up for automatic protection of selected files and file types. The database can be searched to find files for restoration purposes without having to load secondary storage medium. Once a file or files are selected, the data protection system indicates which labeled removable secondary storage medium must be loaded for retrieval.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A method for protecting, tracking, and retrieving data on a computer system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting a database to an existing operating system and to existing file management software on said computer system, wherein said existing file management software is native to the existing operating system;
(b) selecting at least one file to be protected from a primary storage device in said computer system;
(c) copying said at least one file from said primary storage device to a secondary storage device in said computer system by activating said existing file management software to perform said copying, wherein said secondary storage device contains at least one removable storage medium, wherein said at least one removable storage medium is assigned a unique identifier, comprising the steps of:
(c1) creating a globally unique identifier (GUID), wherein said GUID comprises 128 binary bits created from a current time and date from said computer system and a unique machine identifier copied from an electronic circuit of said computer system,
(c2) converting said GUID into a character string, and
(c3) assigning said character string as said unique identifier;
(d) creating at least one database record when copying said at least one file from said primary storage device to said secondary storage device, wherein said at least one database record contains tracking information about said at least one file and about said copying;
(e) storing said at least one database record in said database;
and
(f) displaying said at least one database record, through a user interface for said existing file management software on a screen display in a graphic display device of said computer system, wherein said at least one database record is displayed graphically as a virtual file representing said at least one file.

7 more elements

A system for protecting, tracking, and retrieving data on a computer system, said system comprising:

a database, stored on a primary storage device of said computer system, wherein said database is connected to an existing operating system of said computer system and connected to existing file management software of said computer system, wherein said existing file management software is native to the existing operating system;
a secondary storage device, connected to said computer system, for receiving a copy of at least one file from said primary storage device for protection and retrieval thereof, wherein said secondary storage device further comprises at least one removable storage medium, mounted in said secondary storage device, for receiving said copy of said at least one file from said primary storage device and further wherein each said at least one removable storage medium is assigned a unique identifier comprised of a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) wherein said GUID comprises 128 binary bits created from a current time and date from said computer system and a unique machine identifier copied from an electronic circuit of said computer system;
data protection software, operating within a memory of said computer system, wherein said data protection software is connected to said existing file management software, connected to said existing operating system, and connected to said database;
and
wherein, at least one database record, comprised of tracking information about said at least one file copied to said secondary storage device, is created and stored in said database, and further wherein said at least one database record appears as a virtual file representing said at least one file within a user interface of said existing file management software displayed in a screen display of a graphics display device attached to said computer system.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/759,619Filed 12 Jan 2001
Published: US 2002/0095416 A118 Jul 2002
Granted: 4 Jan 2005
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G06F 16/10
Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor: file systems; File servers
G06F 11/1451
Management of the data involved in backup or backup restore: by selection of backup contents
G06F 11/1458
Point-in-time backing up or restoration of persistent data: management of the backup or restore process
G06F 11/1461
Management of the backup or restore process: backup scheduling policy