US 8,244,685 B2Granted

Data restoration utilizing forward and backward deltas

AssigneeAutonomy, Inc.

InventorRobert Stewart Fiske

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Abstract

A restoration technique includes storing a collection of blocks having (i) a first baseline of blocks defining a file at a first time within a predefined window, (ii) older blocks, and (iii) newer blocks. The technique further includes providing a direction signal to restore the file at a particular time from the collection of blocks. The direction signal has an older direction value when the particular time is older than the first time and (ii) a newer direction value when the particular time is newer than the first time. The technique further includes forming, from the collection of blocks, a second baseline of blocks from the first baseline of blocks and additional blocks. The additional blocks are either (i) the older blocks or (ii) the newer blocks depending on the direction value. The second baseline defines the file at the particular time.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method of restoring a set of files from a collection of blocks, the set of files having existed at a particular time within a predefined time window, the method comprising:

storing the collection of blocks within a storage subsystem that includes (i) a premium storage area and (ii) a low-end storage area, wherein the premium storage area has a performance metric that is better than a performance metric of the low-end storage area, the collection of blocks defining the set of files at multiple different times within the predefined time window, the collection of blocks including (i) a first baseline of blocks which defines the set of files at a first baseline time within the predefined time window, (ii) older blocks which were formed before the first baseline time within the predefined time window, and (iii) newer blocks which were formed after the first baseline time within the predefined time window, wherein the first baseline of blocks and the newer blocks are initially stored in the premium storage area and wherein the older blocks are initially stored in the low-end storage area;
providing a direction signal in response to receipt of a restore command to restore the set of files at a particular time of the multiple different times within the predefined time window from the collection of blocks stored within the storage subsystem, the direction signal having (i) an older direction value indicating an older direction when the particular time is older than the first baseline time and (ii) a newer direction value indicating a newer direction when the particular time is newer than the first baseline time;
from the collection of blocks stored within the storage subsystem, forming a second baseline of blocks from the first baseline of blocks and additional blocks, the additional blocks being either (i) the older blocks or (ii) the newer blocks depending on whether the direction signal has the older direction value or the newer direction value, and the second baseline defining the set of files at the particular time;
replacing the first baseline of blocks with the second baseline of blocks in the premium storage area;
and
transferring the replaced first baseline of blocks to the low-end storage area.

3 more elements

A data restoration system, comprising:

an interface;
a storage subsystem to store a collection of blocks, wherein the storage subsystem includes (i) a premium storage area and (ii) a low-end storage area, wherein the premium storage area has a performance metric that is better than a performance metric of the low-end storage area;
and
a control circuit coupled to the interface and to the storage subsystem, wherein the control circuit is to:
store a collection of blocks within the storage subsystem, the collection of blocks defining a set of files at multiple different times within a predefined time window, the collection of blocks including (i) a first baseline of blocks which defines the set of files at a first baseline time within the predefined time window, (ii) older blocks which were formed before the first baseline time within the predefined time window, and (iii) newer blocks which were formed after the first baseline time within the predefined time window, wherein the first baseline of blocks and the newer blocks are initially stored in the premium storage area and wherein the older blocks are initially stored in the low-end storage area;
provide a direction signal in response to receipt of a restore command through the interface to restore the set of files at a particular time of the multiple different times within the predefined time window from the collection of blocks stored within the storage subsystem, the direction signal having (i) an older direction value indicating an older direction when the particular time is older than the first baseline time and (ii) a newer direction value indicating a newer direction when the particular time is newer than the first baseline time;
from the collection of blocks stored within the storage subsystem, form a second baseline of blocks from the first baseline of blocks and additional blocks, the additional blocks being either (i) the older blocks or (ii) the newer blocks depending on whether the direction signal has the older direction value or the newer direction value, and the second baseline defining the set of files at the particular time;
replace the first baseline of blocks with the second baseline of blocks in the premium storage area;
and
transfer the replaced first baseline of blocks to the low-end storage area.

7 more elements

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a set of instructions stored thereon;

the set of instructions, when executed by a computer, enabling the computer to restore a set of files from a collection of blocks, the set of files having existed at a particular time within a predefined time window, the set of instructions including:
instructions directing the computer to store the collection of blocks within a storage subsystem that includes (i) a premium storage area and (ii) a low-end storage area, wherein the premium storage area has a performance metric that is better than a performance metric of the low-end storage area, the collection of blocks defining the set of files at multiple different times within the predefined time window, the collection of blocks including (i) a first baseline of blocks which defines the set of files at a first baseline time within the predefined time window, (ii) older blocks which were formed before the first baseline time within the predefined time window, and (iii) newer blocks which were formed after the first baseline time within the predefined time window, wherein the first baseline of blocks and the newer blocks are initially stored in the premium storage area and wherein the older blocks are initially stored in the low-end storage area;
instructions directing the computer to provide a direction signal in response to receipt of a restore command to restore the set of files at a particular time of the multiple different times within the predefined time window from the collection of blocks stored within the storage subsystem, the direction signal having (i) an older direction value indicating an older direction when the particular time is older than the first baseline time and (ii) a newer direction value indicating a newer direction when the particular time is newer than the first baseline time;
instructions directing the computer to form, from the collection of blocks stored within the storage subsystem, a second baseline of blocks from the first baseline of blocks and additional blocks, the additional blocks being either (i) the older blocks or (ii) the newer blocks depending on whether the direction signal has the older direction value or the newer direction value, and the second baseline defining the set of files at the particular time;
instructions directing the computer to replace the first baseline of blocks with the second baseline of blocks in the premium storage area;
and
instructions directing the computer to transfer the replaced first baseline of blocks to the low-end storage area.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.