Configuration and dynamic detection of connection-based backup policies

A method of managing data backups between client devices and a computer network, the method comprising:

• the client associating a first backup rule with a first connection state, and a second backup rule with a second connection state, the first backup rule consumes more bandwidth than the second backup rule, each of said data backup rules corresponding to a different backup procedure to back up data from a client device to a remote backup server, the first backup rule backs up files of the data from the client not included by the second backup rule;
• in response to the client detecting the client has established a connection to the network, a data transfer controller of the client device:
• determining a state of the connection;
• forwarding said state to a policy component within the client;
• applying the first data backup rule to the client device, in response to detecting said connection state corresponds to a first connection type transmitting data at a first speed;
• applying the second data backup rule to the client device, in response to detecting said connection state corresponds to a second connection type transmitting data at a second speed which is lower than the first connection speed;
• and
• initiating a backup procedure based upon an applied backup rule, so that data is conveyed from the client to the backup server for backup;
• and
• applying one or more exceptions to the second data backup rule in response to determining said connection corresponds to a particular user, said one or more exceptions comprise backing up files which would not be backed up according to the second data backup rule, the data transfer controller comprising a main thread and a connection state thread, the client comprising a modem and a network interface card.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer instructions for managing data backups between client devices and a computer network, the instructions are executable by a processor to:

• cause a client to associate a first backup rule with a first connection state, and a second backup rule with a second connection state, the first backup rule consumes more bandwidth than the second backup rule, each of said data backup rules corresponding to a different backup procedure to back up data from a client device to a remote backup server, the first backup rule backs up files of the data from the client not included by the second backup rule;
• in response to the client detecting the client has established a connection to the network, the program instructions are further executable to cause a data transfer controller of the client device to:
• determine a state of the connection;
• forward said state to a policy component within the client;
• apply the first data backup rule to the client device, in response to detecting said connection state corresponds to a first connection type transmitting data at a first speed;
• the second data backup rule to the client device, in response to detecting said connection state corresponds to a second connection type transmitting data at a second speed which is lower than the first speed;
• and
• initiate a backup procedure based upon an applied backup rule of the first backup rule or the second backup rule, so that data is conveyed from the client to the backup server for backup;
• and
• applying one or more exceptions to the second data backup rule in response to determining said connection corresponds to a particular user, said one or more exceptions comprise backing up files which would not be backed up according to the second data backup rule, the data transfer controller comprising a main thread and a connection state thread, the client comprising a modem and a network interface card.