Method and apparatus for immediate data backup by duplicating pointers and freezing pointer/data counterparts
US6226759A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 28, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 1, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 28, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99955
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An expedited data backup is performed by creating a duplicate set of pointers to a current dataset already identified by an original pointer set, then designating the dataset as a backup dataset, and thereafter preventing changes to the pointed-to-data and the duplicate pointers, where changes to the current dataset are nonetheless effected by storing new data and modifying the original pointer set alone. More specifically, the backup involves an original dataset having multiple subparts residing at various original storage locations, which are pointed-to by a primary set of pointers. A virtual backup copy is created by duplicating the primary set of pointers to create a backup set of pointers. The backup set of pointers are entered in a backup list, in association with the virtual backup copy and the original dataset. To preserve the backup copy, the system prevents changes to the original dataset and the backup set of pointers. When any changes are directed to subparts of the original dataset, the system creates a changed dataset by storing the changes at one or more change storage locations and updating the primary set of pointers to identify the change storage locations along w…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.