Backup optimization device, backup optimization method, and computer program for backup optimization device

Abstract

This backup optimization device comprises an optimization unit that, in order to back up a work-related file relating to work of a specific user from a cloud storage to a local storage, identifies a work-related user relating to the work of the specific user, and determines a file range to be backed up for the specific user, while including a file to be used by the work-related user as a candidate of the work-related file to be backed up.

Description

Backup optimization device, backup optimization method, and recording medium storing a computer program for the backup optimization device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a backup optimization device, a backup optimization method, and a recording medium storing a computer program for the backup optimization device.

[0002] Cloud storage services provide computer resources as a service via computer networks such as the Internet, in response to the need to reduce file server management costs and the increasing number of people working from home. In recent years, an increasing number of users are using cloud storage services as an alternative to file servers. However, when using information stored remotely, such as in the cloud, communication channel failures can cause problems, such as inaccessibility to the information and disruption of business operations. To avoid this problem, users can temporarily back up and store the data they need in on-premise local storage installed and operated within the facility. This allows for the data to be used as an alternative in the event of a communication channel failure.

[0003] However, backing up files stored in cloud storage etc. can cause the following problems: (a) If the backup range is wide, data unnecessary for business will also be backed up, taking up space on local storage. (b) If the backup range is narrow, data necessary for business will not be backed up and cannot be accessed. (c) If backups are frequent, the load on data transfer to local storage during backup will be high. (d) If backups are infrequent, when the latest data is required, the backup data in local storage cannot be accessed.

[0004] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-124222 discloses a technique for avoiding the transfer of duplicate data between a backup source storage system and a backup destination storage system when backing up files.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-11448

[0006] When comparing the available capacity of local storage with that of cloud storage, local storage tends to have an overwhelmingly smaller capacity. Therefore, when backing up files necessary for business from cloud storage to local storage, the user can selectively select which files to keep, thereby solving the above problems (a) and (b). When using backup files in the event of a communication channel failure, the files backed up to local storage must be up-to-date. As noted above in (c) and (d), the more frequently files are backed up, the better, but if they are backed up too frequently, the network transfer load increases. This issue can be resolved by the user setting the backup frequency according to the frequency of file updates for business purposes. However, there is a problem in that it is too burdensome for the user to perform all of these settings. Patent Document 1 may solve some of the above problems, but it does not solve all of them.

[0007] However, files that need to be backed up for business continuity can be roughly divided into files that a user has recently accessed and files that the user will need for business purposes in the future. However, no method has been proposed that automatically selects files that a specific user has accessed and files that the user may need for business purposes in the future, and automatically determines which files to back up from cloud storage to on-premise storage.

[0008] Therefore, one example of the object of this disclosure is to provide a backup optimization device, a backup optimization method, and a recording medium storing a computer program for the backup optimization device, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a backup optimization device includes an optimization unit that identifies business-related users related to the business of a specific user, in order to back up business-related files related to the business of the specific user from cloud-based storage to on-premise storage, and determines a range of files to be backed up for the specific user, with files used by the business-related users also being candidates for the business-related files to be backed up.

[0010] Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a backup optimization method executed by a computer identifies business-related users related to the business of a specific user in order to back up business-related files related to the business of the specific user from cloud-based storage to on-premise storage, and determines a file range to be backed up for the specific user, with files used by the business-related users also being candidates for the business-related files to be backed up.

[0011] Furthermore, according to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program for a backup optimization device causes a computer to perform the following steps: identify business-related users related to the business of a specific user, and determine a range of files to be backed up for the specific user, with files used by the business-related users also being candidates for the business-related files to be backed up, in order to back up business-related files related to the business of the specific user from cloud-based storage to on-premise storage.

[0012] According to the present disclosure, when backing up files from cloud storage to on-premise storage, it is possible to automatically determine which files may be necessary for the user's business.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system including a backup optimization device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a backup optimization device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a task-related extraction unit of the backup optimization device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a backup range identification unit of the backup optimization device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a backup frequency identification unit of the backup optimization device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a file and folder management table of the backup optimization device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an access log management table of the backup optimization device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a task-related file management table of the backup optimization device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a calculated task-related degree according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a backup range management table of the backup optimization device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a backup frequency management table of the backup optimization device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0014] A backup optimization device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system including a backup optimization device according to some embodiments. As shown in Figure 1, the system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is composed of a cloud storage 1, a backup system 2, and a local storage 3.

[0015] Cloud storage 1 is also called cloud-type storage, and stores a backup target file and folder group 11, which are files and folders to be backed up, and access log information 12, which is a history of past accesses to files and folders by each user.

[0016] The backup system 2 includes an information collection device 21, a backup optimization device 22, and a backup control device 23. The information collection device 21 includes a file and folder information collection unit 211 and an access log information collection unit 212. The file and folder information collection unit 211 collects information about files and folders from the cloud storage 1. The access log information collection unit 212 collects logs of accesses to files and folders.

[0017] The backup optimization device 22 includes an optimization unit 22a. The optimization unit 22a identifies business-related users who are likely to perform tasks related to the business of the specific user to be backed up, and determines the range of files to be backed up for the specific user while also considering files used by the identified business-related users as candidates for files to be backed up. Files related to the business of a specific user are also referred to as "business-related files" hereinafter. The optimization unit 22a also determines the update frequency of files to be backed up. The optimization unit 22a includes a business-related extraction unit 221, a backup range determination unit 222, a backup frequency determination unit 223, and a database 225. The business-related extraction unit 221 determines the degree of business relatedness between users' tasks based on the degree of agreement between access logs categorized by user, and extracts files used by other users with high business relatedness as business-related files of the specific user to be backed up. The backup range determination unit 222 determines the range of files to be backed up based on the number of extracted business-related files, thereby determining the range of files to be backed up. The backup frequency specification unit 223 determines the backup frequency of each file or folder based on the update frequency of the file or folder to be backed up.

[0018] The database 225 stores various tables containing information required by the backup optimization device 22. The database 225 stores a file and folder management table 2251 that manages information about files and folders to be managed, an access log management table 2252 that manages access log information, a business-related file management table 2253 that manages business-related files to be backed up, a backup range management table 2254 that manages the range of backups, and a backup frequency management table 2255 that manages the frequency of backups.

[0019] The backup control device 23 is a device that executes backups, and includes a backup control unit 231. The backup control unit 231 executes backups from the cloud storage 1 to the local storage 3 using the table generated by the backup optimization device 22.

[0020] The local storage 3 is an on-premise storage used as a storage destination for the backup of the backup control unit 231. An example of the local storage 3 is a storage device installed on the premises of a managed facility, such as the storage of a personal computer used by a target user.

[0021] Next, we will explain the pre-processing that is a prerequisite for the operation of the backup optimization device 22. As the pre-processing, the file and folder information collection unit 211 of the information collection device 21 collects file and folder information from the cloud storage 1 and stores it in the file and folder management table 2251 of the database 225. In addition, the access log information collection unit 212 of the information collection device 21 collects access log information to files and folders from the cloud storage 1 in advance and stores it in the access log management table 2252.

[0022] Next, an overview of the operation of the backup optimization device 22 will be described. The backup optimization device 22 determines the scope and frequency of backups based on information collected in advance by the information collection device 21. To do this, the business-related extraction unit 221 of the backup optimization device 22 calculates the degree of business relatedness between users based on information in the access log management table 2252, and identifies business-related files from other users with high degrees of relatedness. Next, the backup range identification unit 222 identifies the range of files and folders to be backed up based on the access log management table 2252 and the business-related file management table 2253. Then, the backup frequency identification unit 223 identifies the frequency of backing up files and folders in the backup range based on the access log management table 2252 and the backup range management table 2254. Using the results, the backup control unit 231 of the backup control device 23 backs up files and folders from the cloud storage 1 to the local storage 3 at the identified frequency.

[0023] Next, the operation of the backup optimization device 22 will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 1 to 11. In this explanation of the operation, we will explain the operation of determining the backup range and frequency for a specific user (specific user) who is the target of backup processing. Since the determined range and frequency depend on the access log of the user who performs the backup, the range and frequency must be determined for each user. Therefore, the following operation is repeated for each user, but since this is a repetition of the same process, we will not explain this point again.

[0024] As described above, before the backup optimization device 22 starts operating, the information collection device 21 starts the file and folder information collection unit 211 and stores information on necessary files and folders from the group of files and folders 11 to be backed up in the cloud storage 1 in the file and folder management table 2251. In addition, the access log information collection unit 212 collects information on access logs to files and folders from the access log information 12 of the cloud storage 1 and stores it in the access log management table 2252.

[0025] Examples of the file and folder management table 2251 and the access log management table 2252 are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in FIG. 6, the file and folder management table 2251 includes attribute information such as the storage path, owner, and document ID of the file names and folders collected from the group of files and folders 11 to be backed up. In FIG. 6, if the folder flag is "1," this indicates that the name shown in the "File name" item in the storage path is a folder name. Also, if the folder flag is "0," this indicates that the name shown in the "File name" item in the storage path is the file name of an actual file. Note that in the file and folder management table 2251 shown in FIG. 6, as well as in the access log management table 2252 shown in FIG. 7, the backup range management table 2254 shown in FIG. 10, and the backup frequency management table 2255 shown in FIG. 11, the "Document ID" item may identify a folder as well as an actual file. As with the file and folder management table 2251, whether a file or folder can be identified by the "Folder flag" item. In addition, common to all tables, a "document ID" is a number that can uniquely identify file information (records in each table).

[0026] The access log management table 2252 stores the access logs for the files and folders 11 to be backed up, collected from the access log information 12, in order of the most recent access date and time for each user. The access log management table 2252 includes information such as the user name, the most recent access date and time, the document ID, the file name, the folder flag, the storage path, and the most recent operation type.

[0027] The operation of the backup optimization device 22 using the results of the above-mentioned preliminary processing will now be described. First, the process begins when the backup control unit 231 of the backup control device 23 detects a user's attempt to perform a backup, which triggers the process. At this time, a specific user is selected as the user for performing the backup, and the process begins.

[0028] For example, the operation of the backup optimization device 22 of the backup system 2 to automatically determine the file range to be backed up and the backup frequency based on the access logs for a certain period, such as one month, will be described. Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the backup optimization device 22.

[0029] The backup optimization device 22 of the backup system 2 starts the business-related extraction unit 221 of the optimization unit 22a. Based on the premise that the most recently accessed file is necessary for the current task, the business-related extraction unit 221 identifies the document ID of an actual file accessed by a specific user within a specific period, for example, within one week, based on the elements of the "access date and time" item in the access log management table 2252. After identifying the target file, the business-related extraction unit 221 focuses on the document ID elements of the identified file from the file and folder management table 2251, uniquely identifies a record with a matching document ID, adds elements of the specific user name and information acquisition date and time, and then adds the record to the business-related file management table 2253 (step A1).

[0030] Next, the backup optimization device 22 extracts business-related files that may be required in the future and that are not identified from the most recent access log. That is, the business-related extraction unit 221 of the backup optimization device 22 identifies other users who perform work related to the business of the specific user who is the target of performing backup as business-related users (step A2), identifies business-related files for the specific user from the access log of the identified business-related user, and stores the records in the business-related file management table 2253 (step A3).

[0031] The operation of the business relation extraction unit 221 shown in step A2 of Fig. 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows in detail the process in which the activated business relation extraction unit 221 calculates the degree of business relation between a specific user and other users based on elements such as the user name, access date and time, file name, and operation type in the access log management table 2252. Cloud storage has the characteristic of facilitating team collaboration, as it facilitates simultaneous editing. This process is based on the premise that people who perform the same operation on the same file at a similar time are doing the same work, and therefore can be estimated to have a high degree of business relation.

[0032] 3, the business-related extraction unit 221 acquires access log information for all users from the access log management table 2252 (step B1), and also acquires a list of information about accessing users that appear in the access log information (step B2). The business-related extraction unit 221 initializes the values ​​to be calculated (step B4), and from the information acquired in step B2, calculates three values ​​(steps B3 to B13): the number of matching file paths Pi accessed by the specific user and accessing users other than the specific user (step B5), the error Ti in the access dates and times to the matching paths (step B9), and the number of matching operations Oi on the matching paths (step B11). These three values ​​are calculated for each accessing user other than the specific user acquired in step B3. The subscript "i" in the values ​​Pi, Ti, and Oi indicates each accessing user other than the specific user.

[0033] Next, the business association extraction unit 221 normalizes the three values ​​obtained for each accessing user other than the specific user, and calculates the sum of the normalized values ​​to calculate the business association degree between the specific user and the other accessing users for each accessing user (steps B14 to B19).

[0034] In the process of normalizing the three values ​​and calculating the sum of the normalized values, the business relation extraction unit 221 first extracts the maximum and minimum values ​​of the number of matches among all accessing users excluding the specific user (step B14). Next, the business relation extraction unit 221 normalizes each of the three values ​​using the extracted maximum and minimum values ​​(step B16). The normalization is performed using the Min-Max method and is calculated using the following formula:

[0035]

[0036] In the above formula, x represents the value to be normalized. ｍａｘ indicates the upper limit of the x value. ｍｉｎ indicates the lower limit of the x value. The business association extraction unit 221 calculates the degree of association between a specific user and the accessing user using the three normalized values. It is considered that the smaller the difference in the access dates and times to the matching paths, the closer the period of time required between the users. Therefore, the business association extraction unit 221 calculates the sum using the value "1" minus the normalized value of the access date and time difference. The business association extraction unit 221 adds up the calculated values ​​for each user to determine the business association degree Si between the specific user and other accessing users (steps B17 and B18). The following formula shows an example of how to calculate the business association degree Si.

[0037]

[0038] In the above formula, S ｉ indicates the degree of relevance between users. ｉ indicates the number of matching paths to be operated. ｉ ) indicates the normalized value of the number of matches of the operation target path. ｉ indicates the number of matching operations for the path. ｉ ) indicates the normalized number of matching operations for the path. ｉ indicates the error in the operation date and time. ｉ) indicates a numerical value obtained by normalizing the error in the operation date and time. FIG. 9 shows an example of a value obtained by normalizing the three values, and an example of the task relevance degree Si calculated from the normalized value. In this way, the task relevance extraction unit 221 calculates the task relevance degree Si between a specific user and each of the other accessing users.

[0039] 2, the business-related extraction unit 221 narrows down accessing users other than the specific user to business-related users who have a high business relevance to the specific user based on the extracted information on the business relevance (step A2). The business-related extraction unit 221 extracts accessing users whose business relevance Si is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, for example, 0 or greater, as business-related users, assuming that they are more or less related to the business of the specific user. Note that the predetermined value serving as a threshold is set so that the maximum range can be extracted so that the business-related extraction unit 221 does not miss any business-related users.

[0040] After extracting the business-related users, the business-related extraction unit 221 extracts business-related files (step A3). It is assumed that users who perform the same tasks tend to need the same files as business-related files. Based on this assumption, the business-related extraction unit 221 extracts access log information for the business-related users by focusing on the user name and access date and time elements in the access log management table 2252. From the extracted access log information for the business-related users, the business-related extraction unit 221 then identifies files that the business-related users have accessed within a specified period of time, for example, within the last week, and whose information is not already stored in the business-related file management table 2253, as files that the specific users will need for their work in the future. The business-related extraction unit 221 then focuses on the document ID elements of the files identified from the file and folder management table 2251, and adds the specific user name, document ID, information acquisition date and time, operation type, and operation difference time elements to records with matching document IDs, and then adds the records to the business-related file management table 2253. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the work-related file management table 2253. Fig. 8 shows an example of records stored in the work-related file management table 2253 by the processing of steps A1 and A3 of Fig. 2 for specific user X. The work-related file management table 2253 of Fig. 8 is also an example that includes the results of processing users other than specific user X as specific users.

[0041] Returning to FIG. 2, the backup optimization device 22 determines the range of backup execution (step A4). This process will be explained using FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing in detail the process in which the backup optimization device 22 activates the backup range identification unit 222 of the optimization unit 22a and identifies the backup range based on the information in the business-related file management table 2253 and the information in the access log management table 2252. The backup range is determined based on the assumption that files with related contents are grouped together in the same folder, and that a folder containing many business-related files identified in the processes of steps A1 and A3 is likely to have other files in that folder that will be needed for the specific user's business in the future. Based on this assumption, the backup range identification unit 222 determines whether to set the file range to be backed up on a folder-by-folder basis, i.e., whether to treat all files in the folder as business-related files.

[0042] The backup range identification unit 222 acquires information about the business-related file for the specific user from the business-related file management table 2253 (step C1). The backup range identification unit 222 identifies the folder that will be the parent folder in which the target file is stored, from the elements of the item "folder path" in the acquired business-related file information (step C2).

[0043] The backup range identification unit 222 identifies the total number of files contained immediately under each folder identified in step C2 (step C4), and also identifies the number of business-related files contained immediately under each folder (step C5).

[0044] At this time, the backup range identification unit 222 determines whether the number of business-related files immediately under the folder is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (predetermined ratio), for example, more than half, of the total number of files immediately under that folder (step C6). If the condition is met (step C6: Yes), the backup range identification unit 222 adds folder information to the backup range management table 2254 to expand the backup range to that folder, that is, to treat all files immediately under that folder as business-related files (step C7). On the other hand, if the condition is not met (step C6: No), the backup range identification unit 222 adds folder information about the business-related files immediately under the folder to be processed to the backup range management table 2254 (step C7).

[0045] That is, if the condition is met (step C6: Yes), the backup range identification unit 222 identifies folder information included in the file range of the backup from the file and folder management table 2251 using the document ID, extracts records, adds an element for the number of business-related files, and adds the records to the backup range management table 2254 (step C7).If the number does not exceed half (step C6: No), the backup range identification unit 222 does not expand the files to be backed up to files directly under the folder, but instead extracts only records of the target business-related files from the business-related file management table 2253 using the item "folder path" and adds the records to the backup range management table 2254 (step C8).

[0046] The backup range specification unit 222 repeats the processing of steps C3 to C9 the number of times equal to the number of folders specified in step C2.

[0047] As a result of the above, the backup range identification unit 222 stores information about folders to be backed up when all files immediately under a folder are considered to be business-related files, and information about individual business-related files when not all files immediately under a folder are considered to be business-related files, in the backup range management table 2254. Figure 10 is a diagram showing an example of the backup range management table 2254. Figure 10 shows an example in which the backup range management table 2254 includes user X, ..., user Z as specified users.

[0048] Returning to Fig. 2, the backup optimization device 22 determines the backup frequency for each folder and business-related file to be backed up (step A5). This process will be explained using Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing in detail the process in which the backup optimization device 22 activates the backup frequency determination unit 223 of the optimization unit 22a to determine the backup frequency based on the information in the backup range management table 2254 and the access log management table 2252. This process is intended to ensure that the backup is always kept up to date by matching the shortest update frequency of the files to be backed up with the backup frequency.

[0049] The backup frequency identification unit 223 acquires information about files in the backup range registered in the backup range management table 2254, and about folders in which all files immediately below the folder are included in the backup range (step D1). The backup frequency identification unit 223 acquires access logs for files and folders included in the backup range from the access log management table 2252 (step D2).

[0050] When the backup range includes all files immediately under a folder, the backup frequency identification unit 223 determines the same backup frequency for all files immediately under that folder (steps D3 to D6). In this process, the backup frequency identification unit 223 obtains the shortest backup frequency among the files immediately under the folder for the folder to be processed (step D4), and identifies this shortest backup frequency as the backup frequency for all files immediately under that folder (step D5). The backup frequency identification unit 223 sequentially performs the processes of steps D3 to D6 for all folders for which the backup range includes all files immediately under the folder.

[0051] If the backup range does not include all files immediately under a folder, the backup frequency identification unit 223 determines the backup frequency for each business-related file (steps D7 to D10). In this process, the backup frequency identification unit 223 uses information about the business-related file to be processed to extract records from the access log management table 2252 that match the document ID of the record, and sorts the extracted records in order of access date and time to identify the shortest update frequency for the file (step D8). The backup frequency identification unit 223 sets the backup frequency for that business-related file to the update frequency identified in step D8 (step D9). The backup frequency identification unit 223 sequentially performs the processes of steps D7 to D10 for all business-related files when the backup range does not include all files immediately under a folder.

[0052] In this way, the backup frequency determination unit 223 determines the backup frequency for the file range to be backed up on a folder-by-folder basis if the backup range includes all files directly under the folder, or on a business-related file-by-business basis if the backup range does not include all files directly under the folder.

[0053] Returning to FIG. 2, the backup frequency identification unit 223 adds the determined backup frequency element to the record in the backup range management table 2254, and then stores it in the backup frequency management table 2255. An example of the backup frequency management table 2255 is shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 11 shows an example in which specific users X, ..., and Z are included. Also, in the backup frequency management table 2255 of FIG. 11, the backup frequency is shown in units of "days" as an example, but the unit is not limited to "days." For example, it may be in units of hours. This completes the operation of the backup optimization device 22.

[0054] Finally, the backup control unit 231 of the backup control device 23 refers to the folder path, file name, and backup frequency elements of the specific user for whom backup is to be performed in the backup frequency management table 2255, and performs a backup of the business-related files of that specific user from the cloud storage 1 to the local storage 3 according to the backup frequency, thereby completing the process.

[0055] As described above, the backup optimization device 22 has the following functions: 1) A function for calculating the degree of correspondence between the access log of a specific user to be backed up and the access log of other users to extract the degree of relevance between the users' tasks and the task-related files of highly relevant users. 2) A function for dynamically changing the backup scope by expanding the backup scope from files to folders based on the number of task-related files extracted in 1). 3) A function for dynamically changing the backup frequency according to the update frequency for files included in the backup scope determined in 2). These functions allow the backup optimization device 22 to dynamically change the backup scope and frequency according to the user's tasks. Furthermore, the backup optimization device 22 targets not only files most recently accessed by the specific user to be backed up, but also files used by other users related to the specific user's tasks as task-related files that the specific user is likely to need for future tasks. Therefore, this backup process can reduce the impact on user work when a cloud-based storage failure occurs. Furthermore, these processes allow files necessary for business operations to be backed up, reduce the load of data transfer to local storage during backup, and furthermore, make it possible to refer to the backup files in local storage 3 when the latest files are required.

[0056] In the operation of the business relevance extraction unit 221 of the backup optimization device 22, step B11 of the processing flowchart for determining the business relevance in Fig. 3 calculates the match of operations for paths from the access log. Because it can be determined that updates are more relevant to business than references, a weight may be added depending on the content of the matched operation to extract the relevance more precisely. For example, a weight of 0.5 may be used for references and 1.0 for updates.

[0057] The business relatedness extraction unit 221 calculates the business relatedness Si using three values: the number of matching folder paths Pi for files accessed in the access log of a specific user and the access log of users other than the specific user; the error Ti in the access dates and times for the matching folder paths; and the number of matching operations Oi for files stored in the matching folder paths. To calculate the business relatedness Si more accurately, it is preferable to use these three values, but this is not limitative. For example, the business relatedness Si may be calculated using at least one of these three values ​​as an index to identify business related users who are highly related to the specific user's business.

[0058] In the process of extracting files to be backed up, the business-related extraction unit 221 of the backup optimization device 22 backs up all files accessed within a specified period of time by business-related users who are closely related to the specific user's business. However, this may result in a range that is too broad, which could result in inappropriate files being included in the backup targets. Therefore, it may be possible to extract more business-related files by setting a file as a backup target only if it has been accessed by more than a certain number of business-related users for the specific user, for example, more than half.

[0059] 12 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a backup optimization device 22 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The backup optimization device 22 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101, a read-only memory (ROM) 102, a random access memory (RAM) 103, a non-volatile memory such as a solid-state drive (SSD) 104, and a communication module 105.

[0060] The CPU 101 executes a program stored in a recording medium such as the ROM 102 or the SSD 104 to realize each function of the backup optimization device 22 .

[0061] The SSD 104 also stores data necessary to implement the functions of the backup optimization device 22. The SSD 104 may be another nonvolatile storage device, such as a hard disk drive (HDD), or may be configured with several different types of nonvolatile storage devices. The communication module 105 is used for network connection. The backup optimization device 22 may also include an input / output device 106, such as a keyboard, mouse, tablet, or display device, or a connection port to such an input / output device.

[0062] The hardware configurations of the information collection device 21 and the backup control device 23 are also the same as those shown in Fig. 12. Alternatively, the hardware configuration of the backup system 2 may be the configuration shown in Fig. 12, and the functions of the information collection device 21, the backup optimization device 22, and the backup control device 23 may be realized by software.

[0063] 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a backup optimization device 22 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In order to back up business-related files related to the business of a specific user from cloud storage to on-premise storage, the backup optimization device 22 includes an optimization unit 22a that identifies business-related users related to the business of the specific user and determines a file range to be backed up for the specific user, with files used by the business-related users also being candidates for the business-related files to be backed up.

[0064] Alternatively, a program for implementing the functions of the backup optimization device 22 may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program may be loaded into a computer system and executed to implement the processing of the backup optimization device 22. The term "computer system" as used herein includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into computer systems. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" also includes devices that retain a program for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory (RAM) within a computer system that serves as a server or client when the program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line.

[0065] The program may also be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by transmission waves in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" that transmits the program refers to a medium that has the function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may also be a program that realizes part of the aforementioned functions. Furthermore, the program may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can realize the aforementioned functions in combination with a program already stored in the computer system.

[0066] A part or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as, but not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0067] (Supplementary Note 1) A backup optimization device comprising: an optimization unit that identifies business-related users related to the business of a specific user, in order to back up business-related files related to the business of the specific user from cloud-based storage to on-premise storage, and determines a range of files to be backed up for the specific user, with files used by the business-related users also being candidates for the business-related files to be backed up.

[0068] (Supplementary Note 2) The backup optimization device according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the optimization unit further determines a backup frequency for the business-related files based on an update frequency of the business-related files included in the file range to be backed up.

[0069] (Supplementary Note 3) The backup optimization device according to Supplementary Note 1 or Supplementary Note 2, wherein the optimization unit is provided with a business-related extraction unit that identifies the business-related user using a business-related degree calculated based on an access log of the specific user of files stored in the cloud-based storage and access logs of users other than the specific user of files stored in the cloud-based storage, and that also identifies files used by the identified business-related user as candidates for the business-related files included in the range of files to be backed up.

[0070] (Appendix 4) The backup optimization device described in Appendix 3, wherein the business-related extraction unit calculates the business-relatedness using at least one of the following as an index: the number of matches between folder paths of accessed files in the access log of the specific user and the access log of the other user; the difference in the access dates and times to the matched folder paths; and the number of matches between operations on files stored in the matched folder paths.

[0071] (Supplementary Note 5) The backup optimization device according to Supplementary Note 4, wherein the task relevance extraction unit calculates the task relevance using a normalized value of the index.

[0072] (Supplementary Note 6) The backup optimization device according to Supplementary Note 3, wherein the business-related extraction unit includes, as the business-related files, files that the business-related user has accessed within a recent predetermined period in the range of files to be backed up.

[0073] (Supplementary Note 7) The backup optimization device according to Supplementary Note 1 or Supplementary Note 2, wherein the optimization unit includes a backup range determination unit that expands the file range to be backed up so that all files immediately under a folder included in the file range to be backed up become files to be backed up when a ratio of the number of business-related files immediately under the folder to the total number of files immediately under the folder is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

[0074] (Supplementary Note 8) The backup optimization device according to Supplementary Note 2, wherein the optimization unit includes a backup frequency determination unit that, in determining the update frequency of the business-related files included in the file range to be backed up, sets the shortest update frequency of files immediately under a folder included in the file range to be backed up as the update frequency of all files immediately under the folder, when the folder includes all files to be backed up.

[0075] (Supplementary Note 9) A backup optimization method executed by a computer, which, in order to back up business-related files relating to a specific user's business from cloud storage to on-premise storage, identifies a business-related user related to the specific user's business, and determines a range of files to be backed up for the specific user, with files used by the business-related user being candidates for the business-related files to be backed up.

[0076] (Supplementary Note 10) A recording medium storing a computer program for a backup optimization device, the computer program causing a computer to perform the following steps: identify business-related users related to the business of a specific user in order to back up business-related files related to the specific user's business from cloud storage to on-premise storage; and determine a range of files to be backed up for the specific user, with files used by the business-related users also being candidates for the business-related files to be backed up.

[0077] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-027083, filed February 24, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0078] The present disclosure may be applied to a backup optimization device, a backup optimization method, and a recording medium storing a computer program for the backup optimization device.

[0079] 1 Cloud storage 2 Backup system 3 Local storage 11 Files and folders to be backed up 12 Access log information 21 Information collection device 22 Backup optimization device 22a Optimization unit 23 Backup control device 105 Communication module 211 File and folder information collection unit 212 Access log information collection unit 221 Business-related extraction unit 222 Backup range identification unit 223 Backup frequency identification unit 225 Database 231 Backup control unit 2251 File and folder management table 2252 Access log management table 2253 Business-related file management table 2254 Backup range management table 2255 Backup frequency management table

Claims

1. an optimization unit that identifies a business-related user related to the business of a specific user in order to back up business-related files related to the business of the specific user from the cloud storage to the on-premise storage, and determines a file range to be backed up for the specific user, with files used by the business-related user also being candidates for the business-related files to be backed up; A backup optimization device comprising:

2. The optimization unit further determines a backup frequency of the business-related files based on an update frequency of the business-related files included in the file range to be backed up. The backup optimization device of claim 1 .

3. The optimization unit includes a business-related extraction unit that identifies the business-related user using a business-related degree calculated based on an access log of the specific user of files stored in the cloud-based storage and access logs of users other than the specific user of files stored in the cloud-based storage, and that identifies files used by the identified business-related user as candidates for the business-related files included in the range of files to be backed up.

3. The backup optimization device according to claim 1.

4. 4. The backup optimization device of claim 3, wherein the business-related extraction unit calculates the business relatedness using at least one of the following as an index: the number of matches between the folder paths of the accessed files in the access log of the specific user and the access log of the other user; the difference in the access dates and times of the matched folder paths; and the number of matches between the operations on the files stored in the matched folder paths.

5. the task relevance extraction unit calculates the task relevance using a normalized value of the index, The backup optimization device according to claim 4 .

6. the business-related extraction unit includes, as the business-related files, files that the business-related user has accessed within a recent predetermined period in the range of files to be backed up; The backup optimization device according to claim 3 .

7. The optimization unit includes a backup range specification unit that, when a ratio of the number of the business-related files immediately under the folder to the number of all files immediately under the folder is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, expands the file range to be backed up so that all files immediately under the folder are included in the file range to be backed up.

3. The backup optimization device according to claim 1.

8. The optimization unit includes a backup frequency determination unit that, in determining the update frequency of the business-related files included in the file range to be backed up, sets the shortest update frequency of the files immediately under the folder as the update frequency of all the files immediately under the folder when the folder is included in the file range to be backed up and all the files immediately under the folder are to be backed up. The backup optimization device according to claim 2 .

9. Identifying a business-related user related to a business of a specific user in order to back up business-related files related to the business of the specific user from the cloud storage to the on-premise storage; determining a range of files to be backed up for the specific user, with files used by the business-related user also being candidates for the business-related files to be backed up; A computer-implemented method for optimizing backups.

10. A computer program for a backup optimization device, comprising: Identifying a business-related user related to a business of a specific user in order to back up business-related files related to the business of the specific user from the cloud storage to the on-premise storage; determining a range of files to be backed up for the specific user, with files used by the business-related user also being candidates for the business-related files to be backed up; A computer program for a backup optimization device that causes a computer to perform the following.