Asynchronous Data Backup With Ordered Updates for Consistency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data backup methods often require suspending business operations to achieve consistent backups across multiple data sets, leading to performance degradation and operational interruptions, especially in systems using asynchronous data copy (ADC) technology.

Innovation Solution

An application group asynchronous data copy (APG-ADC) configuring function ensures that backup data sets are consistent with the original source by configuring asynchronous copying to maintain the same update order as the original data sets, using a snapshot function to produce consistent backups without halting operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional data backup methods are used to ensure consistent backups across multiple data sets, then data consistency is improved, but business operations must be suspended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidbusiness operations continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by recording data changes in a journal volume before actual backup occurs. The journal volume captures all data modifications with sequence information, allowing the backup system to reconstruct consistent backup images later without interrupting ongoing business operations. This preliminary recording enables the decoupling of backup consistency from operational suspension.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a journal volume as an intermediary component between the primary data storage and backup storage. This journal volume acts as a mediator that records all data changes with sequence information, allowing the backup system to achieve consistency without directly interfering with business operations. The journal volume serves as the intermediary that enables asynchronous data capture while maintaining operational continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If asynchronous data copy (ADC) is used to maintain business operations continuity, then productivity is improved, but data consistency across multiple data sets deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebusiness operations continuityVSAvoiddata consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary recording of all data changes in the journal volume with sequence information before backup reconstruction. This preliminary action with sequence numbering allows the system to later reconstruct consistent backup images by processing journal entries in the correct order, thereby achieving data consistency while maintaining asynchronous operation and business continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the backup system continuously monitors and reads from the journal volume to detect data changes. The sequence information in journal entries provides feedback about the order of changes, enabling the backup system to reconstruct consistent backup images by processing changes in the correct sequence, thus maintaining consistency despite asynchronous operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If journal volume recording is used with ADC to capture data changes, then data capture completeness is improved, but update order consistency across multiple data sets deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata capture completenessVSAvoidupdate order consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary recording of all data changes in the journal volume with sequence information assigned at the time of each change. This preliminary action with sequence numbering ensures that even though data changes occur asynchronously across multiple data sets, the original update order is captured and preserved in the journal, enabling later reconstruction of consistent backup images with correct ordering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of locking multiple data sets simultaneously (which would maintain order but stop operations) with an information-based system using sequence numbers in the journal volume. This substitution allows the system to track and reconstruct update order through information recording rather than physical constraints, enabling both completeness and order consistency while maintaining operational continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12475000B2Data backup system and method with data consistency using asynchronous data copy

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 HITACHI VANTARA LTD

AI summary

Backup systems and methods create consistent backups across multiple data sets, while integrating ADC technology. To accomplish this, an application group ADC configuring function (APG-ADC configuring function) configures the ADC to ensure that backup data sets remain consistent with those at the original source. The APG-ADC configuring function configures ADC such as to update backup data sets in the same order as the original data sets.