Intelligent Backup Target Selection for Mobile Assets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional backup systems face challenges in efficiently managing backups for mobile assets due to network connectivity issues and the need for manual reconfiguration of backup targets as assets change locations, leading to high costs and potential data loss risks.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent destination target selection process that dynamically selects the best available backup target based on attributes like network throughput and availability, using temporary backup targets to minimize data loss and automate the backup process, while also allowing data restores from both primary and temporary backup targets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed backup target is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but backup performance and reliability deteriorate when assets change location
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects backup targets based on the asset's current geographic location and network conditions. Instead of using a fixed backup target, the backup agent automatically determines the optimal backup target from multiple available targets based on real-time factors such as proximity to the asset's location and network throughput, thereby maintaining high backup reliability while adapting to mobile assets.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the backup agent continuously monitors the asset's location and network conditions, then uses this information to select the most appropriate backup target. This feedback loop ensures that backup operations maintain high reliability by adapting to changing conditions without requiring manual intervention.
2Productivity
If manual reconfiguration of backup targets is performed when assets change location, then backup target can be updated, but time consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The backup system performs self-service through automated target selection. The backup agent on the mobile asset automatically determines the optimal backup target based on the asset's current location and network conditions, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration. This self-service mechanism significantly improves backup operation efficiency while reducing the time required for target updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures multiple potential backup targets in advance, so when the asset changes location, the backup agent can immediately select from the pre-established list of available targets without requiring manual setup. This preliminary preparation of backup targets enables rapid automated selection and maintains high productivity.
3Reliability
If incremental backup is used instead of full backup, then backup time and costs are reduced, but data consistency and reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines whether to perform incremental or full backups based on the selected backup target and current conditions. When a temporary backup target is selected, incremental backups are used to maintain fast backup speed. When consolidating to the primary backup target, the system ensures data consistency by performing appropriate backup operations, thus balancing reliability and productivity adaptively.
4Adaptability or versatility
If temporary backup targets are used for mobile assets, then backup flexibility and continuous availability are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backup agent acts as an intermediary that manages multiple backup targets. It automatically selects between temporary and primary backup targets based on the asset's location and network conditions, shielding users from the complexity of managing multiple targets. This intermediary mechanism provides backup flexibility while maintaining simple user interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup target infrastructure is segmented into temporary backup targets and primary backup targets, each serving specific purposes. Temporary targets handle mobile asset backups with fast access, while primary targets provide long-term storage and consolidation. This segmentation enables flexibility for mobile assets while organizing the complexity into manageable, functionally distinct components.
Data Source
AI summary
A system that automatically determines ideal temporary backup targets (TBTs) to store and restore backup data. For multiple TBTs, backup data is saved with location information to restore incremental backup data from these multiple targets. Hashes of each file are stored in a Merkle tree to enable data restore workflows and minimizing an amount of storage required to hold backup data. The lowest tree level comprises hashes of the backup data chunks, and higher levels contain hashes of the next lower levels. A backup target location value is added to non-data chunk hash records in the higher levels to identify where any piece of backup data is located so that restore operations can occur when the backup data is spread across multiple backup targets.