Block Level Incremental Backup Merging Strategy

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Solution Overview

Problem

As the number of incremental backups grows, recovery time increases significantly, and forcing a full backup to reduce recovery time consumes storage space and time.

Innovation Solution

Creating a full backup copy of selected data and merging the oldest incremental backup into the full backup at a desired time, reducing the number of backups needed for recovery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If incremental backups are performed frequently over time, then storage efficiency is improved and backup time is reduced, but recovery time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackup efficiencyVSAvoidrecovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary merging of incremental backups into the full backup at scheduled intervals, so that when recovery is needed, the backup set already contains consolidated data. This preliminary action reduces the number of incremental backups that need to be applied during recovery, thus reducing recovery time while maintaining storage efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The backup system dynamically adjusts the backup strategy by merging incremental backups into the full backup at optimized intervals. This dynamic approach balances storage efficiency (using incremental backups) with recovery speed (periodically consolidating into full backup), adapting to the evolving backup set over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If a full backup is forced to reduce recovery time, then recovery time is reduced, but storage space consumption and backup time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecovery timeVSAvoidstorage space

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of performing complete full backups at regular intervals, the system performs partial merges of only the changed blocks from incremental backups into the full backup. This partial action approach reduces storage space consumption and backup time while still achieving the goal of reducing recovery time by consolidating backups periodically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of time

If a full backup is forced to reduce recovery time, then recovery time is reduced, but backup time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecovery timeVSAvoidbackup time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs partial merges of only the changed blocks from incremental backups into the full backup, rather than copying entire datasets. This partial action significantly reduces backup time while still achieving consolidation benefits for faster recovery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary merging operations at scheduled intervals, consolidating incremental backups into the full backup before recovery is needed. This preliminary consolidation reduces the number of incremental backups that must be applied during recovery, reducing recovery time without requiring frequent full backups.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9122638B2Block level incremental backup

Publication Date: 2015.09.01 CA TECH INC

AI summary

A system and method include creating a full backup copy of selected data from a storage device. A series of incremental backups are created over time following the creation of the full backup copy. The oldest incremental backup is merged into the full backup at a desired time.