Automated Content Backup Snapshot Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for backing up multiple storage areas in a consistent state are inefficient, rendering them inaccessible during the backup process, causing inconvenience and loss of productivity.
Innovation Solution
A process that limits update access to metadata and underlying content data only as needed during backup, ensuring components are in an internally consistent state, allowing them to remain available for use by users while backup is performed, and restoring them to a consistent state without rendering the system entirely inaccessible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple storage areas are held in a consistent state during backup by preventing data access, modification, deletion, or addition, then data consistency between storage areas is ensured, but users incur inconvenience and loss of productivity due to inaccessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating snapshots of storage areas before the backup process begins. These snapshots capture the state of storage areas at specific points in time, allowing the backup to proceed without requiring the storage areas to be held in a consistent state during the entire backup process. This enables users to continue accessing and modifying data while the backup occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (snapshot technology) between the storage areas and the backup process. Instead of directly backing up live data which requires consistency, the system creates intermediate snapshot copies that can be backed up without affecting the original storage areas. This intermediary layer allows both data consistency and continuous user access.
2Reliability
If storage areas are rendered inaccessible during backup to ensure consistency, then data consistency is maintained, but availability of the storage system is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates copies of storage area data in the form of snapshots before backing up. These snapshot copies are point-in-time representations that can be backed up without requiring the original storage areas to be inaccessible. The copying mechanism allows the backup process to work on static copies while the original data remains accessible and modifiable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic backup approach where snapshots are created at specific points in time rather than requiring the system to be static throughout the entire backup process. This dynamic approach allows the storage areas to remain accessible and changing while the backup process operates on the captured snapshot states.
3Reliability
If traditional backup methods are used to ensure consistent state, then data consistency is achieved, but the backup process becomes complex and requires holding multiple storage areas inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the consistency requirement from the backup process itself and transfers it to the snapshot creation mechanism. Instead of requiring the backup process to manage consistency across multiple storage areas, the system extracts and captures consistent states separately through snapshots, which are then backed up independently. This simplifies the backup process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the backup process into two distinct phases: snapshot creation and backup execution. The snapshot phase captures consistent states without requiring the storage areas to be held inaccessible, and the backup phase processes these snapshots. This segmentation reduces the complexity of managing consistency during the backup process.
Data Source
AI summary
Performing a backup is disclosed. A first set of data associated with a second set of data is backed up. The first set of data is made available for use before backing up the second set of data. The second set of data is backed up within a prescribed interval after completing the backup of the first set of data. One of the first set of data and the second set data comprises metadata associated with the other of the first set of data and the second set of data and the other comprises one or more items of managed content.