Automated File Remediation via Cross-System Hash Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current backup systems lack effective detection and remediation methods for individual files affected by tampering or corruption, as they are primarily designed for disaster recovery of entire volumes rather than identifying and addressing losses in individual files.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that compares newly received file copies to identical copies on other systems, using preliminary and secondary characteristics to detect tampering or corruption, and replaces corrupted files with clean versions from backups or deployment masters, employing a diagnostic engine to analyze the cause of corruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If backup systems focus on disaster recovery of entire volumes, then large-scale data loss can be recovered, but individual file corruption or tampering cannot be detected or remediated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backup verification process by analyzing individual files separately rather than treating entire volumes as single units. Each file is examined for corruption or tampering independently, enabling detection of individual file issues while maintaining the overall backup system structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual or automated scanning methods with a diagnostic engine that uses machine learning or heuristic analysis to automatically detect corruption patterns. This substitution enables more sophisticated detection of individual file tampering without requiring manual intervention.
2Reliability
If automated detection and remediation of individual files is implemented, then file-level data integrity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by creating and storing diagnostic signatures or hash values of files during the backup process. These pre-computed values enable rapid comparison and detection of corruption without requiring complex real-time analysis during restoration, thereby reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup system performs self-diagnosis by automatically comparing file characteristics against stored references and self-correcting by restoring corrupted files from backup copies without requiring external intervention. This self-service capability reduces operational complexity while maintaining high reliability.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive file analysis is performed to detect tampering, then detection accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing multi-level analysis: a quick first-pass scan checks basic file attributes and hash values, followed by more intensive analysis only for files that show signs of potential corruption. This approach maintains high detection accuracy while minimizing overall processing time by avoiding exhaustive analysis of all files.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer-readable storage medium for ascertaining a set of preliminary characteristics of a first data structure and, responsive to determining that the set of preliminary characteristics matches a set of characteristics of a reference data structure, determining that a secondary characteristic of the first data structure indicates a replacement of the first data structure with the reference data structure is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention further include replacing the first data structure with the reference data structure, in response to determining that the secondary characteristic of the first data structure indicates the replacement of the first data structure.