Incremental Physical to Virtual Backup of Computer System Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional computing systems fail to provide a portable computing environment that allows users to access the same operating system and application software on different computer systems, as they only make data portable but not the computing environment itself, leading to incompatibilities due to differing user interfaces and configurations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that capture a baseline image of a host computer's environment on an external storage device, allowing it to be launched on a virtual machine on a guest computer, with incremental changes synchronized back to the host, creating an aggregate baseline image that replicates the native host environment on any computer system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users transfer data between computer systems using conventional methods, then data portability is achieved, but the computing environment (operating system and application software) remains incompatible across different systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the entire host computing environment (operating system, application software, and configuration settings) and stores it on a portable storage device. This copy can be launched on guest computer systems that lack the required software, allowing users to access their familiar computing environment across different hardware platforms without relying on the guest system's native software configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual machine as an intermediary layer between the guest computer system and the portable computing environment. The virtual machine software runs on the guest system and provides the necessary abstraction to execute the portable operating system image, enabling software compatibility without requiring the guest system to have the same native software configuration
2Adaptability or versatility
If a complete baseline image of the host environment is captured and transported, then full computing environment portability is achieved, but the storage device size and data transfer time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the computing environment backup into two segments: a complete baseline image captured once, and subsequent incremental backup images that capture only changes. The baseline image provides the foundation for full environment portability, while incremental images reduce the time and storage required for updates, allowing the system to maintain portability without requiring complete re-backups
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs the complete baseline image capture in advance as a preliminary action. This one-time comprehensive backup establishes the portable computing environment foundation, after which only incremental changes need to be backed up. This preliminary action eliminates the need to repeatedly backup the entire environment, significantly reducing subsequent backup and restore times while maintaining full portability capability
3Quantity of substance
If incremental backup images are generated to reduce storage requirements, then storage efficiency improves, but the complexity of managing and synchronizing multiple image versions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automatic feedback mechanism that monitors changes to the host computing environment and triggers incremental backup operations accordingly. The system continuously compares the current environment state with the stored baseline image, automatically generating new incremental backup images only when changes are detected. This feedback loop simplifies image management by eliminating manual intervention while maintaining storage efficiency through selective incremental backups
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for capturing a complete baseline image of the operating environment of a host computer system on an external storage device and for generating incremental backups of the operating environment as changes to the operating environment are identified to create an aggregate baseline image of the operating environment of the host computer system. The external storage device can be disconnected from the host computer system and connected to a remote host where the aggregate baseline image can be used launch a remote host environment on a virtual machine running on the remote host. The remote host environment allows a user to make changes to the remote host environment and the changes can be written back to external storage device as a delta image that is included in the aggregate baseline image. The aggregate baseline image can then be synchronized with the native host.