Portable Device Data Backup via Network Address Hashing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional data backup over radio communication channels is bandwidth consumptive, especially when transferring large files, leading to prolonged communication times and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for storing data from a network resource associated with a network address, where a portable electronic device generates a content representation of a data record and transmits a network address identifier and the content representation to a backup device, allowing the backup device to retrieve and store the data record only if the content representation matches, thereby reducing unnecessary data transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If data records are transmitted over a radio communication channel for backup, then data can be backed up remotely, but bandwidth consumption increases and transfer time becomes extensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote data backup capabilityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by generating content representations (hashes) of data records before transmission. The portable device creates these representations in advance and sends them to the backup device, which then retrieves actual data records from the network address using these representations, avoiding the need to transmit large amounts of data over the radio channel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential identifying feature (content representation) from the complete data record and transmits only this extracted element over the radio channel. The backup device uses this extracted identifier to retrieve the full data record from the network address, separating the identification function from the data transmission function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If large files are transmitted to portable device and then backed up over radio channel, then data is synchronized, but communication time is prolonged and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata synchronizationVSAvoidcommunication time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses copying by transmitting a copy of the data record's identifying feature (content representation/hash) rather than the actual data. The backup device retrieves the original data from the network address using this copy, creating a backup without requiring transmission of the full data over the radio channel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The content representation acts as an intermediary between the portable device and the backup device. Instead of directly transmitting large data files, the system uses this intermediary identifier to facilitate data retrieval and synchronization, mediating the backup process efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If content representation is transmitted instead of full data record, then bandwidth usage is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer volumeVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the data record into a different parameter form (content representation/hash). This transformation changes the data from its original large-size format into a compact identifier that retains the essential information needed for retrieval, altering the parameter of data size while maintaining data integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP1940186B1Method and apparatus for storing data from a network address
Publication Date: 2009.09.30 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP1940186B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1940186B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1940186B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of storing data from a network address in a database of a portable electronic device (22). The method includes obtaining at the portable electronic device, a data record from the network address (110), storing the data record (112) along with a network address identifier, and transmitting the network address identifier (116) to a backup device for retrieval and storage of the data record from the network.