Real-Time File Capture System for Automated Backup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data preservation methods are inefficient and user-knowledge intensive, often resulting in data loss due to user errors, hardware failures, and software issues, as they require manual intervention, scheduled backups, or mirroring, which can miss critical changes and are cumbersome, especially when storage devices are unavailable.
Innovation Solution
A file capture and management system that automatically captures files just before or after changes occur, allowing for near real-time archiving and storage even when the destination storage medium is unavailable, with minimal user intervention and no impact on system performance, using a method that includes detecting file operations and creating archive files for storage in various locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual backup systems are used, then users can control which files to backup, but the process is time-consuming and users may forget to backup
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors and captures files without requiring user intervention. The file capture module detects when files are created, modified, or deleted and automatically captures them to the backup storage device, eliminating the need for users to manually select and backup files while ensuring continuous protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs backup actions before critical failures occur by continuously monitoring file changes and capturing files in real-time. This preliminary action ensures that files are backed up automatically at the moment of creation or modification, preventing data loss before it can occur.
2Extent of automation
If schedule based backup systems are used, then backups are performed automatically, but critical changes between schedule points are missed
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous monitoring of file changes rather than relying on periodic schedules. The file capture module operates continuously, detecting and capturing files at the exact moment they are created, modified, or deleted, ensuring no data changes are missed between backup operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements real-time feedback by continuously monitoring file system events and automatically triggering capture operations when changes are detected. This feedback mechanism ensures that backup actions are immediately responsive to actual file changes, eliminating the delays inherent in schedule-based systems.
3Reliability
If mirroring backup systems are used, then real-time file copying occurs, but user errors like accidental deletes are propagated to the backup
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential file data for backup purposes while filtering out erroneous operations. The file capture module selectively captures files based on legitimate changes and excludes operations that would propagate errors, such as accidental deletions, thereby maintaining backup integrity while achieving real-time synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification of file changes before capturing them for backup. By analyzing the nature of file operations and capturing files only when legitimate changes are detected, the system prevents user errors from being propagated to the backup storage device while maintaining real-time synchronization.
4Adaptability or versatility
If backup storage device is unavailable, then schedule based systems cannot function, but the invention allows capturing files temporarily
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a temporary storage dimension when the primary backup storage device is unavailable. Files are captured and stored temporarily in a buffer or alternative location, and only transferred to the final backup destination when it becomes available, maintaining continuous protection without requiring constant availability of the backup storage device.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for archiving files includes determining when a change in an operating file is imminent, capturing the operating file immediately before the change in the operating file occurs, if the operating file has not already been captured; and capturing the operating file immediately after the change in the operating file has occurred.