Incremental Data Backup via Router Checksum Query

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data backup methods for mobile terminals are time-consuming due to the need to transmit all data, leading to inefficient data transfer and suboptimal storage utilization.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an incremental backup method that detects new files on the terminal, calculates a checked value using an algorithm like MD5, and queries the router to determine if the file exists before transmitting, thereby reducing data transmission and enhancing storage efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all data is transmitted for backup every time, then data security is ensured, but data transmission time and storage space consumption increase significantly

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

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by calculating and transmitting file checksums (MD5 values) before actual file transmission. The router queries whether files with the same checksum already exist in its storage, allowing the system to determine in advance whether full backup is necessary, thus avoiding unnecessary data transmission while ensuring data security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the essential identification feature of files (checksum values) from the complete file data. By transmitting and comparing only these extracted checksums rather than entire files, the system determines whether actual file transmission is needed, significantly reducing backup time while maintaining data security through selective transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If all data is transmitted for backup every time, then complete data backup is achieved, but transmission quantity and storage space consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata backup completenessVSAvoiddata transmission quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential identification feature of files (checksum values) from the complete file data. By transmitting and comparing only these extracted checksums rather than entire files, the system determines whether actual file transmission is needed, significantly reducing backup time while maintaining data security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by calculating and transmitting file checksums (MD5 values) before actual file transmission. The router queries whether files with the same checksum already exist in its storage, allowing the system to determine in advance whether full backup is necessary, thus avoiding unnecessary data transmission while ensuring data security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If incremental backup based on new file detection is implemented, then transmission quantity is reduced, but system complexity increases due to file detection and comparison mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission quantityVSAvoidbackup system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical file comparison systems with a simplified checksum-based identification system. Instead of comparing entire files or their metadata structures, the system uses cryptographic hash functions (MD5) to generate unique identifiers for files, making the comparison process computationally efficient and structurally simple while still enabling accurate incremental backup detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Loss of substance

If router queries each file before backup, then repeated backups are avoided and storage utilization improves, but query processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage space utilizationVSAvoidquery processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential identification feature of files (checksum values) from the complete file data. By transmitting and comparing only these extracted checksums rather than entire files, the system determines whether actual file transmission is needed, significantly reducing backup time while maintaining data security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical file comparison systems with a simplified checksum-based identification system. Instead of comparing entire files or their metadata structures, the system uses cryptographic hash functions (MD5) to generate unique identifiers for files, making the comparison process computationally efficient and structurally simple while still enabling accurate incremental backup detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2985979B1Method and terminal for backing up data
Publication Date: 2017.07.05 XIAOMI INC
  • EP2985979B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2985979B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2985979B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method for backing up data, a device for backing up data and an electronic device. The method includes: determining whether a new file of a predetermined type exists locally (102); calculating a checked value corresponding to the new file according to a predetermined algorithm if the new file of the predetermined type exists (104); sending a query request containing the checked value to a router connected, so as to query whether a file having the checked value is stored in the router (106); backing up the new file to the router if determining that no file having the checked value is stored in the router according to a query result returned from the router (108).