Template-Based File Selection for Modular Backup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current backup and migration tools face difficulties in allowing users to easily select files associated with applications, as they often require tedious manual listing and lack flexibility, especially when differing user needs and server resource management are considered.
Innovation Solution
A template-based file selection method that allows users to customize file selection profiles by selecting or de-selecting pre-configured modules, application levels, and individual files, with administrative overrides and geographic-based template feeds, enabling flexible and user-friendly backup environments while preserving customization across updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual file selection is used in traditional backup tools, then users can select specific files, but the process becomes tedious and time-consuming requiring high skill level and trial-and-error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring template files that contain predefined file selection criteria and parameters. These templates are prepared in advance with common file selection patterns, allowing users to simply select from pre-defined options rather than manually configuring each parameter, thereby dramatically reducing the time and skill required for file selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces templates as an intermediary between the user and the complex file selection process. Instead of directly interacting with numerous file selection parameters, users interact with simplified template interfaces that mediate the selection process, translating user intent into detailed file selection configurations automatically.
2Adaptability or versatility
If uniform backup behavior is applied to all workstations, then administrative control is simplified, but individual user needs and geographic differences cannot be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the backup configuration into separate template files, each tailored to specific user needs, geographic locations, or application types. This allows the system to provide customized backup behavior for different workstations while maintaining centralized management, as each template can be independently configured and selected based on user requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing a template system that can serve multiple functions: templates can be customized for individual users, geographic regions, application types, or any combination thereof. The same template framework handles diverse backup scenarios, making the system adaptable to various needs without requiring separate management systems for each case.
3Reliability
If all files including large personal files are backed up, then user data is protected, but valuable server resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling different backup strategies for different file types and locations through customized templates. Templates can specify that certain directories contain personal files requiring full backup, while other directories contain redundant or non-critical files that should be excluded, thereby optimizing server resource usage while maintaining appropriate data protection levels for each location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by allowing templates to define specific parameters such as file size thresholds, file type filters, and directory inclusion/exclusion criteria. These parameters can be adjusted in templates to balance data protection requirements against server resource constraints, enabling dynamic optimization of backup operations based on organizational policies and resource availability.
Data Source
AI summary
File selection techniques that can handle overlapping module contexts provide flexible and reversible backup, restore, migration, deployment and synchronization operations. Both remote (administrative) control and local (user) control of the file selection are provided. Application and configuration specific templates are provided to a user from the remote administrator for further customization by selecting or de-selecting configurations, applications and/or individual files or configuration entries. The templates may be controlled geographically by the IP address or identity associated with the user. A user's interaction with the customization is saved and the order of changes is maintained, so that when the templates are updated, the user's customizations can be re-applied. The administrator may override user settings based on rules, which may also be geographically determined. The file selection may also be altered based on media type and location, e.g., local backup vs. server backup.