Virtual Application Environment for Legacy Data Archiving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data becomes inaccessible when the proprietary database, operating system, or hardware is no longer available, even if a valid backup exists, due to the unavailability of the corresponding systems and hardware, leading to substantial retrieval costs and complexities.
Innovation Solution
A computer system that generates a virtual application environment including the data, corresponding application program, and operating system, allowing the data to be archived and accessed on any compatible hardware using virtual machine technology, eliminating the need for maintaining obsolete hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is archived using proprietary database systems, then data can be stored and backed up, but data becomes inaccessible when the proprietary database, operating system, or hardware is no longer available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the entire application environment including the proprietary database, operating system, and hardware emulation layer. This virtual environment is captured as an image file that can be executed on any modern hardware platform, effectively copying the historical computing environment without requiring the original physical hardware to remain available.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual machine as an intermediary layer between the archived data and modern hardware. The virtual machine emulates the original hardware and operating system environment, allowing the proprietary database to run on contemporary hardware through this mediating virtualization layer, thus resolving the hardware compatibility issue while maintaining data accessibility.
2Reliability
If old hardware and operating systems are maintained to access archived data, then data accessibility is preserved, but substantial expense and complexity are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining physical copies of obsolete hardware and operating systems, the patent creates a software-based virtual copy of the entire application environment. This virtual environment image can be stored and executed on modern hardware, eliminating the need to maintain aging physical infrastructure while preserving exact data accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical system of maintaining actual old hardware and operating systems with a software-based virtualization solution. The virtual machine image file substitutes for physical hardware maintenance, allowing the same data access functionality to be achieved through software emulation rather than physical system maintenance.
3Quantity of substance
If proprietary database systems are used for data archiving, then data can be stored, but retrieval becomes difficult when the proprietary system is no longer in use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal virtual environment image that encapsulates the proprietary database system within a virtual machine. This single image file can be executed on any modern hardware platform running compatible virtualization software, making the archived data universally accessible regardless of the host system's proprietary status. The virtual machine image serves multiple functions across different hardware platforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by capturing and preserving the entire application environment (including the proprietary database, operating system, and configuration) in a virtual image format at the time of archiving. This pre-packaged environment ensures that when data needs to be retrieved, the complete operational context is already preserved and can be immediately deployed on modern hardware without needing to source or configure the original proprietary system.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer system suitable for archiving data with a corresponding application program in a virtual application environment is presented. The computer system includes a processor, a memory, and a storage. The computer system also includes an operating system, data to be archived, and an application program that correspond to the data, such that the application program can operate on the data. The computer system also includes a virtual application environment generator. In response to an instruction to archive the data, the virtual application environment generator generates a virtual application environment. The virtual application environment comprises the data, the corresponding application program, and the operating system.