Virtual Data Partition for User Backup During Terminal Faults

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

When a terminal's data partition is faulty, it cannot be used, leading to the loss of user data if factory settings are restored, causing significant inconvenience to users.

Innovation Solution

A data backup method that displays a screen with options to restore factory settings and back up data, allowing the terminal to create a virtual data partition to start the operating system and transfer user data to an external storage medium.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the terminal restores factory settings to resolve data partition faults, then the terminal can be reused, but user data is permanently lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal usabilityVSAvoiduser data loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs data backup before restoring factory settings. When a data partition fault is detected, the terminal automatically creates a backup of user data to a safe location before proceeding with the factory reset, ensuring data is preserved in advance of the harmful operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces a backup storage mechanism as an intermediary between the faulty data partition and the factory reset process. This intermediary captures and preserves user data, allowing the terminal to be reset without permanently losing information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If the terminal creates a virtual data partition to start the operating system, then user data can be accessed and backed up, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser data accessibilityVSAvoidpartition management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the storage space by creating a virtual data partition that is separated from the faulty first data partition. This segmentation allows the operating system to access user data through the virtual partition without being blocked by faults in the original partition, while keeping the two partitions independent and manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual copy of the data partition structure that mirrors the functionality needed for accessing user data. This virtual partition serves as a functional duplicate that enables data access and backup operations without requiring direct access to the faulty physical partition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12222823B2User data backup to data partition of storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.02.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

Embodiments of this application relate to the field of storage technologies, and disclose a data backup method and a terminal, to back up user data in a terminal when the terminal cannot be used. A specific solution is as follows: A terminal includes a first data partition, and the first data partition supports to start an operating system when the terminal is powered on. The terminal starts the operating system by using a second data partition after detecting a power-on failure of the terminal or detecting a preset operation of a user. The second data partition is a blank data partition. After the operating system is successfully started, the terminal transmits user data in the first data partition to a first storage medium. The first storage medium is located outside the terminal and is connected to the terminal.