Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-26
2003-08-26
Homere, Jean R. (Department: 2177)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06611850
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention pertains to a backup/restore method and its control apparatus that can generate backup file(s) automatically for each file stored in the recording medium, and enable easy restoration of the original file(s) to a state of designated time period backing from the current time, as well as a computer-readable recording medium including such backup/restoration program.
BACKGROUND ART
Backup shall mean to make a copy of data and/or program(s), i.e. to make an identical copy of data and/or program(s) stored on a recording medium such as hard disk drive or floppy diskette, to another recording medium so as to prevent from file destruction due to hardware trouble and malfunctions, or accidental infection by (a) computer virus(es).
One example expressing the technology pertaining to such backup is, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. SHO 59-108159 on “magnetic disk control apparatus.” The magnetic disk device disclosed in this Publication pertains to a method of storing the block address of a fixed magnetic disk device upon receiving a backup instruction from a processor unit, and, a storing method to temporarily store the contents of a fixed magnetic disk device or a backup storage device, and, a control method to give instruction to (1) a storage method, (2) a temporary storage method, (3) fixed hard disk device(s) and (4) backup storage device(s) upon receiving backup instruction(s) and/or a read/write instruction(s) from a processor unit. This magnetic disk device claims to have an advantage in that the system usage becomes more efficient, and can integrate a more economical computer system, because the processing unit need not be fully occupied (for backup operation) when making backup(s).
Also, another example is, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 3-232012 on “hard disk device with backup mechanism. The hard disk device with backup mechanism as disclosed in this Publication includes (1) a hard disk device as an external storage device to its host processor unit, (2) a backup device to backup this hard disk, (3) an interface to interact with the host processor unit, (4) a button to activate backup operation, and (5) a backup control mechanism to read the data from hard disk device and store them into the backup device while the interface mechanism prevents receiving any commands from the host processor unit, if the hard disk device and the backup device is usable at time when the button is pushed. It claims to have an advantage that this hard disk device with backup mechanism can independently make backup(s) even if there is no backup program running on the host processor unit, and/or make backup(s) even when the host processor unit is in use for other operations.
However, although the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. SHO 59-108159 “magnetic disk control apparatus” has an advantage that it will not occupy the host system to make backups, it has a problem in that it is a straight sector to sector image copy of the hard disk device, and cannot make backup(s) of individual file(s) that the user may want, making it inconvenient to use. Thereby, a straight sector to sector image copy of the hard disk device cannot satisfy the requirement of the users because the users have various requests, such that they may not need to backup an executable file, or want to back up certain data files more frequently than others.
In case of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 3-232012 “hard disk device with backup mechanism,” it has an advantage that it can independently make backup(s) even if there is no backup program running on the host processor unit, and/or make backup(s) even when the host processor unit is in use for other operations, but has a problem in that it is strictly possible under a single tasking OS (operating system) and this device cannot make backup(s) under multi-tasking OS, which is the main stream these days. In other words, under multi-tasking OS, multiple tasks access the hard disk frequently and independently, thereby it is virtually impossible to prohibit receiving commands from the host processor unit and make a backup of the whole hard disk. In addition, the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 3-232012 on “hard disk device with backup mechanism” as well as Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. SHO 59-108159 “magnetic disk control apparatus” had a problem that it cannot make backup of individual file(s) that the user may want because it merely makes a sector to sector image copy of the whole hard disk.
Also, under traditional backup device as in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 3-232012 on “hard disk device with backup mechanism” and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. SHO 59-108159 on “magnetic disk control apparatus,” it is common to designate the backup timing as “make backup now” or “make backup on certain future time (such as 0:00AM tonight, or every Sunday at 0:00AM),” so it can easily restore the disk to the state when backup was last made, but it cannot restore a certain file to a state of designated time (such as one hour ago from current time).
Furthermore, the method as in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 3-232012 on “hard disk device with backup mechanism” as well as Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. SHO 59-108159 on “magnetic disk control apparatus” had a problem where it makes a backup copy “as is” at the time immediately when the instruction is given from the host system or when the “backup button” is pushed, even if the hard disk is infected by a virus or certain data is already corrupted (destroyed). In other words, even when the hard disk is infected by a virus or certain data is already corrupted (destroyed), it still makes a backup of these invalid data, so when the system is restored using that invalid data, it will not completely recover to a usable state.
Accordingly, this invention was made in consideration to above, where the first objective is to enable automatic generation of (a) backup copy(ies) on a “file to file basis” for data stored in the recording medium.
Then, the second objective is, even in case the files are stored in a recording medium under control of a multi-tasking OS, to enable automatic generation of (a) backup(s) without interfering the access of the multi-tasking OS to this recording medium.
Then, the third objective is, to enable easy restoration of the original file(s) to a state of designated time period backing from the current time, using the backed-up file(s).
Then, the fourth objective is, while this invention makes possible to easily restore the files to a state of designated time period backing from the current time, to enable the management of past state of these files using the backed-up copy(ies).
Furthermore, the fifth objective is, for those files selected to make (a) backup(s) of, to check if the file(s) are infected by a virus and/or corrupted (destroyed) before making (a) backup copy(ies) so as to assure the integrity of that/those file(s).
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The backup/restore method as descried in this invention is a backup/restore method consisting of, (1) a “backup copy generating process” where a random file stored in the first storage device is copied to a second storage device to make a backup copy, and (2) a “restore process” where such backup copy generated by the above-mentioned “backup copy generating process” is used to restore (an) existing file(s) or (a) non-existing (i.e., already deleted) file(s) in the first storage device, and (3) a “restore detail instructing process” where the target file (file name) and time period is designated to execute the above-mentioned “restore process” to restore those file(s) to a state of designated time period backing from the current time, and (4) a “restore control process” where, in case a “restore process” is executed during the above-mentioned “restore detail instructing process,” one file that meets the designated “file name” and “time period” criteria is selected and control the execution of the above-mentioned “restor
Homere Jean R.
Reliatech Ltd.
Schreiber D. E.
Wong Leslie
LandOfFree
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