US5634052A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for reducing storage requirements and transmission loads in a backup subsystem in client-server environment by transmitting only delta files from client to server
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1994-10-24
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Granted: 1997-05-27
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Expires: 2014-10-24
Abstract
Abstract In a client/server environment having a backup subsystem, a method and means for reducing the storage requirement in said backup subsystem and further reducing the load on the transmission bandwidth between the clients and the backup subsystem. This is accomplished by maintaining a copy of frequently accessed files on both the server and clients when a file is modified on the client, a delta file which is the difference between the base file and the modified version of the base file is created and transmitted to the server to be stored on a storage medium which is part of the backup subsystem. Alternatively, whenever a client modifies a file, the base version of that file is transmitted to the client from the server, a delta file is created and transmitted to the server to be stored on the storage device which is part of the backup subsystem. Alternatively, modified files are transmitted to the backup server and the differencing is carried out at the backup server.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. T. Morris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/14; G06F11/1446; G06F11/1448; G06F11/1458; G06F11/1464; H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for reducing storage requirements and transmission loads in a client-server environment having a client and a backup subsystem, the backup subsystem comprising a backup server, a server backup program, a storage medium, and a copy of a versioned sequence of a file stored in the storage medium, said versioned sequence comprising a base version of said file and predetermined number of delta files, the client having a copy of the base version of said file stored in a client storage medium, the client and the server are connected to each other by a communication link, comprising the steps of: establishing a backup session between the client and the backup server; detecting a changed version of said file at the client; differencing, using the client, the changed version of said file and the base version of said file at the client to create a delta file; and transmitting said delta file, using said communication link, to the backup subsystem.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for reducing storage requirements and transmission loads in a client-server environment having a client and a backup subsystem, the backup subsystem comprising a backup server, a server backup program, a storage medium, and a copy of a versioned sequence of a file stored in the storage medium, said versioned sequence comprising a base version of said file and predetermined number of delta files, the client having a copy of the base version of said file stored in a client storage medium, the client and the server are connected to each other by a communication link, comprising the steps of: establishing a backup session between the client and the backup server; detecting a changed version of said file at the client; differencing, using the client, the changed version of said file and the base version of said file at the client to create a delta file; and transmitting said delta file, using said communication link, to the backup subsystem.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as recited in claim 1 further including the steps of: generating the changed version of said file at the backup subsystem using said delta file and the base version of said file; storing said delta file in the backup subsystem; and storing the changed version of said file as the new base version of said file in the backup subsystem.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 2 further including the step of deleting the base version of said file at the backup subsystem after generating the changed version of said file at the backup subsystem.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of differencing at the client further includes the steps of: checking the storage medium at the client to determine if a copy of the base version of said file is available in the client storage medium; requesting a copy of the base version of said file from the backup subsystem if a copy of the base version of said file is not available in the client storage medium; and receiving a copy of the base version of said file, using the communication link, from the backup subsystem if a copy of the base version of said file is not available in the client storage medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said client storage medium is a cache memory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 4 further including the step of deleting the oldest delta file in said versioned sequence after storing the new base version of said file in the backup subsystem.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said communication link is a transmission line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said backup server is a personal computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said backup server is a workstation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said backup subsystem storage medium comprises a magnetic storage device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said backup subsystem storage medium comprises an optical storage device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said backup subsystem storage medium comprises a tape storage device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a client-server environment having a client and a backup subsystem, said backup subsystem comprising a backup server and a backup storage medium, and where the client comprises a client storage medium, said client and said backup server connected to each other by a communication link, a method for reducing the storage requirements and transmission loads in said client-server environment, comprising the steps of: storing a versioned sequence of a file, using the backup storage medium, in the backup subsystem, said versioned sequence comprising a base version of a file and a predetermined number of delta files; transmitting, using the communication link, a copy of said base version of the file to the client whenever the client needs to further process said file; differencing, using the client, a changed version of said file and the base version of said file to create a delta file; transmitting, using the communication link, said delta file to the server; and storing said delta file in the backup subsystem storage medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a client-server environment having a client and a backup subsystem, said backup subsystem comprising a backup server and a backup storage medium, and where the client comprises a client storage medium, said client and said backup server connected to each other by a communication link, a method for reducing the storage requirements and transmission loads in said client-server environment, comprising the steps of: storing a versioned sequence of a file, using the backup storage medium, in the backup subsystem, said versioned sequence comprising a base version of a file and a predetermined number of delta files; transmitting, using the communication link, a copy of said base version of the file to the client whenever the client needs to further process said file; differencing, using the client, a changed version of said file and the base version of said file to create a delta file; transmitting, using the communication link, said delta file to the server; and storing said delta file in the backup subsystem storage medium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as recited in claim 13 further including the steps of: creating the changed version of said file at the backup subsystem using said delta file and the base version of said file; storing the changed version of said base file at the backup subsystem; and deleting the base version of said file from the backup subsystem.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 13 further including the step of storing a copy of the base version of said file in the client according to an established qualification criteria.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as recited in claim 13 further including the step of storing the changed version of said file in the client at the completion of differencing the changed version of said base file and the base version of said file.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 13 further including the step of storing said delta file in the backup subsystem so the base version of said file can be updated at a later time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a client-server system having a client and a backup subsystem, the backup subsystem comprising a backup server and a backup storage medium, and where the client comprises a client storage medium, the client and the backup server connected to each other by a communication link, the client-server environment comprising: means for storing a versioned sequence of a file comprising a base version of a file and a predetermined number of delta files in the backup subsystem; means for transmitting a copy of the base version of said file to the client whenever the client needs to further process said file; means for differencing a changed version of said file and the base version of said file to create a delta file at the client; means for transmitting said delta file to the backup subsystem; and means for storing said delta file in the backup subsystem.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a client-server system having a client and a backup subsystem, the backup subsystem comprising a backup server and a backup storage medium, and where the client comprises a client storage medium, the client and the backup server connected to each other by a communication link, the client-server environment comprising: means for storing a versioned sequence of a file comprising a base version of a file and a predetermined number of delta files in the backup subsystem; means for transmitting a copy of the base version of said file to the client whenever the client needs to further process said file; means for differencing a changed version of said file and the base version of said file to create a delta file at the client; means for transmitting said delta file to the backup subsystem; and means for storing said delta file in the backup subsystem.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system as defined in claim 18 further comprising: means for creating the changed version of said file at the backup subsystem using the base version of said file; means for storing the changed version of said file at the backup server; and means for deleting the base version of said file at the backup server.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
164 words
In a client-server environment having a client and a backup subsystem, the backup subsystem comprising a backup server and a backup storage medium, and where the client comprises a client storage medium, the client and the server connected to each other by a communication link, said client-server environment comprising: means for storing a versioned sequence of a file comprising a base version of a file and a predetermined number of delta files in the backup subsystem; means for storing a copy of the base version of said file in the client; means for processing a changed version of said file at the client; means for differencing the changed version of said file and the base version of said file to create a delta file at the client; means for transmitting the delta file to the server; and means for storing said delta file in the backup subsystem so the base version of said at the backup subsystem can be updated at a predetermined time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
164 words
In a client-server environment having a client and a backup subsystem, the backup subsystem comprising a backup server and a backup storage medium, and where the client comprises a client storage medium, the client and the server connected to each other by a communication link, said client-server environment comprising: means for storing a versioned sequence of a file comprising a base version of a file and a predetermined number of delta files in the backup subsystem; means for storing a copy of the base version of said file in the client; means for processing a changed version of said file at the client; means for differencing the changed version of said file and the base version of said file to create a delta file at the client; means for transmitting the delta file to the server; and means for storing said delta file in the backup subsystem so the base version of said at the backup subsystem can be updated at a predetermined time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system as defined in claim 20 further comprising: means for creating the changed version of said file at the backup subsystem using the delta file and the base version of said file; means for storing the changed version of said file at the backup server; and means for deleting the base version of said file at the backup server.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-05-26 | 2000-11-25 | 2001-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-26 | 2004-11-25 | 2005-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-26 | 2008-11-25 | 2009-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |