| Apparatus for policy based storage of file data and meta-data changes over time -> Monitor Keywords |
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Apparatus for policy based storage of file data and meta-data changes over timeRelated Patent Categories: Data Processing: Database And File Management Or Data Structures, File Or Database Maintenance, Coherency (e.g., Same View To Multiple Users), Version ManagementApparatus for policy based storage of file data and meta-data changes over time description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070185931, Apparatus for policy based storage of file data and meta-data changes over time. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION DATA [0001] This application is a division of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/283,611, filed on Oct. 29, 2002, which is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/283,960, filed Oct. 29, 2002, all of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety for all intents and purposes. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention pertains to data storage, and more particularly to storing changes to data and metadata over time. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] There are times when a user (be it a person or a process on a computer) is interested in knowing what is happening on a computer system. Obviously, the user could sit and watch the computer system over time, observing changes as they happen. But this is not a practical solution: the user would need to dedicate at least some of his attention to the computer system, and the computer system would have to grant the user fairly unfettered access to the computer system to check for events. [0004] Rather than having the user directly observe the computer system, an alternative approach is to program the computer system to inform the user of events occurring on the system. This approach is better, in that it allows the user to do something other than direct his attention to the computer system. Once an event occurs, the computer system notifies the user of the event. [0005] But there are some problems with this approach. First, the computer system informs the user of events one at a time. Although sometimes a user is interested in only individual events, more often the user is interested in looking at a number of events occurring over a period of time. Second, the interfaces to such systems are usually proprietary. That is, to request that a user be notified of events, the user must use special tools, both to make the request and to receive the events. [0006] As an example of the first problem, consider a backup tool archiving the computer system. The backup tool is not interested in receiving individual events indicating changes to files on the computer system: the backup tool only wants to know what files have changed after the time the backup tool performs the archive. If the backup tool only receives individual events, the backup tool must then track the events until it is time to perform the archive. [0007] A need remains for a way to provide a user with means to access events in a sequence preferably using a non-proprietary interface that addresses these and other problems associated with the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The invention is a method and apparatus for storing changes over time. A time domain server defines an epoch with the source server. The time domain server then requests events from the source server. As the time domain server receives events from the source server, the time domain server identifies files affected by the events. The time domain server then copies the affected data and/or metadata from the source server for storage. [0009] The foregoing and other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 shows a computer configured to manage events for consumers, according to an embodiment of the invention. [0011] FIG. 2 shows a timeline of events and epoch beginnings and endings occurring in computer 105 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention. [0012] FIG. 3 shows events occurring in computer 105 of FIG. 1 stored in a b-tree, according to an embodiment of the invention. [0013] FIG. 4 shows events in the b-tree of FIG. 3 being sent to consumers, according to an embodiment of the invention. [0014] FIG. 5 shows event 505 in the b-tree of FIG. 3 being disassociated from epoch 3, according to an embodiment of the invention. [0015] FIG. 6 shows how events are compressed in computer 105 of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. [0016] FIG. 7 shows an event list in computer 105 of FIG. 1 with linked events, according to an embodiment of the invention. [0017] FIGS. 8A-8B show a flowchart of the procedure for associating events with epochs in computer 105 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention. [0018] FIGS. 9A-9C show a flowchart of the procedure for sending events in computer 105 of FIG. 1 to a consumer, according to an embodiment of the invention, [0019] FIG. 10 shows a time domain server interacting with a source server, such as computer 105 of FIG. 1, to store data and metadata, according to an embodiment of the invention. Continue reading about Apparatus for policy based storage of file data and meta-data changes over time... Full patent description for Apparatus for policy based storage of file data and meta-data changes over time Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Apparatus for policy based storage of file data and meta-data changes over time patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Apparatus for policy based storage of file data and meta-data changes over time or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Systems and methods for classifying and transferring information in a storage network Next Patent Application: Controlling consistency of data storage copies Industry Class: Data processing: database and file management or data structures ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Apparatus for policy based storage of file data and meta-data changes over time patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.34873 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
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