Patent ID: 9256612
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: G06F

Claim Text:
1. A computer-implemented method for managing references in deduplicating data systems, at least a portion of the method being performed by a computing device comprising at least one processor, the method comprising: identifying a first instance of a data segment stored within a deduplicating data system that reduces redundant data storage by storing at least two data objects such that each of the two data objects references the first instance of the data segment; identifying an additional data object to be stored by the deduplicating data system, wherein the additional data object comprises the data segment; determining that an age limit of the first instance of the data segment has been reached, wherein the age limit of the first instance of the data segment: preventing storage-space fragmentation within the deduplicating data system by storing, based at least in part on determining that the age limit of the first instance of the data segment has been reached, a second instance of the data segment within the deduplicating data system that is referenced by the additional data object while also retaining the first instance of the data segment within the deduplicating data system.