Patent ID: 8051043
Filing Date: 2011-11-01
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for managing an electronic data backup system, comprising: receiving, at a backup server, a first inventory of electronic data stored on a first remote storage medium, wherein the electronic data comprises actual file data to be backed-up from the first remote storage medium, wherein the first inventory comprises at least one descriptor and wherein the at least one descriptor comprises a cryptographic signature computed based on the actual file data, the cryptographic signature uniquely identifying the electronic data to be backed-up; comparing, at the backup server, the at least one descriptor of the first inventory to a list of descriptors associated with a second inventory of electronic data stored on a backup data storage medium, wherein the second inventory of electronic data comprises shared electronic data from among a plurality of storage mediums including storage mediums different from the first remote storage medium and wherein the at least one descriptor of the first inventory is compared with descriptors in the second inventory that correspond, at least partially, to data stored on the backup data storage medium by storage mediums different from the first remote storage medium; determining that a first descriptor from the at least one descriptor of the first inventory substantially matches a second descriptor from the list of descriptors associated with the second inventory; and reporting, from the backup server, to the first remote storage medium that electronic data associated with the first descriptor is already stored in the backup data storage medium.