Patent ID: 8938595
Filing Date: 2015-01-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for removing redundant data from a backup storage system implementing a forward referencing scheme, the method comprising: storing, by a back-up application, a more recent back-up data object at a first physical location, the more recent back-up data object having been backed-up more recently than a less recent back-up data object that is distinct from the more recent back-up data object and that is stored at a second physical location different from the first physical location, the more recent back-up data object including a first redundant portion and a first unique portion, the less recent back-up data object including a second redundant portion and a second unique portion, the first unique portion including data different from the second unique portion; identifying the less recent back-up data object created by the back-up application, the less recent back-up data object having been backed-up less recently than the more recent back-up data object; detecting that the first redundant portion is a copy of the second redundant portion; replacing the second redundant portion with a pointer to the first redundant portion; and accessing, via the pointer to the first redundant portion by the back-up application, the more recent back-up data object at the first physical location.