Patent ID: 6434682
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An automated, computer-driven method for operating a data management system comprising direct-access storage constituting a primary level of storage and multiple removable data storage media constituting an auxiliary level of storage, the system including an inventory containing metadata identifying data objects contained in the auxiliary level, comprising operations of:responsive to each recall request comprising a request to copy a target data object from the auxiliary level to the primary level, performing recall operations comprising: determining whether the target data object meets prescribed future-reconnection criteria, and if so, updating a catalog to include an expedited access indicator associated with the target data object; copying the target data object from the auxiliary level to the primary level; updating the inventory to invalidate metadata identifying the target data object in the auxiliary level; responsive to migration requests each comprising a request to copy a specified data object from the primary level to the auxiliary level, performing migration operations comprising: determining whether the catalog contains an expedited access indicator associated with the specified data object; if the catalog contains an expedited access indicator associated with the specified data object, determining whether restoration of a copy of the specified data from the auxiliary level is possible, and if restoration is not possible, performing a full migration comprising copying contents of the specified data object from the primary level to the auxiliary level; if restoration is possible, performing a shortcut migration comprising updating the inventory to restore invalidated metadata identifying the specified data object in the auxiliary level without copying the specified data object from the primary level to the auxiliary level; and if the catalog does not contain an expedited access indicator associated with the specified data object, copying content of the specified data object from the primary level to the auxiliary level.