Patent ID: 7356734
Filing Date: 2008-04-08
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for data backup, comprising the steps of: receiving a request from a subscriber server for backing up at least one data increment which was previously transmitted without a separate prior backup request and operation between said subscriber server and a remote destination through a provider server; identifying said at least one data increment; checking said at least one provider server to determine if it has a copy of at least a portion of the identified data increment or can regenerate or replicate at least a portion of the identified data increment; and backing up the data increment using the copy or regenerated or replicated portion from the provider server if it is found; wherein said step of identifying said at least one data increment includes evaluating at least one of a date stamp, time stamp, sequence number, source address, URL and checksum of the data increment at the subscriber server, and sending an identifier for each identified data increment to a service provider data backup server which includes plural servers that monitor and copy data having specified properties determined to be indicative of data likely to be subject to said request from a subscriber.