Patent ID: 8818955

Claim:
A computer-implemented method to reduce storage costs associated with backing up a database, based on derivation functions, the method comprising: receiving a first request to back up at least a first unit of data stored in the database; responsive to the first request and a determination that the first unit of data is, at least in part, derived from a second unit of data stored in the database, generating a backup of the second unit of data and not of the first unit of data, wherein each of the first unit of data and the second unit of data is contained in a respective, distinct column in the database, wherein the second unit of data is not identical to the first unit of data; retrieving a first derivation function of the derivation functions, specifying how to derive the first unit of data based on the second unit of data; and responsive to a second request to restore at least the first unit of data and by operation of one or more computer processors, restoring the first unit of data from the backup of the second unit of data, based on the first derivation function and not based on any backup of the first unit of data.