Patent ID: 7096392

Claim:
Apparatus comprising a processor and program code to implement a finite state machine with a plurality of states and to effect transitions between the states, the finite state machine providing a data protection service to a data source associated with a host and comprising: a first state for acting upon an upload event; a second state for acting upon a backup event, the finite state machine transitioning from the first state to the second state upon the occurrence of a given incident; a third state for acting upon a resynchronization event, the finite state machine transitioning from the second state to the third state upon the occurrence of a given incident; a fourth state for acting upon a recovery initiation event, the finite state machine transitioning to the fourth state from either the second state or the third state upon the occurrence of a given incident; a fifth state for acting upon a recovery event, the finite state machine transitioning from the fourth state to the fifth state upon the occurrence of a given incident; wherein, upon completion of the recovery event, the finite state machine transitions from the fifth state back to the second state upon the occurrence of a given incident; and a sixth state for acting upon a blackout event that occurs while the finite state machine is in either the second state or the third state; wherein the finite state machine transitions from the second state to the sixth state upon occurrence of a given incident, wherein the given incident that causes this transition is a blackout that occurs while the finite state machine is in the second state or the third state.