Patent ID: 7543125

Claim:
A method for performing a storage operation, the method comprising: receiving calendar data defining at least a first Gregorian calendar, a second non-Gregorian calendar, and a third non-Gregorian calendar; associating a calendar identifier with each of the Gregorian and non-Gregorian calendars wherein the first Gregorian calendar is associated with a first calendar identifier, the second non-Gregorian calendar is associated with a second calendar identifier, and the third non-Gregorian calendar is associated with a third calendar identifier; storing the calendar data and the first, second, and third calendar identifiers in a database; receiving a first storage policy, the first storage policy comprising first time related data indicating a first frequency for performing a first type of storage operation on one or more data items, the first storage policy associated with the first calendar identifier that identifies the first Gregorian calendar; performing the first type of storage operation associated with the first storage policy by using the first calendar identifier to identify the first Gregorian calendar such that the first type of storage operation is performed at the first frequency based on the first Gregorian calendar; receiving a second storage policy, the second storage policy comprising second time data indicating a second frequency for performing a second type of storage operation on one or more data items, wherein the second type of storage operation is different than the first type of storage operation, and wherein the second storage policy is associated with the second calendar identifier that identifies the second non-Gregorian calendar such that the second frequency for performing the second type of storage operation occurs according to the second non-Gregorian calendar; performing the second type of storage operation associated with the second storage policy by using the second calendar identifier to identify the second non-Gregorian calendar, such that the second type of storage operation is performed at the second frequency based on the second non-Gregorian calendar; receiving a third storage policy, the third storage policy comprising third time data indicating a third frequency for performing a third type of storage operation on one or more data items, wherein the third type of storage operation is different than the first or second types of storage operations, and wherein the third storage policy is associated with the third calendar identifier that identifies the third non-Gregorian calendar such that the third frequency for performing the third type of storage operation occurs according to the third non-Gregorian calendar; performing the third type of storage operation associated with the third storage policy by using the third calendar identifier to identify the third non-Gregorian calendar, such that the third type of storage operation is performed at the third frequency based on the third non-Gregorian calendar.