Patent ID: 7353352

Claim:
A backup system, comprising: a first storage unit configured to store first data using a first storage form; a second storage unit configured to store second data using a second storage form; a backup storage unit configured to store backup data for the first data and the second data; a storage form converter configured to convert into data for the second storage form, the first data stored in the first storage form by the first storage unit, wherein the storage form converter is coupled to the first storage unit and the second storage unit, and wherein for each time interval t 2 , the storage form converter divides into multiple data segments, first data that have been newly added to or updated to the first storage unit, and converts each data segment into the second storage form, and stores the converted data segments in the second storage unit; and a backup manager coupled to the second storage unit and the backup storage unit, wherein the backup manager is configured to copy into the backup storage unit the first data and the second data stored in the second storage form, without being aware of whether the data was stored in the first storage unit or in the second storage unit, and wherein each time a converted data segment is stored in the second storage unit, the backup manager is configured to copy the converted data segment that is stored in the second storage unit to the backup storage unit.