Patent ID: 7254596

Claim:
A method for deciding whether a specific file on a target computer should be backed up to a central storage system, said method comprising the steps of: computing a specific hashing key from the content of said specific file; verifying if said specific hashing key is already present in a local database, wherein, for each computer file on said target computer which has been previously backed up, said local database comprises a record including: a file hashing key computed from said computer file; and a local file path in said target computer where said computer file should be restored, said file path being associated with said file hashing key; if said specific hashing key is not present in said local database, backing up said specific file by performing the steps of: creating a backup file which is a duplicate of said specific file; renaming said backup file to said specific hashing key; storing said renamed backup file in said central storage system; and storing in said local database a new record including said specific hashing key and a specific path in said target computer where said specific file should be restored; and if said specific hashing key is present in said local database not backing up said specific file in said central storage system.