Patent ID: 8812436

Claim:
A method for defining a lifecycle policy for each of one or more data images, the method comprising: selecting a data image stored on a first data storage medium for definition of a first lifecycle, wherein the first lifecycle includes moving the data image from the first data storage medium to a second data storage medium as part of a backup operation; presenting to the user, in a graphical user interface, one or more time windows of availability for moving the data image during a duplication operation, wherein the one or more time windows of availability are determined to not overlap a time window for the backup operation by more than a predetermined threshold; defining said first lifecycle, wherein said defining comprises: identifying a first point-in-time value which indicates both (i) when to automatically initiate movement of the data image from the first data storage medium to a the second data storage medium and (ii) when to automatically delete the data image on the first data storage medium at least after movement of the data image is completed; and identifying a second point-in-time value which indicates when to allow initial movement of the data image from the second data storage medium to a third data storage medium; storing data corresponding to said first lifecycle, wherein said data comprises data which identifies the data image, the first point-in-time value, the second point-in-time value, the first data storage medium, and the second data storage medium.