Selective data replication system and method

Abstract

The invention relates generally to copying electronic data. More particularly, the invention provides a computerized method for identifying, in a first backup data set, a data item satisfying a selection criterion, and copying to a second backup data set at least a portion of the data item.

1 . A computerized method for copying electronic data stored in a first backup data set, the method comprising: 
 identifying, in the first backup data set, a data item satisfying a selection criterion; and    copying to a second backup data set at least a portion of the data item.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the data item comprises identifying a full backup within a primary backup data set of application data.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the data item comprises identifying a full backup within an auxiliary backup data set of application data.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the data item comprises identifying a data item associated with a data-specific ID.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selection criterion comprises a time criterion and wherein identifying the data item satisfying the selection criterion comprises comparing a time the data item was stored to the time criterion.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the time criterion comprises a day of a week and wherein identifying the data item satisfying the selection criterion comprises comparing a day of the week the data item was stored to the day of the week.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the time criterion comprises a day of a month and wherein identifying the data item satisfying the selection criterion comprises comparing a day of the month the data item was stored to the day of the month.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selection criterion comprises a cycle criterion and wherein identifying the data item satisfying the selection criterion comprises comparing a number of cycles occurring since the data item was stored to the cycle criterion.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the cycle criterion comprises a number of full backups performed and wherein identifying the data item satisfying the selection criterion comprises comparing a number of full backups performed since the data item was stored to the number of full backups.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criteria.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criterion comprises associating, in a data structure, information with the data item indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criterion.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criterion comprises associating, in a matrix, information with the data item indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criterion.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the data item indicated is de-indicated after the data item is copied to the second backup data set.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein de-indicating the data item comprises removing, in a data structure, information associated with the data item indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criterion.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein de-indicating the data item comprises removing, in a matrix, information associated with the data item indicating that the data item satisfies the selection criterion.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the data item indicated will not be pruned by a pruning program unless the data item is first de-indicated.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data item comprises a full backup of application data.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein copying at least a portion of the data item comprises performing an auxiliary copy of at least a portion of the data item.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the copying of at least a portion of the data item is a restart-able operation.  
   
   
       20 . A system for copying electronic data, the system comprising: 
 a first backup data set containing one or more data items;    a second backup data set; and    a computer, connectable to the first backup data set and the second backup data set;    wherein the computer is programmed to identify, in the first backup data set, a first data item satisfying a selection criteria; and to copy at least a portion of the first data item from the first backup data set to the second backup data set.    
   
   
       21 . A computer usable medium storing program code which, when executed on a computerized device, causes the computerized device to execute a computerized method for copying electronic data stored in a first backup data set, the method comprising: 
 identifying, in the first backup data set, a data item satisfying a selection criterion; and    copying to a second backup data set at least a portion of the data item.