User interactions with a database storage system allow creation of virtual databases based on point-in-time copies associated with a source database. Multiple point-in-time copies are obtained for each source database. A point-in-time copy retrieves data changed in the source database since the retrieval of a previous point-in-time copy. A virtual database (VDB) is created by creating a set of files in the data storage system and mounting the files on a database server allowing the database server to access the files. User interactions allow the user to specify the source database, a point in time associated with the source database and a destination server to create the virtual database. User input can specify other attributes associated with the virtual database including the file paths, database parameters etc. The user can specify schedules of various actions, including making and retention of point-in-time copies.

Claims

44 · 3 independent · depth 3

44 granted claims

›1.independentA method of creating a virtual database system, the method comprising:nstoring, by a database storage system, point-in-time copies of one or more sour…+13

A method of creating a virtual database system, the method comprising:nstoring, by a database storage system, point-in-time copies of one or more source databases, wherein each of the one or more source databases stores metadata describing data stored in the source database, wherein a point-in-time copy of a given source database stored in the database storage system comprises one or more database blocks associated with multiple point-in-time copies of the given source database, wherein information stored in a database block comprises metadata associated with the database block;configuring for presentation, by the database storage system, one or more user interfaces for receiving a request for creating a virtual database, the one or more user interfaces configured to receive:ninformation identifying a source database from the one or more source databases,information identifying a point in time associated with the source database, andinformation identifying a destination database server for accessing the virtual database being created;receiving, from the one or more user interfaces, information identifying a particular source database for the virtual database being created;receiving, from the one or more user interfaces, information identifying a particular point in time associated with the particular source database;receiving, from the one or more user interfaces, information identifying a particular destination database server for accessing the virtual database being created;creating the virtual database on the database storage system, wherein the created virtual database stores data corresponding to a state of the particular source database, the state associated with the particular point in time, wherein the created virtual database shares database blocks with one or more other virtual databases stored in the database storage system; andproviding access to the particular destination database server, the access for allowing the particular destination database server to perform read and write operations on the created virtual database.

›2.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein metadata associated with the database block comprises information indicating a time of update of data of the database b…d2

›3.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein metadata associated with the database block comprises information related to the data stored in the database block.d2

›4.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein metadata associated with the database block comprises information related to one or more objects of a database that the…d2

›5.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the particular source database is one of:na live production database;a storage level snapshot of a production database;…d2

›6.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to present a list of potential destination database servers, wherein rec…d2

›7.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to present a list of potential source databases, and wherein receiving i…d2

›8.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to receive a selection of a host server and wherein information identify…d2

›9.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to present a geometric shape, wherein positions in the geometric shape c…d2

›10.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to present a geometric shape, wherein positions in the geometric shape c…d2

›11.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to present a set of database parameters for the virtual database being c…d2+1

›13.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein information identifying the particular destination database server comprises one of a machine name or internet protocol…d2

›14.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further comprising:nconfiguring for presentation a user interface for specifying a group of virtual databases wherein an attrib…d2

›15.independentA non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for:nstoring, by a database storage system, point-in-time copies of one or more…+14

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for:nstoring, by a database storage system, point-in-time copies of one or more source databases, wherein each of the one or more source databases stores metadata describing data stored in the source database, wherein a point-in-time copy of a given source database stored in the database storage system comprises one or more database blocks associated with multiple point-in-time copies of the given source database, wherein information stored in a database block comprises metadata associated with the database block;configuring for presentation, by the database storage system, one or more user interfaces for receiving a request for creating a virtual database, the one or more user interfaces configured to receive:ninformation identifying a source database from the one or more source databases,information identifying a point in time associated with the source database, andinformation identifying a destination database server for accessing the virtual database being created;receiving, from the one or more user interfaces, information identifying a particular source database for the virtual database being created;receiving, from the one or more user interfaces, information identifying a particular point in time associated with the particular source database;receiving, from the one or more user interfaces, information identifying a particular destination database server for accessing the virtual database being created;creating the virtual database on the database storage system, wherein the created virtual database stores data corresponding to a state of the particular source database, the state associated with the particular point in time, wherein the created virtual database shares database blocks with one or more other virtual databases stored in the database storage system; andproviding access to the particular destination database server, the access for allowing the particular destination database server to perform read and write operations on the created virtual database.

›16.↳ 15The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein metadata associated with the database block comprises one or more of:ninforma…d2

›17.↳ 15The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the particular source database is one of:na live production database;a storag…d2

›18.↳ 15The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to present a list of potential…d2

›19.↳ 15The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to present a list of potential…d2

›20.↳ 15The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to receive a selection of a ho…d2

›21.↳ 15The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to present a geometric shape, …d2

›22.↳ 15The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to present a geometric shape, …d2

›23.↳ 15The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to present a set of database p…d2+1

›25.↳ 15The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein information identifying the particular destination database server comprises …d2

›26.↳ 15The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further storing instructions for:nconfiguring for presentation a user interface for s…d2

›27.↳ 15The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein metadata associated with the database block comprises information indicating …d2

›28.↳ 15The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein metadata associated with the database block comprises information related to …d2

›29.↳ 15The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein metadata associated with the database block comprises information related to …d2

›30.independentA computer system comprising:nan electronic processor; anda non-transitory computer readable storage medium for storing instructions for:nstoring, by …+14

A computer system comprising:nan electronic processor; anda non-transitory computer readable storage medium for storing instructions for:nstoring, by a database storage system, point-in-time copies of one or more source databases, wherein each of the one or more source databases stores metadata describing data stored in the source database, wherein a point-in-time copy of a given source database stored in the database storage system comprises one or more database blocks associated with multiple point-in-time copies of the given source database, wherein information stored in a database block comprises metadata associated with the database block;configuring for presentation, by the database storage system, one or more user interfaces for receiving a request for creating a virtual database, the one or more user interfaces configured to receive:ninformation identifying a source database from the one or more source databases,information identifying a point in time associated with the source database, andinformation identifying a destination database server for accessing the virtual database being created;receiving, from the one or more user interfaces, information identifying a particular source database for the virtual database being created;receiving, from the one or more user interfaces, information identifying a particular point in time associated with the particular source database;receiving, from the one or more user interfaces, information identifying a particular destination database server for accessing the virtual database being created;creating the virtual database on the database storage system, wherein the created virtual database stores data corresponding to a state of the particular source database, the state associated with the particular point in time, wherein the created virtual database shares database blocks with one or more other virtual databases stored in the database storage system; andproviding access to the particular destination database server, the access for allowing the particular destination database server to perform read and write operations on the created virtual database.

›31.↳ 30The computer system of claim 30, wherein metadata associated with the database block comprises one or more of:ninformation indicating a time of update…d2

›32.↳ 30The computer system of claim 30, wherein the particular source database is one of:na live production database;a storage level snapshot of a production…d2

›33.↳ 30The computer system of claim 30, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to present a list of potential destination database servers, w…d2

›34.↳ 30The computer system of claim 30, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to present a list of potential source databases, and wherein r…d2

›35.↳ 30The computer system of claim 30, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to receive a selection of a host server and wherein informatio…d2

›36.↳ 30The computer system of claim 30, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to present a geometric shape, wherein positions in the geometr…d2

›37.↳ 30The computer system of claim 30, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to present a geometric shape, wherein positions in the geometr…d2

›38.↳ 30The computer system of claim 30, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to present a set of database parameters for the virtual databa…d2+1

›40.↳ 30The computer system of claim 30, wherein information identifying the particular destination database server comprises one of a machine name or interne…d2

›41.↳ 30The computer system of claim 30, wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage medium further stores instructions for:nconfiguring for presenta…d2

›42.↳ 30The computer system of claim 30, wherein metadata associated with the database block comprises information indicating a time of update of data of the …d2

›43.↳ 30The computer system of claim 30, wherein metadata associated with the database block comprises information related to the data stored in the database …d2

›44.↳ 30The computer system of claim 30, wherein metadata associated with the database block comprises information related to one or more objects of a databas…d2

Classifications

3 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section G — Physics

G06F7/00
G06F11/14
G06F17/00

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Pendency

1.5 y

538 days filing → grant

Office actions

non-final + final

Responses

no RCE

Examiner

Binh V Ho

art unit 2163 · TC 2100

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Citations: 216 back · 0 forward

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Priority chain

1 priority documents

Priority

30 Nov 2010

earliest claimed

›Priority documents — 1

Type	Document	Date
provisional	US 61418396	30 Nov 2010

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