How Computers Safely Resume Interrupted Data Backups
A method for computers to pause a large data backup and resume exactly where they left off without restarting the entire process from scratch.
Original patent title: “Manipulating electronic backups”
A method for computers to pause a large data backup and resume exactly where they left off without restarting the entire process from scratch. Granted to Apple Inc in 2012 with 20 claims and 5 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a system that tracks the progress of a data backup, allowing it to be interrupted by a user or a system event like a crash. When the backup resumes, the system compares timestamps on the existing backup files against the last successful backup to determine which data is already safe. It then only processes the remaining uncompleted portion of the data. This prevents the need to re-copy files that were already successfully stored before the interruption.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover cloud-based synchronization services that do not use local timestamp-based file system backups.
- Does not cover methods for data compression or deduplication during the backup process.
- Does not cover the specific hardware interface used to store the backup data.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The system uses timestamp comparisons against the last completed backup to identify valid progress, essentially creating a 'checkpoint' system for file-level backups that can survive a system crash or power-off.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Apple Time Machine on macOS
Local file system backup utilities
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Before this, interrupting a large backup often meant losing all progress, forcing users to restart a potentially multi-hour process. This technology was essential for the reliability of consumer-grade backup software, specifically Apple's Time Machine, which allows users to disconnect their external drives or shut down their computers without worrying about backup corruption.
Filed
June 8, 2007
Granted
November 6, 2012
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Apple continues to utilize these methods within the macOS ecosystem. Other operating system developers and backup software vendors implement similar checkpoint-restart logic to ensure data integrity during intermittent connectivity or power states.
Market impact
This patent helped standardize the expectation that personal computer backups should be 'set and forget.' It reduced the technical friction for average users to maintain consistent backups, effectively making data protection a background task rather than a manual, high-effort chore.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a system that tracks the progress of a data backup, allowing it to be interrupted by a user or a system event like a crash. When the backup resumes, the system compares timestamps on the existing backup files against the last successful backup to determine which data is already safe. It then only processes the remaining uncompleted portion of the data. This prevents the need to re-copy files that were already successfully stored before the interruption.
The clever bit
The system uses timestamp comparisons against the last completed backup to identify valid progress, essentially creating a 'checkpoint' system for file-level backups that can survive a system crash or power-off.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover cloud-based synchronization services that do not use local timestamp-based file system backups.
- Does not cover methods for data compression or deduplication during the backup process.
- Does not cover the specific hardware interface used to store the backup data.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
16/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
13/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$12K – $37K
Midpoint $23K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
20 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
McInerney, P., Weiss, E., Giampaolo, D., & Cisler, P. (2012). How Computers Safely Resume Interrupted Data Backups (U.S. Patent No. 8,307,004). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8307004/amazon-dynamodb
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Computers Safely Resume Interrupted Data Backups cover?
A method for computers to pause a large data backup and resume exactly where they left off without restarting the entire process from scratch.
Who owns patent US 8307004?
Apple Inc owns this patent, granted in 2012.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on November 6, 2032, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8307004 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 5 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Before this, interrupting a large backup often meant losing all progress, forcing users to restart a potentially multi-hour process. This technology was essential for the reliability of consumer-grade backup software, specifically Apple's Time Machine, which allows users to disconnect their external drives or shut down their computers without worrying about backup corruption.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover cloud-based synchronization services that do not use local timestamp-based file system backups.
Same assignee
More from Apple Inc
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