How to Keep Backup Data in the Correct Order
A method for ensuring that backup data arrives at a secondary storage location in the exact same sequence it was created at the primary location to prevent data corruption.
Original patent title: “Method and system for incremental backup of data volumes”
A method for ensuring that backup data arrives at a secondary storage location in the exact same sequence it was created at the primary location to prevent data corruption. Granted to Veritas Technologies LLC in 2017 with 39 claims and 4 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a system for synchronizing data between a primary computer and a backup (secondary) computer. It uses a specific architecture where a primary node maintains three distinct areas: the main data storage, a primary log storage area (SRL) for tracking updates, and a separate backup storage area that keeps a redundant copy of those logs. When updates happen, the system ensures they are written to both the log and the backup storage at the primary site before being sent to the secondary site. By maintaining this strict sequence, the secondary node can apply the updates in the exact same order they occurred, ensuring the backup remains a perfect, consistent mirror of the primary data.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems that replicate data without maintaining a strict chronological sequence of updates.
- Does not cover backup methods that do not utilize a dedicated log storage area (SRL) at the primary node.
- Does not cover data synchronization that occurs without the use of a secondary replication storage group (RSG).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the concurrent writing of updates to both a primary log and a secondary backup storage area at the source, which acts as a safety buffer to ensure the sequence remains intact during transmission.
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
Veritas InfoScale
Enterprise disaster recovery replication software
Database mirroring for high-availability systems
Why it matters
The bigger picture
In enterprise data management, if a backup is applied out of order, the database can become corrupted and unusable. This patent provides a technical framework for Veritas, a major player in data protection, to guarantee that disaster recovery systems stay perfectly synced with production environments, which is critical for banking and healthcare systems.
Filed
April 2, 2010
Granted
November 7, 2017
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Veritas Technologies continues to integrate these replication methodologies into their data management and availability suites. Other enterprise storage providers like NetApp and Dell EMC utilize similar concepts of log-based replication to maintain consistency in distributed storage environments.
Market impact
This patent helped formalize the requirements for reliable, sequence-consistent data replication in enterprise environments. It provided a clear technical path for vendors to build robust disaster recovery products that minimize the risk of data corruption during the synchronization process.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a system for synchronizing data between a primary computer and a backup (secondary) computer. It uses a specific architecture where a primary node maintains three distinct areas: the main data storage, a primary log storage area (SRL) for tracking updates, and a separate backup storage area that keeps a redundant copy of those logs. When updates happen, the system ensures they are written to both the log and the backup storage at the primary site before being sent to the secondary site. By maintaining this strict sequence, the secondary node can apply the updates in the exact same order they occurred, ensuring the backup remains a perfect, consistent mirror of the primary data.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the concurrent writing of updates to both a primary log and a secondary backup storage area at the source, which acts as a safety buffer to ensure the sequence remains intact during transmission.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems that replicate data without maintaining a strict chronological sequence of updates.
- Does not cover backup methods that do not utilize a dedicated log storage area (SRL) at the primary node.
- Does not cover data synchronization that occurs without the use of a secondary replication storage group (RSG).
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
14/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
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
$67K – $215K
Midpoint $134K · 3.8 yr remaining · 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
39 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Kulkarni, P., Pendharkar, N. S., & Bezbaruah, A. (2017). How to Keep Backup Data in the Correct Order (U.S. Patent No. 9,811,430). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9811430/aws-codepipeline
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 to Keep Backup Data in the Correct Order cover?
A method for ensuring that backup data arrives at a secondary storage location in the exact same sequence it was created at the primary location to prevent data corruption.
Who owns patent US 9811430?
Veritas Technologies LLC owns this patent, granted in 2017.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on November 7, 2037, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9811430 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 4 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
In enterprise data management, if a backup is applied out of order, the database can become corrupted and unusable. This patent provides a technical framework for Veritas, a major player in data protection, to guarantee that disaster recovery systems stay perfectly synced with production environments, which is critical for banking and healthcare systems.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems that replicate data without maintaining a strict chronological sequence of updates.
Patent monitoring