US 12,242,417 B1
Flexible and instantaneous lock extension for auto retention locked (ARL) files using ARL labels
Jagannathdas Rath, Bangalore (IN); and Sraisailendra Yallapragada, Cupertino, CA (US)
Assigned to Dell Products L.P., Round Rock, TX (US)
Filed by Dell Products L.P., Round Rock, TX (US)
Filed on Nov. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/512,834.
Int. Cl. G06F 16/17 (2019.01); G06F 11/14 (2006.01); G06F 16/11 (2019.01); G06F 16/176 (2019.01)
CPC G06F 16/125 (2019.01) [G06F 11/1448 (2013.01); G06F 16/1774 (2019.01); G06F 2201/84 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer-implemented method to instantly extend retention lock periods of files in a backup system, comprising:
first defining an automatic retention lock (ARL) period specifying an amount of time to lock the files;
second defining a cooling (COP) period specifying an amount of time within the ARL after which the files will be locked if no modifications are made to the file during the COP;
associating the ARL period and COP period as attributes to a unique ARL label identifying the ARL policy;
third defining a reference count as an attribute of the ARL label;
storing the ARL label in a label database;
attaching the ARL label to the file to automatically set a lock on the files corresponding to the ARL period and COP period;
receiving input to change the ARL period of the files from a first time to a second time;
changing the associated ARL period to the second time for the attached ARL label; and
automatically extending the locks of the files for a lock period comprising the second time.