Method and system for searching stored data

Abstract

A complete document management system is disclosed. Accordingly, systems and methods for managing data associated with a data storage component coupled to multiple computers over a network are disclosed. Systems and methods for managing data associated with a data storage component coupled to multiple computers over a network are further disclosed. Additionally, systems and methods for accessing documents available through a network, wherein the documents are stored on one or more data storage devices coupled to the network, are disclosed.

1 . A system for managing data associated with a data storage component, wherein the data storage component is coupled to multiple computers over a network, the system comprising:
 a data storage management component for managing data stored within the data storage component and managing secondary copies of data stored within the data storage component, and wherein the secondary copies are copies made from at least one primary copy;   a content indexing component for creating at least one index of the stored data managed by the data storage management component; and   a web-based search component for searching stored data associated with multiple applications, and associated with the multiple secondary copies, based on a single query.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a metabase associated with the data storage management component, the metabase storing metadata referring to the stored data managed by the data storage management component 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the search component is configured to search for a user-specified parameter in the at least one index. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , where the multiple applications include at least two of a word processing application, email application, and database application. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a data security component, the data security component further configured to permit access only to files satisfying a predefined security level. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a data security component, the data security component further configured to disallow access to files having a predefined security level. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the web-based search component provides an interface for receiving a search parameter from a user, and wherein the search parameter specifies a client or volume for searching. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary copies comprise backup copies and archive copies. 
   
   
       9 . A method for managing data associated with a data storage component, wherein the data storage component is coupled to multiple computers over a network, the method comprising:
 managing data stored within the data storage component and managing secondary copies of data stored within the data storage component, and wherein the secondary copies are copies made from at least one primary copy;   creating at least one index of the stored data managed by the data storage management component; and   searching stored data associated with multiple applications, and associated with the multiple secondary copies, based on a single query.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising creating a metabase associated with the data storage management component, the metabase storing metadata referring to the stored data managed by the data storage management component. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , where the multiple applications include at least two of a word processing application, email application, and database application. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising performing storage operations on the data stored within the data storage component based on a set of preferences or other criteria. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the secondary copies comprise backup copies and archive copies. 
   
   
       14 . A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer perform a method of managing data associated with a data storage component, wherein the data storage component is coupled to multiple computers over a network, the method comprising:
 managing data stored within the data storage component and managing secondary copies of data stored within the data storage component, and wherein the secondary copies are copies made from at least one primary copy;   creating at least one index of the stored data managed by the data storage management component; and   searching stored data associated with multiple applications, and associated with the multiple secondary copies, based on a single query.   
   
   
       15 . A system for managing data associated with a data storage component, wherein the data storage component is coupled to multiple computers over a network, the system comprising:
 a data storage management component for managing data stored within the data storage component, wherein data stored within the data storage component includes multiple secondary copies of primary data;   a metabase associated with the data storage management component that stores metadata referring to the stored data managed by the data storage management component; and   a search component for searching stored data associated with multiple applications and associated with the multiple secondary copies based on a single query,   wherein the stored data includes data types relating to at least two or more different applications.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a TCP/IP-based graphical user interface for receiving user input identifying a type of data to be used by the search component in a search, wherein the user interface is further configured to display a preview of search results. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the metabase comprises multiple content indices, and wherein each of the content indices is associated with a logical volume. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the search component is configured to receive search criteria input via a web browser, and wherein the storage management component is further configured to apply the search criteria as a data management policy. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the data types relate to at least two of email correspondence, image files, word processing documents, and database files. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the secondary copies comprise backup copies and archive copies. 
   
   
       21 . A method for managing data associated with a data storage component, wherein the data storage component is coupled to multiple computers over a network, the method comprising:
 maintaining a data storage policy for managing data stored within the data storage component;   maintaining an index comprising data associated with the data storage management component and referring to the stored data managed by the data storage management component; and   searching stored data associated with multiple different applications and multiple different secondary copies, wherein the search is based on a single query provided by a user.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising storing multiple security policies relating to multiple users, wherein the policies further define data access rights for those users. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising receiving search criteria from a user applying the search criteria as a data management policy. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the secondary copies comprise backup copies and archive copies. 
   
   
       25 . A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer perform a method for managing data associated with a data storage component, wherein the data storage component is coupled to multiple computers over a network, the method comprising:
 maintaining a data storage policy for managing data stored within the data storage component;   maintaining an index comprising data associated with the data storage management component and referring to the stored data managed by the data storage management component; and   searching stored data associated with multiple different applications and multiple different secondary copies, wherein the search is based on a single query provided by a user.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the index comprises multiple content indices, and wherein each of the content indices is associated with a logical volume. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising storing multiple security policies relating to multiple users, wherein the policies further define data access rights for those users. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising applying the search criteria as a data management policy. 
   
   
       29 . A method for managing data associated with a data storage component, wherein the data storage component is coupled to multiple computers over a network, the method comprising:
 storing application data and document data in a data storage component;   storing a data storage policy relating to the stored application data and document data in a storage manager;   storing in an index metadata referring to the stored application data and document data;   receiving a search request from a user comprising at least one search parameter;   searching the index for application data and document data based on the at least one received search parameter; and   updating the data storage policy based on the received search parameter.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising applying the at least one received search parameter as a data storage policy, wherein the data storage policy comprises a set of preferences or storage criteria associated with performing a storage operation. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the storage policy includes a scheduling component, and wherein the scheduling component defines when to perform a storage operation or how often to perform a storage operation. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising identifying one or more documents satisfying the at least one search parameter and retrieving one or more identified documents for access by a user without overwriting a current copy of the one or more identified documents on the data storage component. 
   
   
       33 . A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer perform a method for managing data associated with a data storage component, wherein the data storage component is coupled to multiple computers over a network, the method comprising:
 storing application data and document data in a data storage component;   storing a data storage policy relating to the stored application data and document data in a storage manager;   storing in an index metadata referring to the stored application data and document data;   receiving a search request from a user comprising at least one search parameter;   searching the index for application data and document data based on the at least one received search parameter; and   updating the data storage policy based on the received search parameter.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising applying the at least one received search parameter as a data storage policy, wherein the data storage policy comprises a set of preferences or storage criteria associated with performing a storage operation. 
   
   
       35 . A method for accessing documents available through a network, wherein the documents are stored on one or more data storage devices coupled to the network, the method comprising:
 receiving a request to access one or more documents, wherein the request is associated with a selected security clearance level;   searching a metabase to locate metadata describing one or more documents satisfying the request based on a security clearance level stored with the metadata that describes characteristics of the documents;   resolving references in the located metadata to identify one of the one or more data storage devices containing the data, wherein the resolving at least assists in determining which of the one or more data storage devices to access the data from, and wherein the access is at least in part based on a data access criteria; and   providing a signal to access, via the network and in response to the request, the one or more documents at the one or more identified data storage devices.   
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising determining a security clearance level of the one or more documents determined to satisfy the received search parameters. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising displaying a preview of the one or more documents determined to satisfy the received search parameters if the security level is greater than a predetermined level for the one or more documents. 
   
   
       38 . A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer perform a method for accessing documents available through a network, wherein the documents are stored on one or more data storage devices coupled to the network, the method comprising:
 receiving a request to access one or more documents, wherein the request is associated with a selected security clearance level;   searching a metabase to locate metadata describing one or more documents satisfying the request based on a security clearance level stored with the metadata that describes characteristics of the documents;   resolving references in the located metadata to identify one of the one or more data storage devices containing the data, wherein the resolving at least assists in determining which of the one or more data storage devices to access the data from, and wherein the access is at least in part based on a data access criteria; and   providing a signal to access, via the network and in response to the request, the one or more documents at the one or more identified data storage devices.   
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising determining a security clearance level of the one or more documents determined to satisfy the received search parameters. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising displaying a preview of the one or more documents determined to satisfy the received search parameters if the security level is greater than a predetermined level for the one or more documents.