Recovering a system that has experienced a fault

Abstract

A method and system of recovering a system that has experienced a fault includes a backup device to enable access of a network through the interface in response to the fault. The system includes a main operational portion that controls operation of the system under normal conditions. However, if a fault occurs, then the backup device can be selected to take over control of the system so that data can be retrieved from a backup storage to recover the system. The backup device includes software and/or hardware components to enable the system to access a network even though the main operational portion may not be functioning properly.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 an interface to a network;   a first operational element comprising an operating system executable by a processor, and at least one software application configured to exchange data with the processor, said first operational element configured to perform one or more tasks in the system;   a storage element containing an indication of whether a fault has occurred with the first operational element; and   backup apparatus configured to:
 enable access of the network through the interface based at least in part on said indication; and 
 effect recovery of the system, at least in part by communicating data related to said first operational element over the network; 
   wherein said data exchange with said processor is effected via said operating system.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said enablement of access is initiated by a request submitted by a user of said system. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the interface comprises a protocol stack having an Internet Protocol (IP) layer; and   the backup apparatus comprises a backup storage element configured to transfer data through the protocol stack, including the IP layer thereof, to the network.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said at least one software application comprises an application configured to organize a plurality of digital data records containing information associated with individuals; and   said data related to said first operational element comprises said plurality of digital data records.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 at least a portion of said plurality of data records are manipulated by a user of said first operational element prior to said fault;   the first operational element comprises a storage element configured to store said plurality of data records; and   said plurality data records is used to effect said recovery of said first operational element.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the backup apparatus comprises a storage element configured to receive said plurality of data records prior to said fault. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said first operational element comprises a hardware apparatus; and   said fault comprises a hardware failure of said hardware apparatus.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said hardware apparatus comprises a hard drive. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 said hard drive comprises a plurality of partitions, said least one application software being stored on at least a first partition of said plurality of partitions;   said hardware failure comprises a hardware failure of at least said first partition;   the backup apparatus comprises a second partition of the plurality of partitions, said second partition being different from said first partition; and   said recovery of the system is effected by storing said data communicated over the network on a third partition of said plurality of partitions.   
     
     
         18 . A computerized network system, comprising:
 a network interface;   a first operational element comprising a first storage drive coupled to a processor via a first interface;   a storage element containing indicating apparatus configured to indicate a fault with at least a portion of the first operational element; and   a backup apparatus comprising a second storage drive, the second storage drive having software accessible by said first operational element, at least, prior to said fault, said backup apparatus configured to enable access of a network through the network interface in response to the apparatus indicating said fault, using at least said software;   wherein:
 said first storage drive is configured to store data associated with said first operational element, said data being useful for performance of one or more tasks by the system prior to said fault; and 
 said backup apparatus is further configured to effect recovery of the system, at least by communicating at least a portion of said data associated with said first operational element over the network in response to the apparatus indicating the fault. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said second storage drive is coupled to said processor via a second interface separate from said first interface. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said at least a portion of said data associated with said first operational element comprises user data stored at said first storage drive prior to said fault. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein:
 said user data comprises a plurality of digital data records containing information associated with individuals, at least a portion of said plurality of digital records being manipulated by at least one software application associated with said first operational element prior to said fault; and   said plurality of digital data records is used to reinstate operation of the first operational element.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said first storage drive comprises a first hard drive of said first operational element, and said second storage drive comprises a second hard drive of said first operational element. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said first storage drive comprises a first internal hard drive of said first operational element, and said second storage drive comprises a flash storage apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said flash storage apparatus comprises a removable writeable cartridge. 
     
     
         25 . A computerized network apparatus comprising:
 an operational apparatus comprising an operating system executable by a first processor, and at least one software application configured to exchange information with the first processor via said operating system, said software application configured to manipulate user records;   a mechanism configured to indicate a fault with the operational apparatus;   an interface to a network; and   a backup apparatus comprising a backup node, the backup apparatus configured to enable access of the network through the interface based at least in part on the mechanism indicating the fault;   wherein:
 the backup apparatus is adapted to communicate said user records over the network based at least in part on the mechanism indicating said fault; and 
 the backup node comprises a storage element configured to store said user records. 
   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the backup apparatus comprises a browser application; and   said enablement of access is initiated by a recovery request communicated via said browser application.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said recovery request is communicated via an input-output interface. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said input-output interface comprises the interface to the network. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said input-output interface comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein said backup apparatus is adapted to communicate data related to said software application over the network based at least in part on the mechanism indicating said fault. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said data related to said software application are exclusively related to said operational apparatus, said exclusive relationship is being determined based at least in part on said at least one software application. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein:
 said at least one software application comprises an application configured to organize a plurality of digital data records containing information associated with individuals; and   said user records having been communicated by said operational apparatus via said interface to said network prior to said fault.   
     
     
         33 . A method of recovering a digital record processing apparatus from a failure, the apparatus comprising (i) an operational element having an operating system executable by a processor and at least one software application configured to exchange data with the processor, and to perform said digital record processing, (ii) an interface to a network, and (iii) a backup apparatus configured to store a plurality of computer readable instructions, which when executed, perform the method comprising:
 receiving an indication of whether a fault has occurred with the operational element;   enabling access of the network through the interface based at least in part on said indication; and   effecting recovery of the digital record processing apparatus at least in part by communicating data related to said operational element over the network based at last in part on said indication;   wherein said data exchange with said processor is effected via said operating system.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein:
 said digital record processing comprises manipulation of a plurality of digital records containing data specific to one or more individuals;   said at least one software application comprises an application configured to perform said manipulation of said plurality digital records; and   said data related to said operational element comprises at least a portion of said plurality of digital records.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said at least a portion of said plurality of digital records have been communicated by said operational element via said interface to said network prior to said fault. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the interface comprises a protocol stack having an Internet Protocol (IP) layer;   said backup apparatus is configured to transfer data through the protocol stack including the IP layer to the network; and   said backup apparatus is further configured to effect recovery of the digital record processing apparatus by at least in part communicating through the protocol stack over the network to retrieve said at least a portion of said plurality of digital records.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said backup apparatus is configured to initiate said enablement of access of the network through the interface in response to a request by a user of said digital record processing apparatus, said request based at least in part on said indication of the fault. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said backup apparatus comprises a browser application and said request is communicated via said browser application via an input-output interface.