Intelligent scheduling for remote computers

Abstract

A method of protecting data on a mobile computing device using a storage network by deploying to the mobile computing device, a synchronization agent and then associating a synchronization policy with the synchronization agent. The mobile computing device is monitored for at least one threshold event. Its determined that the threshold event has occurred which causes a request to initiate a data synchronization event to be transmitted. The response to the request is synchronizing the mobile computing device with the storage network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for scheduling secondary copy operations associated with a plurality of portable client computing devices, the method comprising:
 storing primary data in at least a plurality of portable computing devices, the primary data generated by one or more applications executing in the plurality of portable computing devices, each of the plurality of portable computing devices having a scheduling agent executing therein;   for each of the plurality of portable client computing devices:
 determining with the scheduling agent, a time when a network condition is met, and a power management condition is met; 
 delaying with the scheduling agent, initiation of performance of the secondary copy operation for a delay period; 
 when the network condition and the power management condition continue to be met after the delay period, sending a request from the scheduling agent to the storage manager to initiate performance of the secondary copy operation; and 
   directing with a storage manager component comprising computer hardware, at least one of the plurality of portable client computing devices to initiate one or more secondary copy operations that copy the primary data to one or more secondary storage devices remotely located from the plurality of portable computing devices,
 wherein the secondary copy operation copies a first set of data stored in the portable client computing device to the one or more secondary storage devices, and wherein the first set of data is associated with a first security threshold that is lower than a second security threshold associated with a second set of data; and 
 wherein the secondary copy operation copies the second set of data with the second security threshold to the one or more secondary storage devices when the network condition includes at least a wired network connection. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising upon determining that the network condition or the power management condition has ceased to be met, cancelling the performance of the secondary copy operation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising upon determining that the network condition or the power management condition has ceased to occur, suspending the performance of the secondary copy operation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the network condition comprises existence of either a wireless or a wired connection between the portable client computing device and the storage network. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the power management condition comprises the existence of a connection of the portable device with an A/C power source. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a graphical user interface (GUI) allows a user to specify a CPU utilization threshold associated with the portable client computing device, and wherein the scheduling agent initiates the performance of the secondary copy operation when the network condition is met, the power management condition is met, and that a CPU utilization of the portable device is below the CPU utilization threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a graphical user interface (GUI) allows a user to specify an available storage threshold associated with the portable client computing device, and wherein the scheduling agent initiates the performance of the secondary copy operation is when the network condition is met, the power management condition is met, and an amount of available storage space associated with the portable client computing device is below the available storage threshold. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a graphical user interface (GUI) allows a user to specify a minimal interval between the secondary copy operations, and wherein the scheduling agent initiates the performance of the secondary copy operation when the network condition is met, the power management condition is met, and the minimum interval is met. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a graphical user interface (GUI) allows a user to specify a maximum interval between two secondary copy operations, and wherein the scheduling agent initiates the performance of the secondary copy operation after the maximum interval has expired. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the secondary copy operation copies the second set of data when the network condition includes a wireless network and a maximum interval between two secondary copy operations has expired. 
     
     
         11 . A system for scheduling secondary copy operations associated with a plurality of portable computing devices, the system comprising:
 a plurality of portable computing devices comprising computer hardware the plurality of portable computing devices store primary data generated by one or more application, wherein each of the plurality of portable computing devices includes a scheduling agent;   for each of the plurality of portable computing devices:
 the scheduling agent determines that when a network condition is met, and a power management condition is met; 
 the scheduling agent delays initiation of a performance of a secondary copy for a delay period; 
 when the network condition and the power management condition continue to be met after the delay period, the scheduling agent sends a request to the remotely located storage manager to initiate the secondary copy operation; 
   a storage manager component in communication with the plurality of portable computing devices, the storage manager component configured to direct at least one of the plurality of portable client computing devices to initiate one or more secondary copy operations that copy the primary data to one or more secondary storage devices remotely located from the plurality of portable computing devices,
 wherein the secondary copy operation copies a first set of data stored in the portable computing device to the one or more secondary storage devices, wherein the first set of data is associated with a first security threshold that is lower than a second security threshold associated with a second set of data; and 
 wherein the secondary copy operation copies the second set of data with the second security threshold to the one or more secondary storage devices when the network condition includes at least a wired network connection. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the scheduling agent is further configured to cancel the performance of the secondary copy operation upon a determination that the network condition or the power management condition has ceased to be met. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the scheduling agent is further configured to suspend the performance of the secondary copy operation upon a determination that the network condition or the power management condition have ceased to be met. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the network condition comprises existence of either a wireless or a wired connection between the portable device and the storage network. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the power management condition comprises the existence of a connection of the portable device with an A/C power source. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11  wherein a graphical user interface (GUI) allows a user to specify a CPU utilization threshold associated with the portable device, and wherein the scheduling agent is further configured to initiate performance of the secondary copy operation in response to a determination that the network condition is met, the power management condition is met, and a CPU utilization of the portable device is below the CPU utilization threshold. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11  wherein a graphical user interface (GUI) allows a user to specify an available storage threshold associated with the portable device, and wherein the scheduling agent is further configured to initiate performance of the secondary copy operation in response to a determination that the network condition is met, the power management condition is met, and that an amount of available storage space associated with the portable device is below the available storage threshold. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11  wherein a graphical user interface (GUI) allows a user to specify a minimal interval between the secondary copy operations, and wherein the scheduling agent initiates the performance of the secondary copy operation when the network condition is met, the power management condition is met, and the minimum interval is met. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11  wherein a graphical user interface (GUI) allows a user to specify a maximum interval between two secondary copy operations, and wherein the scheduling agent initiates the performance of the secondary copy operation after the maximum interval has expired. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the secondary copy operation copies the second set of data when the network condition includes a wireless network and a maximum interval between two secondary copy operations has expired.