Data management improvements including docking limited-feature data management devices to a full-featured data management system

Abstract

Software, firmware, and systems are described herein that permit an organization to dock previously-utilized, limited-feature data management modules with a full-featured data management system. By docking limited-feature data management modules to a full-featured data management system, metadata and data from the various limited-feature data management modules can be integrated and utilized more efficiently and effectively. Moreover, additional data management features can be provided to users after a more seamless transition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a full-featured data management system comprising at least a processor and computer memory;   a limited-feature data management device comprising at least a processor and computer memory, wherein the limited-feature data management device lacks some features of the full-featured data management system;   wherein the limited-feature data management device is operational to:   receive an indication of data sources that are searchable by users of the system,   mine the data sources,   generate metadata based on mining the data sources,   compile the metadata into a searchable data structure,   in response to a first search query from a user, search the data structure and provide first search results that direct the user to one or more of the data sources that match search criteria provided in the first search query,   dock with the full-featured data management system,   receive from the full-featured data management system configuration settings for searches to be performed by the limited-feature data management device,   perform a storage operation that integrates the metadata at the limited-feature data management device with other metadata managed by the full-featured data management system, resulting in integrated metadata,   in conjunction with the full-featured data management system, perform a storage operation that creates a cached copy, within the full-featured data management system, of one or more of the data sources, and   while docked with the full-featured data management system, in response to a second search query from a user and based on the configuration settings, search the integrated metadata and provide second search results that direct the user to a set of data sources that match search criteria provided in the second search query, wherein the set of data sources is located within the cached copy in the full-featured data management system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a response to the second search query is a private search of data within the full-featured data management system. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein while docked with the full-featured data management system, the limited-feature data management device provides private searches in response to search queries, wherein the private searches are limited to data sources based on the configuration settings provided by the full-featured data management system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data structure is an index. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data structure is a searchable database. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration settings include search policies that define different groups of users and define which data sources each group of users may access in the second search. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein based at least in part on access policies for different groups of users provided by the full-featured data management system, a first group of users receives a search result in response to the second search query that differs from an other search result given to a second group of users. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration settings include storage policies that dictate if, when, and how selected data sources should be copied to the cached copy. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cached copy is stored in one or more of: primary data storage and secondary data storage. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cached copy is stored in a legal hold archive. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein while docked with the full-featured data management system, the limited-feature data management device does not direct users to the data sources mined by the limited-feature data management device before being docked with the full-featured data management system. 
     
     
         12 . A system comprising:
 a full-featured data management system comprising at least a processor and computer memory;   a limited-feature data management device comprising at least a processor and computer memory, wherein the limited-feature data management device lacks some features of the full-featured data management system;   wherein, while undocked from the full-featured data management system, the limited-feature data management device is operational to:
 mine data sources accessible on a data network, 
 generate metadata based on mining the data sources, 
 compile the metadata into a searchable data structure, 
 in response to a first search query from a user, search the data structure and provide first search results that direct the user to one or more of the data sources on the data network that match search criteria provided in the first search query; and 
   wherein, while docked with the full-featured data management system, the limited-feature data management device is operational to:
 perform a storage operation that integrates the metadata at the limited-feature data management device with other metadata managed by the full-featured data management system, resulting in integrated metadata, 
 in conjunction with the full-featured data management system, perform a storage operation that creates a cached copy, within the full-featured data management system, of some of the data sources on the data network, 
 in response to a second search query from a user, search the integrated metadata and provide second search results that direct the user to a set of data sources that match search criteria provided in the second search query, wherein the set of data sources is located within the cached copy in the full-featured data management system, and 
 wherein the second search results do not direct users to the data sources mined by the limited-feature data management device while undocked from the full-featured data management system. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein, while docked with the full-featured data management system, the limited-feature data management device is further operational to: receive from the full-featured data management system configuration settings for searches to be performed by the limited-feature data management device, and
 wherein the second search results are based at least in part of the configuration settings.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a response to the second search query is a private search of data within the full-featured data management system. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the data structure is an index. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the data structure is a searchable database. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein based at least in part on access policies for different groups of users provided by the full-featured data management system, a first group of users receives a search result in response to the second search query that differs from an other search result given to a second group of users. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein configuration settings received from the full-featured data management system include search policies that define different groups of users and define which data sources each group of users may access in the second search. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein configuration settings received from the full-featured data management system include storage policies that dictate if, when, and how selected data sources should be copied to the cached copy. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the cached copy is stored in one or more of: primary data storage, secondary data storage, and a legal hold archive.