A data storage system is constructed to rapidly respond to a physical backup request for backup of a physical storage unit such as a disk volume or cylinder. A user, however, may request backup of a logical data structure such as a file having a rather complex mapping to a number of physical storage...http://www.google.fr/patents/US6366987?utm_source=gb-gplus-shareBrevet US6366987 - Computer data storage physical backup and logical restore
Computer data storage physical backup and logical restore