A system, signal and method for data backup. The method, comprising the steps of: identifying at least one data increment which was previously provided to a subscriber server or generated by a subscriber server and which is to be backed up; checking at least one service provider access server to determine if it has a copy of at least a portion of the identified data increment or can regenerate or replicate at least a portion of the identified data increment; and backing up the data increment using the copy or regenerated or replicated portion from the access server if it is found and otherwise using a copy sent from the subscriber server after the checking step.
1. A method for data back up, comprising the steps of:
saving at a service provider system, without a request from subscriber servers, at least some of data communicated between said subscriber servers and said service provider system during communications sessions between said subscriber servers and remote destinations through said service provider system;
receiving, at said service provider system, a request from at least one of said subscriber servers for backing up at least one data increment identified by an identifier included in said request;
checking said service provider system to determine if said service provider system has a copy of at least a portion of the identified data increment or can regenerate or replicate at least a portion of the identified data increment; and
backing up the data increment using the copy or regenerated or replicated portion from the service provider system if it is found.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of using a copy received from said at least one subscriber server to back up the requested data increment after the checking step if it has not found a copy of at least a portion of the identified data increment or cannot regenerate or replicate at least a portion of the identified data increment.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said service provider system comprises one or more access servers for facilitating said communications sessions and a backup server for backing up said requested data increment.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said step of checking comprises checking at least one of said access servers.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said identified data increment is one that was transmitted from, or received by, said at least one subscriber server through said service provider system in a previous communications session without a request for backup from said subscriber server.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising steps of monitoring and copying data having specified properties determined to be indicative of data likely to be subject to said request after the checking step.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said service provider system is an ISP system.
8. A service provider system comprising:
means for saving, without a request from subscriber servers, at least some of data communicated between said subscriber servers and said service provider system, said means for saving said saving means comprises one or more access servers for facilitating data communications sessions between said subscriber servers and remote destinations through said service provider system;
means for receiving a request from at least one of said subscriber servers for backing up a data increment identified by an identifier included in said request;
means for checking if said service provider system has a copy of at least a portion of said identified data increment or can regenerate or replicate at least a portion of the identified data increment; and
means for backing up said identified data increment using said copy or regenerated or replicated portion from said service provider system.
9. The service provider system of claim 8 , further comprising means for downloading a copy of said identified data increment from said subscriber server and for backing up said identified data increment using said downloaded copy if no portion of said identified data increment is found available or can be regenerated or replicated at said service provider system.
10. The service provider system of claim 8 , further comprising means for monitoring and copying data having specified properties determined to be indicative of data likely to be subject to said request.
11. The service provider system of claim 8 , wherein said service provider is an ISP system.
12. The service provider system of claim 8 , further comprising a backup server for backing up said requested data increment.
13. The service provider system of claim 8 , wherein said requested data increment is one that was transmitted from, or received by, said at least one subscriber server through said service provider system in a previous communications session without a request for backup from said subscriber server.
14. The service provider system of claim 12 , wherein said backup server is connected to said access server via a first communications channel and said subscriber server is connected to said service provider system via a second communications channel that is lower in bandwidth than said first communications channel.
15. A service provider system comprising:
means for saving, without a request from subscriber servers, at least some of data communicated between said subscriber servers and said service provider system;
means for receiving a request from at least one of said subscriber servers for backing up a data increment identified by an identifier included in said request;
means for checking if said service provider system has a copy of at least a portion of said identified data increment or can regenerate or replicate at least a portion of the identified data increment;
means for monitoring and copying data having specified properties determined to be indicative of data likely to be subject to said request; and
means for backing up said identified data increment using said copy or regenerated or replicated portion from said service provider system.