User clustering based on metadata analysis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10817542-B2
Application number	US-201815907735-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2018
Priority date	Feb 28, 2018
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

A systems and methods of managing user data using clustering patterns based on metadata analysis. The described technique includes receiving file metadata from multiple user devices, where the file metadata is associated with data stored on the plurality of user devices associated with a plurality of users. The technique generates a user metadata fingerprint based on a plurality of user metadata record attributes contained in the file metadata, and determines clustering of the plurality of users based on the generated user metadata fingerprint. The data for the plurality of users may be stored based on the determined clustering.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for managing user data in a plurality of user devices, wherein the method comprises:
receiving, from a plurality of user devices utilizing a data service under a global data storage and protection policy, file metadata associated with data stored on the plurality of user devices associated with a plurality of users;
generating user metadata fingerprints based on a plurality of user metadata record attributes contained in the file metadata;
determining a plurality of user clusters comprising the plurality of users based on the generated user metadata fingerprints, wherein each user cluster of the plurality of user clusters comprises a different group of users in the plurality of users;
assigning, from a plurality of data storage and protection policies, a new respective data storage and protection policy to each user device of a respective user cluster of the plurality of user clusters, wherein the assigning is based on whether a new respective data storage and protection policy corresponds to usage attributes of the data service by a respective user cluster, and wherein each new respective data storage and protection policy is unique to each respective user cluster to meet individual work requirements of the respective user cluster; and
storing data for each user device of the plurality of user devices in accordance with the new respective data storage and protection policy.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of user metadata record attributes is cleaned, normalized, and joined to a database of user records.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
responsive to determining a first file metadata log received from a first user device is associated with a new user, generating a new user identity associated with the first user device; and
responsive to determining the first file metadata log received from the first user device is associated with an existing user, appending the first file metadata log to a list of snapshots associated with the first user device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
responsive to determining that a user metadata fingerprint associated with a new user device matches an existing user metadata fingerprint associated with a first user device in a same cluster, determining that the new user device belongs to a same user as the first user device.

5. A system for managing user data in a plurality of user devices, wherein the system comprises:
a storage device configured to store a metadata database; and
a hardware processor configured to:
receive, from a plurality of user devices utilizing a data service under a global data storage and protection policy, file metadata associated with data stored on the plurality of user devices associated with a plurality of users;
generate user metadata fingerprints based on a plurality of user metadata record attributes contained in the file metadata;
determine a plurality of user clusters comprising the plurality of users based on the generated user metadata fingerprints, wherein each user cluster of the plurality of user clusters comprises a different group of users in the plurality of users;
assign, from a plurality of data storage and protection policies, a new respective data storage and protection policy to each user device of a respective user cluster of the plurality of user clusters, wherein the assigning is based on whether a new respective data storage and protection policy corresponds to usage attributes of the data service by a respective user cluster, and wherein each new respective data storage and protection policy is unique to each respective user cluster to meet individual work requirements of the respective user cluster; and
store data for each user device of the plurality of user devices in accordance with the new respective data storage and protection policy.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of user metadata record attributes is cleaned, normalized, and joined to a database of user records.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
responsive to determining a first file metadata log received from a first user device is associated with a new user, generate a new user identity associated with the first user device; and
responsive to determining the first file metadata log received from the first user device is associated with an existing user, append the first file metadata log to a list of snapshots associated with the first user device.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
responsive to determining that a user metadata fingerprint associated with a new user device matches an existing user metadata fingerprint associated with a first user device in a same cluster, determine that the new user device belongs to a same user as the first user device.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for managing user data in a plurality of user devices, including instructions for:
receiving, from a plurality of user devices utilizing a data service under a global data storage and protection policy, file metadata associated with data stored on the plurality of user devices associated with a plurality of users;
generating user metadata fingerprints based on a plurality of user metadata record attributes contained in the file metadata;
determining a plurality of user clusters comprising the plurality of users based on the generated user metadata fingerprints, wherein each user cluster of the plurality of user clusters comprises a different group of users in the plurality of users;
assigning, from a plurality of data storage and protection policies, a new respective data storage and protection policy to each user device of a respective user cluster of the plurality of user clusters, wherein the assigning is based on whether a new respective data storage and protection policy corresponds to usage attributes of the data service by a respective user cluster, and wherein each new respective data storage and protection policy is unique to each respective user cluster to meet individual work requirements of the respective user cluster; and
storing data for each user device of the plurality of user devices in accordance with the new respective data storage and protection policy.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of user metadata record attributes is cleaned, normalized, and joined to a database of user records.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9 , further comprising instructions for:
responsive to determining a first file metadata log received from a first user device is associated with a new user, generating a new user identity associated with the first user device; and
responsive to determining the first file metadata log received from the first user device is associated with an existing user, appending the first file metadata log to a list of snapshots associated with the first user device.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 9 , further comprising instructions for:
responsive to determining that a user metadata fingerprint associated with a new user device matches an existing user metadata fingerprint associated with a first user device in a same cluster, determining that the new user device belongs to a same user as the first user device.

Assignees

• Acronis Int Gmbh

Inventors

• Aseev Evgeny A
• Solanki Sanjeev
• Protasov Stanislav
• Beloussov Serguei M

Classifications

• G06F21/78

  to assure secure storage of data (address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00) · CPC title

• G06F21/604 Primary

  Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems · CPC title

• G06F16/215

  Improving data quality; Data cleansing, e.g. de-duplication, removing invalid entries or correcting typographical errors · CPC title

• G06F16/14

  Details of searching files based on file metadata · CPC title

• G06F21/316

  by observing the pattern of computer usage, e.g. typical user behaviour · CPC title