Method and apparatus for delivering data

Details Method and apparatus for delivering data Method and apparatus for delivering data

2002-08-26

2004-06-29

Geckil, Mehmet B. (Department: 2142)

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput

Distributed data processing

Client/server

C709S206000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06757711

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for delivering data over a network. More particularly, the present invention pertains to the indirect transfer of information in response to an initial user operation.
The Internet system is a network of computer systems that allows the sending of data or information between a source component (sometimes referred to as a host or server) and a destination component (sometimes referred to as a client) using a protocol such as TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). As an example, referring to
FIG. 1
a client
10
, such as a home personal computer (PC) is coupled to a server
20
via a network
30
. In this example, server
20
is a so-called “web-site” on the World Wide Web system (a portion of the Internet system). Client
10
, via the operation of a software program called a browser (e.g., Netscape Navigator® 3.0 by Netscape Communications Corp.), accesses information at server
20
by using a URL (Universal Resource Locator) which identifies server
20
or a file located at server
20
. The browser utilizes a protocol, such as HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), to ask for “pages” (or “web pages”) of information that contain text or richtext (e.g., multimedia such as audio and/or video images). The content of each page may include hypertext links that may lead to other pages at server
20
or other servers coupled to network
30
. Server
20
presents information in a form called a “web page” to client
10
via network
30
, where each web page typically includes Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). A more detailed explanation of HTML and HTTP can be found in “HTML Sourcebook” 2d Ed., by Ian S. Graham, 1996, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. The connection between client
10
and server
20
can be direct, but typically includes one or more nodes
31
,
32
,
33
which relay information to its appropriate destination using the TCP/IP protocol. The accessing of the information occurs in “real-time” in that information from server
20
is provided to client
10
at the same time it is requested. The transaction of information between server
20
and client
10
can be referred to as a series of request-response interactions where either client
10
or server
20
or both request and/or receive information from the other.
The network
30
over which client
10
accesses information from server
20
may have features making it undesirable or uneconomical for such a transfer of information. For example, if network
30
includes ISDN telephone lines, such lines usually are more costly than plain old telephone service (POTS) lines. Also, client
10
may be trying to access information from server
20
when activity on the network
30
from other users is at a peak. In such a circumstance, the available bandwidth for the information requested by client
10
will be reduced, thus increasing the amount of time required for the transfer of such information. In addition to network problems, the server
20
, itself, may be overloaded with requests, thus delaying the transfer of information between server
20
and client
10
. Accordingly, there is need for a method and apparatus that allows for the delivery of data or information between a server and a client user that overcomes these aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the apparatus and method of the present invention, a client is provided which is adapted to create a request message designating a desired data file and a storage address. The request message is sent to a server according to a first protocol at a first time. Coupled to the client is a storage device that includes a plurality of storage locations. The storage device is adapted to receive the data file and store it at a storage location identified by the storage address. The server is coupled to the client and is adapted to receive the request from the client and is adapted to send the data file to the storage device according to a second and different protocol at a second time.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5761663 (1998-06-01), Lagarde et al.
patent: 5768515 (1998-06-01), Choquier et al.
patent: 5781901 (1998-07-01), Kuzma
patent: 5806044 (1998-09-01), Powell
patent: 5859967 (1999-01-01), Kaufeld et al.
patent: 5903723 (1999-05-01), Beck et al.
patent: 5987504 (1999-11-01), Toga
patent: 6449637 (2002-09-01), Toga

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