Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer-to-computer protocol implementing – Computer-to-computer data streaming
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-23
2002-05-07
Sheikh, Ayaz (Department: 2155)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer-to-computer protocol implementing
Computer-to-computer data streaming
C709S217000, C709S232000, C709S216000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06385654
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a file transferring apparatus and method thereof for transferring an arbitrary file of an arbitrary directory of an arbitrary communication node between communication nodes using a communication protocol such as FTP in a network system comprising a plurality of communication nodes which store respective files in correlation to directories.
2. Related Art
A technology of transferring a file containing data between communication nodes comprising a network system using, for example, FTP (file transfer protocol) has been used in the art.
For example, PUPA 63-282867, PUPA3-251935, PUPA4-340140, PUPA7-49818, PUPA7-244617 and PUPA7-248954 disclose a technology of transferring a file between communication nodes.
The file transfer operation between such communication nodes is performed for each transfer of a file by the following procedure.
First of all, a user performs an operation to make the current directory of the communication node which the user operates (local node) to be a directory containing a file to be sent to a communication node (remote node) which communicates with the local node or a directory storing a file received from the remote node.
Next, the user performs an operation to make the current directory of the remote node to be a directory containing a file requested for sending to the local node or a directory storing a file sent from the local node.
The user then performs an operation to specify a file stored in the current directory of the remote node for sending it to the local node and have the local node receive it, or an operation to specify a file stored in the current directory of the local node for sending it to the remote node and have the remote node receive it.
When a home page is opened on the internet, it is necessary to send various types of files including an HTML (hyper text markup language) document file, an image data file, CGI (common gateway interface) file and a Java applet to a server device. Because these files are often controlled by being sorted into directories corresponding to the types in the sever device, the user has to change directories of both the local and the remote nodes each time a file is sent. In the file transfer method shown as a prior art technology, such operation was performed by specifying the directory by users manual input using a keyboard. The operation to change the directory by such manual input is very cumbersome and burdensome to the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention was conceived in view of the above described problems of the prior art and it is an object of the invention to provide a file transferring apparatus and method thereof which simplifies the operation to change directories of each node in transferring a file to reduce the burden of the user.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a file transferring apparatus and method thereof which allow a directory of each node required for file transfer to be changed by users simple operation on a GUI panel and further allow, when the directory of a local node is changed, the directory of a remote node corresponding to the changed directory of the local node to be automatically selected and, conversely, when the directory of a remote node is changed allow the directory of a local node corresponding to the changed directory of the remote node to be automatically selected.
In order to achieve the above objects, this invention provides a file transferring apparatus in one or more of a plurality of communication nodes interconnected each other (local node) for transferring a file containing data between said local node and another communication node communicating with said local node (remote node), in which each of said communication nodes correlates each of one or more directories configured in a hierarchical structure to at least a directory and/or a file of a lower hierarchy (lower directory), and said remote node at least notifies at least said local node of the directory of said remote node, comprising; first current directory selecting means for selecting either one of the directories of said local nodes (local directory) or either one of said notified directories of the remote node (remote directory) as a local current directory or a remote current directory, second current directory selecting means for selecting said remote directory corresponding to said selected local current directory or said local directory corresponding to said selected remote directory as said remote current directory or said local current directory, and file transfer means for transferring a file by sending a file correlated to said local current directory to said remote node and/or receiving a file correlated to said remote current directory from said remote node.
Preferably, the file transferring apparatus further comprises directory display means for displaying at least said selected local current directory and said selected remote current directory and/or said lower directory and a directory of higher hierarchy (higher directory) of said selected local current directory and said selected remote current directory, directory designation accepting means for accepting designation of said lower directory or said higher directory of said local current directory and said remote current directory, said first current directory selecting means selecting said lower directory or said higher directory of said local current directory and said remote current directory as a new local current directory and a new remote current directory, and said second current directory selecting means selecting said remote current directory or said local current directory corresponding to said newly selected local current directory or said newly selected remote current directory as said new remote current directory or said new local current directory each time said local current directory or said remote current directory is newly selected.
Preferably, said remote node notifies upon request said local node of said lower directory and/or said higher directory of said remote current directory, said first current directory selecting means and said second current directory selecting means request said remote node to notify of said lower directory and/or said higher directory of said newly selected remote current directory, and said directory display means displays said lower directory and/or said higher directory of said selected local current directory and said lower directory and/or said higher directory of said remote current directory notified from said remote node in response to the request.
Preferably, at least each of said remote nodes notifies at least said local node of the directory name of said remote directory, said second current directory selecting means selects said remote directory or said local directory of the same directory name as said local current directory or said remote current directory as said remote current director or said local current directory.
The file transferring apparatus of this invention transfers between any communication nodes a file containing data by FTP (file transfer protocol) in any communication node of a communication network which is so configured that a plurality of communication nodes can transfer data over a communication network.
Each of a plurality of communication nodes comprising the communication network controls a file recorded in a hard disk, etc., by using a register for file control which is referred to as a directory structured in a hierarchy. In this file control method using a directory, each directory is controlled in correlation to a higher directory when there is a higher directory in the hierarchical structure while each file is controlled in correlation to each directory.
Further, each communication node has a function of notifying a communication node now in communication of directory information indicating the name of a lower directory correlated to each directory and a file according to a communication protocol such as FTP in response to a request.
Wh
Drumheller Ronald L.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Sheikh Ayaz
Winder Patrice
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