Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer-to-computer data routing
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-26
2001-11-27
Dinh, Dung C. (Department: 2153)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer-to-computer data routing
C709S217000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324584
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
(Not Applicable)
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
(Not Applicable)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to Internet and more particularly to an intelligent router system having a capability to locally store certain data based upon a profile. The data, which has been received for re-transmission, may also be selectively discarded by the router if it fails to meet certain filter criteria established by an addressee.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are two basic problems confronting Internet users, namely (1) slow delivery of information over the Internet due to congestion; and (2) delivery of unsolicited or objectionable material that an Internet user does not want to receive. Conventionally, mirroring of web sites and push technology have been used to circumvent the congestion problems faced by users of the Internet. In both cases, however, the network remains more heavily loaded due to on-demand user requirements which result in heavy loading during predictable time periods. Further, for blocking unsolicited and objectionable material, special software is required on the users computer. Finally, due to constant evolution of standards, it is becoming complex for users to manage this filtering software.
The Internet is arranged so that every computer has a unique name or address by which it can be identified. When data is transmitted over the Internet, it is generally broken down into smaller groupings called “packets”. In addition to the data which is being transmitted, the packets will normally include important transmission information such as the sender's identity or Internet Packet Address (IP Address), the addressee or intended recipient's IP Address, the actual data (or data request), and so on. Each packet which is transmitted from a user's computer will typically travel through several network devices such as hubs, switches, and routers. If a user's computer is part of a local area network, the packet will generally travel along a cable until it arrives at a hub to which the cable is connected. The hub or “repeater” as it is sometimes called, will retransmit the packet to another network device (such as a switch) until the packet reaches a router. The router examines the information transmitted with the packet and determines the best way for it to get to its destination. Once it has determined how the packet is to be sent, the router selects another router at some other location and transmits the message to the router in the direction the packet is intended to travel. For example, if the message is going from New York to California, the router might send the packet to a router located in an intermediate city such as Chicago along a high speed communication cable. Once there, another router will determine a subsequent router to which the packet will be sent next. In this way the packet is transmitted from router to router until the packet has nearly reached its destination. When the packet is near to its destination, it is eventually passed to a local hub which will retransmit the message to its intended recipient computer. The recipient computer then reassembles the packet with other parts of the original message to create the complete set of transmitted data. Thus, conventional routers function in a network by connecting wide area networks and local area networks to allow traffic and communication of packet information to be transmitted to selected destinations. Routers conventionally do not have mass data storage devices, such as magnetic hard disks or optical storage media. Further, conventional routers are commonly comprised of a single central processing unit, operating in unison.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A mass storage medium, such as a hard disk or optical storage medium is added to provide a subscriber database and also to store Internet information. In particular, each time an Internet page is received and transmitted by the router, the router captures and stores in the mass storage medium, any page that conforms with a pre-determined profile selection. To avoid delays to the actual communication, a second “background” processor preferably performs the data storage and retrieval function without disrupting the actual messaging process. In case of subsequent subscriber access to the stored web sites, the router is programmed to use the stored copy of an Internet page when available. To avoid old information, a user selected timer will ensure that files which are older than a pre-determined maximum will be deleted. Further, each time an Internet page is received and transmitted by the router, the intelligent router blocks and rejects any page or message that matches certain criteria in the profile filter for one of the subscribers. Once again, the background processor is preferably provided to ensure acceptable performance for this process
Accordingly, a method and system is disclosed for operating a router in a computer network. When the router receives a request from a client machine connected to the computer network to access data, such as a web page, at a remote server location having an address, the router accesses the information on the server at the address. The router thereafter causes the data to be transmitted from the server to the router. A pre-determined profile is stored at the router, which profile contains storage selection criteria. The system selectively determines whether the data is to be stored at the router by comparing the data and/or the address from which the data originated, to the storage selection criteria. If the data conforms to the criteria, it is stored in a mass storage device at the router and transmitted to the client machine which initiated the request. When a subsequent request is received at the router to access the data at the remote server location the router first accesses the data from the mass storage device to determine if the information is already present locally on the mass storage device. If so, the locally stored data is transmitted to the client machine which initiated the subsequent request. If not, the router retrieves the new requested data from its respective server or web site. A time out system is provided to delete outdated data stored on the mass storage device. If desired, a user of a client machine can be permitted to determine the criteria of the profile.
In one embodiment, the system preferably provides a time limit for maintaining the data in the mass storage device and deleting the data when the time limit has expired. If the data has been deleted from the mass storage device, it is re-accessed from the remote server location in response to the subsequent request and an updated version of the data is transmitted to the router. The updated data is then stored on the mass storage device and transmitted to the client machine which initiated the request.
In a further embodiment, the router is configured so that a user of a client machine is permitted to select a filter parameter to be applied to the pre-determined profile. The filter parameter is then used to selectively determine whether the data is to be transmitted to the client machine which initiated the request, based upon a comparison of the address and/or the data to the filter parameter. In a further alternative embodiment, a user profile is maintained at a router which is comprised of criteria for selectively rejecting data to be transferred to a particular address by the router. When data is received at the router data which is to be transferred to an address on the computer network it is compared to the user profile. The router automatically terminates transmission of the data if it does not conform to the criteria.
The system of the invention may, in one embodiment, consist of a programmable computer for routing data packets to selective addresses on a computer network. The system is provided with a mass storage device, such as a magnetic or optical data storage device. Further, suitable computer hard
Akerman & Senterfitt
Dinh Dung C.
International Business Machines Corp.
Le Hien C.
LandOfFree
Method for intelligent internet router and system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for intelligent internet router and system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for intelligent internet router and system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2581054