Methods and apparatus for off loading content servers through direct file transfer from a storage center to an end-user

• US 20010047400A1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Coates, Joshua L., Bozeman, Patrick E., Gautier, Taylor
• Granted Patent: US 7,506,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1858 Parallel file systems, i.e. file systems supporting multiple processors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

A network storage system includes a virtual file system (“VFS”), to manage the files of the network storage system, and a storage center that stores the files. The VFS and the storage center are separated, such that a client accesses the VFS to conduct file system operations and the client accesses the storage center to upload/download files. The client accesses the network storage system through one or more storage ports. The storage center includes a plurality of distributed object storage managers (DOSMs) and a storage cluster that includes a plurality of intelligent storage nodes. The network storage system includes additional storage centers at geographically disparate locations. The network storage system uses a multi-cast protocol to maintain file information at the DOSMs regarding files stored in the intelligent storage nodes, including files stored in disparate storage centers.

Claims

1. A method for downloading a file from a remote storage center to an end-user computer for content provided from a content server, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from an end-user computer for content at a content server;

transmitting from said content server to said end-user computer, in response to said end-user request, said content comprising at least one storage resource locator (“

SRL”

), wherein said SRL comprises a unique file identifier to identify a file associated with said content;

transmitting a request for said file from said end-user computer to a remote storage center, including transmitting said SRL for said file; and

transmitting, from said storage center to said end-user computer, said file identified by said SRL.

2. The method as set forth in

claim 1

, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting from said content server to said end-user computer an SRL further comprising an authentication certificate;

determining, at said storage center, using said authentication certificate, whether said request is valid; and

transmitting, from said storage center to said end-user computer, said file only if said request is valid.

3. The method as set forth in

claim 1

, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting to said end-user computer an SRL further comprising a time-out parameter; and

determining whether said request is valid through said time-out parameter.

4. The method as set forth in

claim 1

, further comprising the step of embedding said SRL into said content after receiving said request from an end-user computer for said content.

5. The method as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein:

the step of transmitting content comprises the step of transmitting hyper-text mark-up language (“

HTML”

) content; and

the step of embedding said SRL into said content comprises the step of embedding said SRL into said HTML.

6. The method as set forth in

claim 4

, wherein the step of embedding said SRL into said content comprises the steps of:

storing at least one SRL for a file in an SRL file; and

extracting said SRL from said SRL file.

7. The method as set forth in

claim 4

, wherein the step of embedding said SRL into said content comprises the steps of:

coupling a local device comprising a cache to said content server;

storing at least one SRL for at least one file in said cache of said local device; and

extracting said SRL from said cache of said local device.

8. The method as set forth in

claim 7

, further comprising the step of:

mounting said local device as a storage device for said content server for access to said SRLs.

9. The method as set forth in

claim 1

, further comprising the steps of:

storing at least one SRL for at least one file in an SRL file;

storing said file for access by a file system; and

organizing said SRL files in a file system, accessible to said content server, with a file structure substantially similar to said file structure for said files.

10. The method as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein:

the step of transmitting a request for said file from said end-user computer to a remote storage center comprises the step of transmitting a hyper-text transfer protocol (“

HTTP”

) request; and

the step of transmitting said file from said storage center to said end-user computer comprises the step of transmitting said files using HTTP.

11. The method as set forth in

claim 10

, wherein the step of transmitting, from said storage center to said end-user computer, said file comprises the step of transferring a large media object.

12. A system comprising:

content server for receiving a request from an end-user computer for content, and for transmitting to said end-user computer, in response to said end-user request, said content comprising at least one storage resource locator (“

SRL”

), wherein said SRL comprises a unique file identifier to identify a file associated with said content;

storage center for receiving a request for said file from said end-user computer, including transmitting said SRL for said file, and for transmitting, from to said end-user computer, said file identified by said SRL.

13. The system as set forth in

claim 12

, wherein:

said SRL further comprises an authentication certificate; and

said storage center for determining whether said request is valid using said authentication certificate, and for and transmitting to said end-user computer said file only if said request is valid.

14. The system as set forth in

claim 12

, wherein:

said SRL further comprises a time-out parameter; and

said storage center for determining whether said request is valid through said time-out parameter.

15. The system as set forth in

claim 12

, wherein said content server further comprising processes for embedding said SRL into said content after receiving said request from an end-user computer for said content.

16. The system as set forth in

claim 15

, wherein:

said content comprises mark-up language (“

HTML”

) content; and

said content server further comprising processes for embedding said SRL into said HTML.

17. The system as set forth in

claim 15

, wherein:

said SRL further comprising an SRL file; and

said content server further comprising processes for extracting said SRL from said SRL file.

18. The system as set forth in

claim 12

, further comprising a local device, coupled to said content server, that includes a cache for storing at least one SRL for at least one file in said cache of said local device, wherein said content server further comprising processes for extracting said SRL from said cache of said local device.

19. The system as set forth in

claim 18

, wherein said content server comprises processes for mounting said local device as a storage device to said SRLs.

20. The system as set forth in

claim 19

, further comprising a file system, accessible to said content server, including at least one SRL file for storing at least one SRL, wherein said file system comprising a file structure substantially similar to a file structure for said files.

21. A storage center comprising:

storage for storing a plurality of files;

storage control for receiving a request from an end-user computer, remote from said storage center, for at least one file, and for transmitting said file to said end-user computer, said request comprising at least one storage resource locator (“

SRL”

) corresponding to said file, and wherein said SRL comprises a unique file identifier to identify said file associated with content that said end-user computer downloaded from a content server.

22. The storage center as set forth in

claim 21

, wherein:

said SRL further comprises an authentication certificate; and

said storage center for determining whether said request is valid using said authentication certificate, and for transmitting to said end-user computer said file only if said request is valid.

23. The storage center as set forth in

claim 21

, wherein:

said SRL further comprises a time-out parameter; and

said storage center for determining whether said request is valid through said time-out parameter.