Terminating file handling system

• US 20050114436A1
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Betarbet, Sandeep
• Application Number:
  US10/706,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20050114436A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

A file handling system is provided that typically includes a terminating file transfer server, an agent, and a configuration file. The terminating file transfer server typically receives a file transfer message from an originating file transfer server. The file transfer message can include details about the transfer including a local user and a filename. The agent typically reads the file transfer message, and directs the transfer of a file associated with the filename to a home directory of the local user. The configuration file typically resides in the home directory, and instructs the agent to transfer the file to a remote host. Methods and other systems are also provided.

Claims

1. A file handling system, comprising:

a terminating file transfer server operable to receive a file transfer message from an originating file transfer server, the file transfer message including details about the transfer including a local user and at least one filename;

an agent operable to read the file transfer message, and direct the transfer of at least one file associated with said at least one filename to a home directory associated with the local user; and

a configuration file residing in the home directory, and operable to instruct the agent to transfer said at least one file to a remote host.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuration file comprises a host name and a port name of the remote host.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote host is associated with the local user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the originating file transfer server is operable to instruct the agent to execute upon receiving a file transfer message.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the agent is further operable to transmit said at least one file to the remote host.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the agent is further operable to delete said at least one file from the home directory in accordance with the configuration file.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the terminating file transfer server is a Connect:

Direct server.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a port monitor at the remote terminal operable to monitor communications to the remote host on a port specified by the configuration file.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for monitoring a port of the remote host for communications from the agent.

10. A method of handling files on a Connect:

Direct server, comprising the steps of;

receiving a file transfer message from an originating file transfer server;

determining a home directory from a local user associated with the file transfer message;

storing at least one file associated with the file transfer message in the home directory;

retrieving a configuration file from the home directory; and

transmitting said at least one file responsive to the configuration file.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

responsive to the configuration file, removing the message from the home directory.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the configuration file comprises a host name and a port name of a remote host.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the remote host is associated with the local user.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising using an agent program to direct the transfer of said at least one file to the home directory.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising using an agent program to transmit said at least one file responsive to the configuration file

16. The method of claim 15, using a Connect:

Direct server to receive the file transfer message.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

monitoring a port at a remote terminal specified by the configuration file.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving said at least one file at the port specified by the configuration file.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the agent is operable to remove said at least one file from the home directory after transferring said at least one file to the remote host.

19. A Connect:

Direct file handling system, comprising;

a terminating file transfer server;

an agent; and

a configuration file;

the terminating file transfer server being operable launch the agent upon receipt of a file transfer message, the file transfer message comprising a local username and at least one filename, and the agent being operable to direct the transfer of at least one file associated with the filename to a home directory associated with the username, the agent being further operable to read the configuration file, and transfer said at least one file to a remote host specified by the configuration file.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the configuration file is operable to store a host name and a port number associated with the remote host.

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a port monitor at a remote host, the port monitor being operable to monitor a port specified in the configuration file

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a file processor located at the remote terminal, the file processor being operable to receive files via the port monitor, and assign said at least one filename to said at least one file received, respectively.

24. A computer readable medium having a program for handling files on a Connect:

Direct server, the program operable to perform the steps of;

receiving a file transfer message from an originating file transfer server;

determining a home directory from a local user associated with the file transfer message;

storing at least one file associated with the file transfer message in the home directory;

retrieving a configuration file from the home directory; and

transmitting said at least one file responsive to the configuration file.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24, the program further operable to perform the step of:

responsive to the configuration file, removing the message from the home directory.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the configuration file comprises a host name and a port name of a remote host.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the remote host is associated with the local user.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 24, the program further operable to perform the step of using an agent program to direct the transfer of said at least one file to the home directory.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28, the program further operable to perform the step of using an agent program to transmit said at least one file responsive to the configuration file

30. The computer readable medium of claim 29, the program further operable to perform the step of using a Connect:

Direct server to receive the file transfer message.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 24, the program further operable to perform the step of:

monitoring a port at a remote host specified by the configuration file.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 31, the program further operable to perform the step of:

receiving said at least one file at the port specified by the configuration file.