Shared internet storage resource, user interface system, and method

• US 20050171956A1
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: XDrive LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mcgregor, Lucas, Hald, Martin, O'Brien, Brett, Whiteley, Sean
• Granted Patent: US 7,496,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers

Abstract

The Shared Internet Storage Resource provides Internet-based file storage, retrieval, access, control, and manipulation for a user. Additionally, an easy-to-use user interface is provided both for a browser or stand-alone application. The entire method provides means by which users can establish, use, and maintain files on the Internet in a manner remote from their local computers yet in a manner that is similar to the file manipulation used on their local computers. A high capacity or other storage system is attached to the Internet via an optional internal network that also serves to generate and direct metadata regarding the stored files. A web server using a CGI, Java®-based, or other interface transmits and retrieves TCP/IP packets or other Internet information through a load balancer/firewall by using XML to wrap the data packets. File instructions may be transmitted over the Internet to the Shared Resource System. The user'"'"'s account may be password protected so that only the user may access his or her files. On the user'"'"'s side, a stand-alone client application or JavaScript object interpreted through a browser provide two means by which the XML or other markup language data stream may be received and put to use by the user. Internet-to-Internet file transfers may be effected by directly downloading to the user'"'"'s account space.

Claims

1. A client-server system for a network-based data storage and manipulation system, comprising:

a client system, said client system having a file access service and a file manipulation service;

a server, said server providing network-based data storage resources and responding to requests transmitted by said client system, said server effecting said requests;

said server determining if a client request is one for metadata regarding data stored upon said server;

said server providing said metadata if said client request is for metadata and transmitting said metadata to said file manipulation service; and

said server performing a file action if said client request is not for metadata, said server updating said metadata and transmitting said metadata to said file manipulation service;

whereby

said server operates, and said client system presents, operations on said server in a manner similar to operations local to said client system.

2. The client-server system for a network-based data storage and manipulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said file access service further comprises:

a request processing layer for processing requests; and

a first network I/O layer for transmitting said requests to said server.

3. The client-server system for a network-based data storage and manipulation system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said file access service further comprises:

said first network I/O layer transmitting a signal to said server indicating the presence and nature of at least one of said requests to said server; and

said server responding to said first I/O layer signal by transmitting one or more additional signals to interested components of the at least one of said requests in order to broadcast said first I/O layer signal.

4. The client-server system for a network-based data storage and manipulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said file manipulation service further comprises:

a parser, said parser parsing said metadata from said server;

a data structure, said data structure receiving and preserving parsed data from said parser; and

a data display layer, said data display layer operating upon and displaying said parsed data;

whereby

metadata may be displayed to inform about data stored upon said server.

5. The client-server system for a network-based data storage and manipulation system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said parser is an XML parser.

6. The client-server system for a network-based data storage and manipulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said server further comprises:

a second network I/O layer, said second network I/O layer engaged when said requests are not for metadata, said second network I/O layer transmitting requests for file action; and

a resource access layer, said resource access layer receiving transmissions from said second network I/O layer and effecting said requests, said resource access layer engaged when said requests are for metadata, said resource access layer obtaining and transmitting said metadata; and

a metadata compiler, said metadata compiler receiving said metadata from said resource access layer, compiling said metadata, and transmitting said compiled metadata to said client system.

7. The client-server system for a network-based data storage and manipulation system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said metadata compiler is an XML generator.

8. The client-server system for a network-based data storage and manipulation system as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:

said second network I/O layer transmitting a signal to said server indicating the presence and nature of at least one of said requests to said server; and

said server responding to said second I/O layer signal by transmitting one or more additional signals to interested components of the at least one of said requests in order to broadcast said second I/O layer signal.

9. The client-server system for a network-based data storage and manipulation system as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:

said second network I/O layer supporting interpretation of said requests transmitted by said client system, said second network I/O layer enabling interpretation of said requests to promote a user'"'"'s actions or effect said user'"'"'s preferences.

10. A client-server system for a network-based data storage and manipulation system, comprising:

a client system, said client system having a file access service and a file manipulation service;

a server, said server providing network-based data storage resources and responding to requests transmitted by said client system, said server effecting said requests;

said file access service including a request processing layer for processing requests and a first network I/O layer for transmitting said requests to said server;

said first network I/O layer transmitting a signal to said server indicating the presence and nature of at least one of said requests to said server and said server responding to said first I/O layer signal by transmitting one or more additional signals to interested components of the at least one of said requests in order to broadcast said first I/O layer signal;

said server determining if a client request is one for metadata regarding data stored upon said server;

said file manipulation service including an XML parser, said XML parser parsing said metadata from said server, said file manipulation service also including a data structure, said data structure receiving and preserving parsed data from said XML parser, and said file manipulation service including a data display layer, said data display layer operating upon and displaying said parsed data such that metadata may be displayed to inform about data stored upon said server;

said server providing said metadata if said client request is for metadata and transmitting said metadata to said file manipulation service;

said server providing a second network I/O layer, said second network I/O layer engaged when said requests are not for metadata, said second network I/O layer transmitting requests for file action, said server also providing a resource access layer, said resource access layer receiving transmissions from said second network I/O layer and effecting said requests, said resource access layer engaged when said requests are for metadata, said resource access layer obtaining and transmitting said metadata, and said server providing a metadata compiler in the form of an XML generator, said metadata compiler receiving said metadata from said resource access layer, compiling said metadata, and transmitting said compiled metadata to said client system;

said second network I/O layer transmitting a signal to said server indicating the presence and nature of at least one of said requests to said server;

said server responding to said second I/O layer signal by transmitting one or more additional signals to interested components of the at least one of said requests in order to broadcast said second I/O layer signal; and

said second network I/O layer supporting interpretation of said requests transmitted by said client system, said second network I/O layer enabling interpretation of said requests to promote a user'"'"'s actions or effect said user'"'"'s preferences;

said server performing a file action if said client request is not for metadata, said server updating said metadata and transmitting said metadata to said file manipulation service such that said server operates, and said client system presents, operations on said server in a manner similar to operations local to said client system.