Method and system of controlling software distribution or file transfer

• US 20060159127A1
• Filed: 01/20/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kumhyr, David Bruce, Childress, Rhonda L., Ruiz, Thomas Michael, Pennell, Neil Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 7,630,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0882 Utilisation of link capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements

Abstract

An example of a solution provided here comprises automatically measuring bandwidth of a network connection; comparing results of the measuring, with bandwidth parameters; preventing a transfer of a file via the network connection, if measured bandwidth is less than a minimum acceptable value; providing to an end user an option of transferring a file via the network connection, if measured bandwidth is not less than a minimum acceptable value, but is less than an optimal value; and automatically transferring a file via the network connection, if measured bandwidth is greater than or equal to an optimal value.

Claims

1. A method of controlling file transfer, said method comprising:

automatically measuring bandwidth of a network connection;

comparing results of said measuring, with bandwidth parameters;

based on results of said comparing, performing an action chosen from a-c below;

a. preventing a transfer of a file via said network connection, if measured bandwidth is less than a minimum acceptable value;

b. providing to an end user an option of transferring a file via said network connection, if measured bandwidth is not less than a minimum acceptable value but less than an optimal value; and

c. automatically transferring a file via said network connection, if measured bandwidth is greater than or equal to an optimal value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from said end user a request that said file be transferred.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating said automatically measuring, said comparing results, and said performing an action, without receiving a request from said end user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said comparing results of said measuring further comprises retrieving said bandwidth parameters from a database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said transferring a file further comprises software distribution.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said transferring a file further comprises movie distribution.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said transferring a file further comprises transfer of system management data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said transferring a file further comprises transfer of audio or video content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing to an end user an option of transferring a file further comprises:

providing a message concerning said measured bandwidth; and

enabling said end user to accept or reject said transferring a file.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

repeating said automatically measuring, said comparing results, and said performing an action, for a plurality of network connections.

11. A method of controlling file transfer, said method comprising:

automatically measuring bandwidth of a network connection;

comparing results of said measuring, with bandwidth parameters having a minimum acceptable value, and an optimal value; and

based on results of said comparing, providing to an end user an option of accepting software distribution via said network connection, if measured bandwidth is not less than said minimum acceptable value, but is less than said optimal value.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said comparing results of said measuring further comprises retrieving said bandwidth parameters, for a software package, from a database.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

preventing a distribution of software via said network connection, if measured bandwidth is less than a minimum value.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

automatically distributing software via said network connection, if measured bandwidth is greater than or equal to an optimal value.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving from said end user a request that said software be distributed.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

initiating said automatically measuring, said comparing results, and said providing an option, without receiving a request from said end user.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said providing to an end user an option of accepting software distribution further comprises:

providing a message concerning said measured bandwidth; and

enabling said end user to accept or reject said distributing software.

18. A system of controlling file transfer, said method comprising:

means for automatically measuring bandwidth of a network connection;

means for comparing results of said measuring, with bandwidth parameters;

means for preventing a transfer of a file via said network connection, if measured bandwidth is less than a minimum acceptable value;

means for providing to an end user an option of transferring a file via said network connection, if measured bandwidth is not less than a minimum acceptable value, but is less than an optimal value; and

means for automatically transferring a file via said network connection, if measured bandwidth is greater than or equal to an optimal value.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

said means for automatically measuring, said means for comparing results, and said means for performing an action, are initiated without receiving a request from said end user.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for providing a message concerning said measured bandwidth; and

means for enabling said end user to accept or reject said transferring a file.

21. A computer-usable medium having computer-executable instructions for controlling file transfer, said computer-usable medium comprising:

means for automatically measuring bandwidth of a network connection;

means for comparing results of said measuring, with bandwidth parameters;

means for preventing a transfer of a file via said network connection, if measured bandwidth is less than a minimum acceptable value;

means for providing to an end user an option of transferring a file via said network connection, if measured bandwidth is not less than a minimum acceptable value, but is less than an optimal value; and

means for automatically transferring a file via said network connection, if measured bandwidth is greater than or equal to an optimal value.

22. The computer-usable medium of claim 21, wherein:

said means for automatically measuring, said means for comparing results, and said means for performing an action, are initiated without receiving a request from said end user.

23. The computer-usable medium of claim 22, further comprising:

means for providing a message concerning said measured bandwidth; and

means for enabling said end user to accept or reject said transferring a file.