File transfer system for direct transfer between computers

• US 20090205026A1
• Filed: 04/07/2009
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: H Space Data Services LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Clarke, Christopher D., Haff, Maurice W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,810,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/663 Transport layer addresses, e.g. aspects of transmission control protocol [TCP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 above the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1063 Discovery through centralising entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1078 Resource delivery mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1093 Some peer nodes performing special functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/162 involving adaptations of sockets based mechanisms secure socket layer H04L63/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/164 Adaptation or special uses of UDP protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/326 : in the transport layer [OSI layer 4] H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/922 : Communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 : Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 : Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 : Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 : Recoverability

Abstract

A file authentication requesting device that stores a computer program for requesting authentication of files in digital systems, the device comprises a confirmation request system that generates a request for a confirmation receipt from a third party authenticator authenticating the attributes of a file; a transferring system that transfers attributes of at least one file to be authenticated to the third party authenticator from the device that requested the confirmation; and a receiving system that receives the confirmation receipt comprising authenticated file attributes, after authentication by the third party authenticator; wherein, at least one file authentication is received from the third party authenticator. Corresponding processing devices, media, systems and methods are also provided.

Claims

1-31. -31. (canceled)

32. A method for transferring a file from a first device to a second device over a communications network, comprising:

displaying, on the first device, a collection of file identifiers, wherein each file identifier represents a selectable file;

receiving, at the first device, a user selection of at least one file identifier representing a file selected to be transferred to the second device, wherein each of the first device and the second device includes functionally equivalent instruction sets that enable file transfer between the first device and the second device;

displaying, on the first device, a collection of destinations identifiers, wherein each destination identifier represents a remote device having at least one of an Internet Protocol (IP) address or a telephone number;

receiving, at the first device, a user selection of at least one destination identifier as selection of the second device;

displaying, on the first device, a data entry field in which a text message can be entered;

receiving, at the first device, the text message;

associating, at the first device, the text message to the selected file as a text file;

transferring, from the first device to the second device, the selected file and the associated text file, including;

transmitting, to the second device, the selected file and the associated text file absent non-transient intermediate storage of the selected file on an intervening communications device of the communications network; and

receiving, at the second device, the selected file and associated text file, the receiving absent initiation of retrieval of the selected file from the intervening communications device by the second device and the receiving occurring absent user action at the second device;

detecting, at the second device, reception of the selected file and the associated text file;

providing, at the second device, an alert in response to the reception of the selected file and the associated text file;

displaying, on the second device, an identification of the first device in relation to the selected file and associated text file, wherein the identification includes at least one of a communications address of the first device, a name of the first device, or a username associated with the first device; and

displaying, on the second device, at least a portion of content of the selected file and associated text file.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the transferring the selected file and the associated text file further includes:

transmitting, from the first device to a specific command port of the second device, a file characteristic, a sender identification, and sender authentication information;

receiving, at the second device, the file characteristic, the sender identification, and the sender authentication information;

evaluating, at the second device, the received sender identification and sender authentication information;

selectively transmitting, from the second device to the first device, an identification of a specific data port of the second device from a range of data ports of the second device according to the evaluated sender identification and sender authentication information;

transmitting, from the first device to the identified data port of the second device, portions of the selected file;

receiving, at the second device, the portions of the selected file; and

closing the specific data port of the second device if a cumulative size of the received portions of the selected file equals the selected file characteristic; and

storing, at the second device, the received portions of the selected file.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the evaluating the received sender identification and sender authentication information includes:

authenticating the sender identification and sender authentication information according to at least one of an address, destination file, serial number, license code, or authentication code.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the command port is a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) port and the data port is a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) port.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the transmitting the selected file is irrespective of whether a user of the first device is logged in to the second device, and wherein the transmitting the selected file and the receiving the selected file occur at substantially the same time.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the alert is a visual indicator, wherein the selected file is at least one of an image file, audio file, or video file;

and wherein the first device and the second device are mobile telephones or wireless computing devices.

38. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

deferring the transferring of the selected file and associated text file to a specified date and time.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein transferring the selected file and the associated text file, further includes:

determining, at the first device, whether a connection to the second device is available; and

selectively transmitting, to the second device, the selected file and the associated text file absent intermediate storage of the selected file on an intervening communications device of the communications network according to the determined connection availability.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein transferring the selected file and the associated text file, further includes:

compressing, at the first device, the selected file and the associated text file into a single combined file;

generating, at the first device, a unique transaction identifier identifying the transferring of the selected file and the associated text file;

generating, at the second device, a delivery confirmation message confirming reception of the selected file and the associated text file;

transmitting, from the second device to an authenticating device of the communications network, the delivery confirmation message; and

generating, at the authenticating device, a delivery report that indicates a delivery event and a time of the delivery event.

41. A method for transmitting a file from a first device to a second device over a communications network, comprising:

displaying, on the first device, a file identifier, wherein the file identifier represents a selectable file;

receiving, at the first device, a user selection of the file identifier representing a selection of the selectable file for transmission to the second device that has a file transfer instruction set that enables file transfers between the first device and the second device and that is functionally equivalent to a file transfer instruction set of the first device;

displaying, on the first device, a destination identifier, wherein the destination identifier represents a remote device having an address;

receiving, at the first device, a user selection of the destination identifier as selection of the second device; and

transmitting, from the first device to the second device, the selected file such that the selected file is not stored on an intervening device.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

detecting, at the second device, reception of the selected file;

providing, at the second device, an alert in response to the reception of the selected file;

displaying, on the second device, an identification of the first device in relation to the selected file, wherein the identification includes at least one of the address of the first device, a name of the first device, or a username associated with the first device; and

displaying, on the second device, at least a portion of content of the selected file.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

displaying, on the first device, a data entry field in which a text message can be entered;

receiving, at the first device, the text message;

associating the text message to the selected file as a text file; and

transmitting, to the second device, the associated text file.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein transmitting the selected file and the associated text file, further includes:

compressing, at the first device, the selected file and the associated text file into a single combined file;

transmitting, to the second device, the single combined file;

generating, at the first device, a unique transaction identifier identifying the transmitting of the single combined file;

generating, at the second device, a delivery confirmation message confirming reception of the single combined file;

transmitting, from the second device to an authenticating device of the communications network, the delivery confirmation message; and

generating, at the authenticating device, a delivery report that indicates a delivery event and a time of the delivery event.

45. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

transmitting, from the first device to a specific command port of the second device, a sender identification, and sender authentication information;

receiving, at the second device, an identification of a specific data port of the second device from a range of data ports of the second device according to an evaluation of the sender identification and the sender authentication information; and

transmitting, from the first device to the identified data port of the second device, portions of the selected file.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

receiving, at the second device, the sender identification and the sender authentication information;

evaluating, at the second device, the received sender identification and sender authentication information; and

selectively transmitting, from the second device to the first device, the identification of the specific data port of the second device according to the evaluated sender identification and sender authentication information, and wherein the selectively transmitting the identification of the specific data port includes;

authenticating the sender identification and sender authentication information according to at least one of an address, destination file, serial number, license code, or authentication code.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein the displaying the file identifier includes displaying a collection of file identifiers and wherein the displaying the destination identifier includes displaying a collection of destination identifiers.

48. The method of claim 41, wherein the selected file is at least one of an image file, audio file, or video file, and wherein the first device and the second device are mobile telephones or wireless computing devices.

49. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

deferring the transmitting of the selected file to a specified date and time.

50. The method of claim 41, wherein transmitting the selected file, further includes:

determining, at the first device, whether a connection to the second device is available; and

selectively transmitting, to the second device, the selected file without intermediate storage of the selected file on an intervening communications device of the communications network according to the determined connection availability.

51. A processor-readable storage medium storing processor-readable instructions, which when executed, cause a first device to perform a plurality of operations, including:

displaying a file identifier, wherein the file identifier represents a selectable file;

receiving a user selection of the file identifier representing a selection of the selectable file for transmission to a second device;

displaying a destination identifier, wherein the destination identifier represents a remote device having an address;

receiving a user selection of at least one destination identifier as selection of the second device; and

transmitting the selected file to the second device without intermediate storage of the selected file on an intervening device.

52. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 51, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause a computing system to perform further operations, including:

displaying a data entry field in which a text message can be entered;

receiving the text message;

associating the text message to the selected file as a text file; and

transmitting the associated text file to the second device.

53. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 51, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause a computing system to perform further operations, including:

transmitting a sender identification and sender authentication information to a specific command port of the second device;

receiving an identification of a specific data port of the second device from a range of data ports of the second device according to an evaluation of the sender identification and the sender authentication information at the second device; and

transmitting portions of the selected file to the identified data port of the second device.

54. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 51, wherein the transmitting the selected file is without user action at the second device and is without retrieval of the selected file by the second device.

55. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 51, wherein the selected file is at least one of an image file, audio file, or video file, and wherein the first device and the second device are mobile telephones or wireless computing devices.

56. A file transfer system, comprising:

a first device that is configured to display a file identifier, wherein the file identifier represents a selectable file;

receive a user selection of the file identifier representing a selection of the selectable file for transmission to a second device;

display a destination identifier, wherein the destination identifier represents a remote device having an address;

receive a user selection of the destination identifier as selection of the second device;

and to transmit the selected file to the second device such that the selected file is not stored for more than a transient duration on an intervening device.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the first device is further configured to display a data entry field in which a text message can be entered;

receive the text message;

associate the text message to the selected file; and

to transmit the associated text message to the second device.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein the first device is configured to transmit the selected file irrespective of whether a user of the first device is logged in to the second device.

59. The system of claim 56, wherein the first device is configured to transmit the selected file irrespective of user action at the second device.

60. The system of claim 56, further comprising:

a second device that is configured to receive the sender identification and the sender authentication information;

evaluate the received sender identification and sender authentication information; and

to selectively transmit, to the first device, the identification of the specific data port of the second device according to the evaluated sender identification and sender authentication information, wherein each of the first device and the second device is configured with functionally equivalent instruction sets that enable file transfer between the first device and the second device.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the second device is configured to selectively transmit the identification of the specific data port according to an authentication of the sender identification and sender authentication information according to at least one of an address, destination file, serial number, license code, or authentication code.

62. The system of claim 60, wherein the second device is further configured to detect reception of the selected file;

and to provide an alert in response to the reception of the selected file.

63. The system of claim 60, wherein the second device is further configured to display an identification of the first device in relation to the selected file, wherein the identification includes at least one of an address of the first device, a name of the first device, or a username associated with the first device;

and to display at least a portion of content of the selected file.

64. The system of claim 56, wherein the selected file is at least one of an image file, audio file, or video file, and wherein the first device and the second device are mobile telephones or wireless computing devices.

65. A file transfer apparatus, comprising:

means for displaying a file identifier, wherein the file identifier represents a selectable file;

means for receiving a user selection of the file identifier representing a selection of the selectable file for transmission to a second device;

means for displaying a destination identifier, wherein the destination identifier represents a remote device having an address;

means for receiving a user selection of at least one destination identifier as selection of the second device; and

means for transmitting the selected file to the second device such that the selected file is not stored at an intervening device.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, further comprising:

means for transmitting a sender identification and sender authentication information to a specific command port of the second device;

means for receiving an identification of a specific data port of the second device from a range of data ports of the second device according to an evaluation of the sender identification and the sender authentication information at the second device; and

means for transmitting portions of the selected file to the identified data port of the second device.

67. A method for transmitting a file from a first device to a second device over a communications network, comprising:

transmitting a file characteristic, a sender identification, and sender authentication information from the first device to a specific User Datagram Protocol (UDP) command port of the second device;

receiving an identification of a specific Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) data port of the second device from a range of data ports of the second device according to an evaluation of the sender identification and the sender authentication information at the second device; and

transmitting portions of the selected file from the first device to the identified data port of the second device.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

receiving the transmitted file characteristic, the sender identification, and the sender authentication information at the second device;

evaluating, at the second device, the received sender identification and sender authentication information according to at least one of an address, destination file, serial number, license code, or authentication code;

selectively transmitting, from the second device to the first device, the identification of the specific data port of the second device according to the evaluated sender identification and sender authentication information;

receiving the portions of the file at the second device;

closing the data port from the second device if a cumulative size of the received portions of the file equals the file transmitted file characteristic; and

storing the received portions of the file at the second device.

69. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

randomly selecting the specific User Datagram Protocol (UDP) command port of the second device from a range of command ports of the second device.

70. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

transmitting a file characteristic, a sender identification, and sender authentication information from the first device to a specific User Datagram Protocol (UDP) command port of a third device, wherein a static Internet Protocol (IP) address is assigned to the third device;

receiving an identification of a specific Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) data port of the second device from a range of data ports of the third device according to an evaluation of the sender identification and the sender authentication information at the third device; and

transmitting portions of the selected file from the first device to the identified data port of the third device at substantially the same time as the portions of the selected file are being transmitted from the first device to the identified data port of the second device.

71. A method for transferring files from a first device to a second device over a communications network, comprising:

displaying, on the first device, a collection of file identifiers, wherein each file identifier represents a selectable file;

receiving, at the first device, a user selection of at least one file identifier representing a file selected to be transferred to the second device;

displaying, on the first device, a collection of destinations identifiers, wherein each destination identifier represents a remote device having a numbered destination address on a circuit switched or packet switched network;

receiving, at the first device, a user selection of at least one destination identifier as selection of the second device;

displaying, on the first device, a data entry field in which a text message can be entered;

receiving, at the first device, the text message;

encapsulating, at the first device, the text message with the selected file into a single combined file;

generating, at the first device, a unique transaction identifier that identifies a transfer of the single combined file;

transferring, from the first device to the second device, the single combined file, including;

sending, to the second device at its numbered destination address, the single combined file;

receiving, at the second device, the single combined file irrespective of user action at the second device;

generating, at the second device, a delivery confirmation message confirming reception of the single combined file;

transmitting, from the second device to an authenticating device of the communications network, the delivery confirmation message; and

generating, at the authenticating device, a delivery report that indicates a delivery event and a time of the delivery event;

providing, at the second device, an alert indicating reception of the single combined file;

displaying, on the second device, an identification of the first device in relation to at least one of the selected file or the associated text file, wherein the identification includes at least one of a communications address of the first device, a name of the first device, or a username associated with the first device; and

displaying, on the second device, at least a portion of content of the selected file or the text message.