Shared Internet storage resource, user interface system, and method
First Claim
1. A file storage and retrieval system, comprising:
- a file database of files;
a metadatabase of information regarding said files, said metadatabase being separately accessible with respect to said file database such that faster operations are achieved by accessing said metadatabase in preference to said file database for information regarding said files;
said metadatabase updated contemporaneously with changes to said file database to enable said metadatabase to better reflect current information regarding said files of said file database;
said information regarding said files selected from the group consisting of directory structure and/or location, filenames, file attributes, and combinations thereof;
said faster operations selected from the group consisting of metadata retrieval, metadata sorting, metadata searching, metadata linking, metadata manipulation, displaying information regarding files of said file database so that a user is able to obtain quickly information about said files without having to access said files, file information handling, user query handling, satisfying user requests, file information distribution, and combinations thereof.
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Accused Products
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.
266 Citations
64 Claims
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1. A file storage and retrieval system, comprising:
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a file database of files; a metadatabase of information regarding said files, said metadatabase being separately accessible with respect to said file database such that faster operations are achieved by accessing said metadatabase in preference to said file database for information regarding said files; said metadatabase updated contemporaneously with changes to said file database to enable said metadatabase to better reflect current information regarding said files of said file database; said information regarding said files selected from the group consisting of directory structure and/or location, filenames, file attributes, and combinations thereof; said faster operations selected from the group consisting of metadata retrieval, metadata sorting, metadata searching, metadata linking, metadata manipulation, displaying information regarding files of said file database so that a user is able to obtain quickly information about said files without having to access said files, file information handling, user query handling, satisfying user requests, file information distribution, and combinations thereof.
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2. A shared internet storage resource, comprising:
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a storage facility, said storage facility adapted to be coupled to a network, said storage facility storing files; a searchable database of metadata regarding files stored on said storage facility such that user ease and facility are enhanced by searching said database of metadata, said database of metadata updated on an ongoing basis to reflect file status and to avoid updating a corresponding file from which file metadata arises, said database of metadata updated to reflect a change in status of said file even if said file having no change in content.
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3. A shared computer network storage system, comprising:
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a first database containing file data, said first database distributed over at least two physical storage devices; a second database containing information (metadata) about said file data of said first database, said second database distributed over at least two physical storage devices; a server, said server executing file commands on said first file database, said server contemporaneously updating said second metadatabase upon executing said file commands, said server including; a transaction processor, said transaction processor on a non-routable network, said transaction processor guarantees access to and transactions on said first and second databases; an enterprise java bean cluster (EJBC) on a non-routable network, said enterprise java bean cluster (EJBC) coupled to said transaction processor and handling business logic and resource access methods a well as memory caching for common resources; an application network on a non-routable network, said application network coupled to said enterprise java bean cluster, said application network including a java application cluster and handling display functions and resource requests; a web server, said web server coupled to said application network and handling all requests for static content and proxies requests for dynamic content; a load balancer, said load balancer coupled to said web server and proxying requests to a sub-server having the highest degree of availability or functionality; and a DNS redirector, said DNS redirector coupled to said load balancer and proxying requests to a resource having a highest degree of functionality; and said server adapted to communicate with a client application and adapted to receive file commands from said client application, said server executing said file commands and updating information regarding said first file and second metadata databases for display by said client application;
whereby files in said first file database are available for control by said client application and information regarding status of said first database files is more readily available by reference to said second metadatabase. - View Dependent Claims (53)
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4. A method for providing private file space and information transfer over a public computer network, the steps comprising:
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providing a publicly-available private file space system coupled to the public computer network; said publicly-available private file space system adapted to communicate with a client program in communication with the public computer network; receiving a request from said client program by said publicly-available private file space system (“
private system”
);evaluating said request for static content and returning an appropriate response if said request is for static content; providing an application network within said private system; proxying said request to said application network; and parsing a header of said request authenticating said request by authenticating a user using said client program and authenticating said request made by said client program to ensure that it conforms with an account associated with said user; parsing multipart form data associated with said request; determining said request'"'"'s type; submitting said request; satisfying said request; and returning a success indicator indicating the success or failure of said request;
whereby files held by said private system are available for said client program to create and control.
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5. A client-server system for a network-based data storage and manipulation system, comprising:
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a server, said server providing network-based data storage resources, said server creating and maintaining metadata regarding stored data, said server adapted to receive and respond to requests transmitted by a client system, said server effecting said requests; said server determining if a client request is one for metadata; said server providing said metadata if said client request is for metadata and transmitting said metadata to said client system; 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 client system; said server having 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 having 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 having 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;
wherebysaid server operates in a manner that may be represented as similar to operations local to said client system.
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6. A file storage and retrieval system, comprising:
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a file database of files; and a metadatabase of information regarding said files, said metadatabase being separately accessible with respect to said file database;
wherebyfaster operations are achieved by accessing said metadatabase in preference to said file database for information regarding said files. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A shared internet storage resource, comprising:
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a storage facility, said storage facility adapted to be coupled to a network, said storage facility storing files; and a searchable database of metadata regarding files stored on said storage facility;
wherebyuser ease and facility are enhanced by searching said database of metadata. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A shared computer network storage system, comprising:
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a first database containing file data; a second database containing information (metadata) about said file data of said first database; a server, said server executing file commands on said first file database, said server contemporaneously updating said second metadatabase upon executing said file commands; and a client application, said client application communicating with said server, said client application invoking file commands upon said server, said server executing said file commands and updating information regarding said first file and second metadata databases displayed by said client application;
wherebysaid client application controls files in said first file database and information regarding status of said first database files is more readily available by reference to said second metadatabase. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A shared computer network storage system, comprising:
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a first database containing file data; a second database containing information (metadata) about said file data of said first database; a server, said server executing file commands on said first file database, said server contemporaneously updating said second metadatabase upon executing said file commands; and said server adapted to communicate with a client application and adapted to receive file commands from said client application, said server executing said file commands and updating information regarding said first file and second metadata databases for display by said client application;
wherebyfiles in said first file database are available for control by said client application and information regarding status of said first database files is more readily available by reference to said second metadatabase. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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54. A method for providing private file space and information transfer over a public computer network, the steps comprising:
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providing a publicly-available private file space system adapted to be coupled to the public computer network; said publicly-available private file space system adapted to communicate with a client program in communication with the public computer network; receiving a request from said client program by said publicly-available private file space system (“
private system”
);evaluating said request; authenticating said request; satisfying said request; and returning a success indicator indicating the success or failure of said request;
wherebyfiles held by said private system are available for said client program to create and control. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A shared file storage resource for a computer network, comprising:
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an allocatable file storage resource; a server, said server coupled to said storage resource, said server; allocating individual user file space for a plurality of users on said storage resource; receiving files for storage on said storage resource; transmitting files stored on said storage resource; generating control-protocol codes for transmitting said files; receiving file commands for controlling files on said storage resource; and transmitting display codes indicating file status on said storage resource, said display codes representing said storage resource as a network drive; a first network connection, said first network connection coupling said server to the computer network; and said server adapted to communicate with a workstation able to receive files from said server and transmit files to said server;
wherebysaid allocatable storage resource may store, retrieve, and control files for a user in a unique and secure file storage area on said allocatable storage resource available throughout the computer network and detached from said workstation. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61)
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62. A client-server system for a network-based data storage and manipulation system, comprising:
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a server, said server providing network-based data storage resources and adapted to receive and respond to requests transmitted by a 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 client system; 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 client system;
wherebysaid server operates in a manner that may be represented as similar to operations local to said client system. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64)
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Specification