File Folder Transmission on Network

• US 20110029619A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
• Inventors: Bai, Zhenguo
• Granted Patent: US 8,359,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and a system for transmitting a file folder from the sending end to the receiving end. The system uses a file folder transmission unit at the sending end side to generate a directory structure file of the file folder. The directory structure file may have properties such as the size of the file folder, paths and path lengths of the files in the file folder. The sending end then sends the directory structure file to the receiving end through the file folder transmission unit to allow the system to determine which files in the file folder need to be transmitted. The needed files in the file folder are then transmitted to the receiving end according to the determination. The sending end and the receiving end may communicate using an instant messaging tool. The disclosed method and system allow a faster and more convenient file folder network transmission.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting a file folder from a sending end to a receiving end, the method comprising:

generating a directory structure file of the file folder, the directory structure file having properties including size of the file folder, paths and path lengths of files in the file folder;

sending the directory structure file from the sending end to the receiving end;

determining files in the file folder that need to be transmitted from the sending end to the receiving end; and

transmitting the files in the file folder that need to be transmitted to the receiving end.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the properties of the directory structure file further include a size of a subfolder in the file folder and paths and path lengths of files in the subfolder.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein generating the directory structure file comprises traversing the file folder and computing the properties of the directory structure file.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining the files in the file folder that need to be transmitted comprises analyzing the directory structure file at the receiving end.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

sending a file acquisition request from the receiving end to the sending end to request the files in the file folder that need to be transmitted.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

sending a file folder transmission request to the receiving end through an instant messaging channel.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a network data transmission channel based on network condition between the sending end and the receiving end before sending the directory structure file from the sending end to the receiving end.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the receiving end already has the directory structure file before transmitting the directory structure file.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein determining whether the receiving end already has the directory structure file comprises:

generating an index identifier of the directory structure file;

sending the index identifier to the receiving end; and

determining whether the receiving end already has the directory structure file using the index identifier.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the index identifier is a 16-bit unique identifier extracted from the directory structure file using a message digest algorithm.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein, upon an occurrence of a network connection interruption between the receiving end and the sending end, the method further comprises:

acquiring breakpoint information of transmission interruption of the directory structure file or the file folder; and

resuming the transmission from a position indicated by the breakpoint information.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the size of the file folder is described using a 64-bit integer.

13. An apparatus for transmitting a file folder from a sending end to a receiving end, the apparatus comprising:

a file directory management module adapted for generating a directory structure file of the file folder, the directory structure file having properties including size of the file folder, paths and path lengths of files in the file folder;

a file folder transmission operation logic module adapted for determining files in the file folder that need to be transmitted from the sending end to the receiving end according to the directory structure file; and

a network transmission module adapted for sending the directory structure file from the sending end to the receiving end, and for transmitting the files in the file folder that need to be transmitted to the receiving end.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the file folder transmission operating logic module is further adapted for receiving a file acquisition request from the receiving end, the file acquisition request requesting the files in the file folder that need to be transmitted.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, the apparatus being adapted for sending a file folder transmission request to the receiving end through an instant messaging channel.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the network transmission module is further adapted for establishing a network data transmission channel based on network condition between the sending end and the receiving end before sending the directory structure file from the sending end to the receiving end.

17. One or more computer readable media having stored thereupon a plurality of instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

generate a directory structure file of a file folder, the directory structure file having properties including size of the file folder, paths and path lengths of files in the file folder;

send the directory structure file from a sending end to a receiving end;

determine files in the file folder that need to be transmitted from the sending end to the receiving end according to the directory structure file; and

transmit the files in the file folder that need to be transmitted to the receiving end.

18. The one or more computer readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the processor determines the files in the file folder that need to be transmitted according to a file transmission request received from the receiving end.