Verifying the Transfer of a Data File

• US 20130046817A1
• Filed: 08/20/2012
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blis Media Limited
• Original Assignee: Blis Media Limited
• Inventors: Isbister, Gregor Donald
• Granted Patent: US 9,009,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities

Abstract

Techniques for verifying the transfer from a content provider of a selected data file selected by a client device using a proxy server is disclosed. By creating a local set of characteristics of the selected data file, network traffic sent between the client device and the content provider can be monitored. A local record of a transfer session is then created, and a download request from the client device is received and forwarded, thus initiating the transfer of the selected data file to the content provider. A data file is then received from the content provider and forwarded to the client device. The characteristics of the received data file are evaluated, thus allowing verification that the characteristics of the received data file match the local set of characteristics of the selected data file to take place. Finally, the received data file is forwarded to the client device.

Claims

1. A method of verifying the transfer from a content provider of a selected data file selected by a client device using a proxy server, comprising steps of:

creating a local set of characteristics of the selected data file;

monitoring network traffic sent between the client device and the content provider to create a local record of a transfer session;

receiving and forwarding a download request from the client device to initiate the transfer of the selected data file to the content provider;

receiving a data file as a received data file from the content provider and forwarding said data file to the client device;

evaluating characteristics of said received data file;

verifying that the characteristics of said received data file match the local set of characteristics of the selected data file; and

forwarding the received data file to the client device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said local set of characteristics includes the name of the data file, the size of the data file and a hash of the data file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring network traffic between the client device and the content provider comprises:

creating a unique identifier for the client device;

receiving metadata from the content provider related to said data file selected by the client device;

creating modified metadata by modifying said metadata to include said unique identifier;

forwarding said modified metadata to the client device;

receiving a transfer session request from the client device that initiates a transfer session between the client device and the content provider, said transfer session request comprising a transfer session identifier in addition to said unique identifier;

associating said transfer session identifier with said unique identifier to create said local record of the transfer session;

removing said unique identifier from said transfer session request to create a modified transfer session request;

forwarding said modified transfer session request to the content provider.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said proxy server does not forward a download request from the client device to the content provider if a received download request is not for the selected data file.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein confirmation data is recorded in a data structure if said verifying step is successful.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein local records of transfer sessions are deleted when received data files are forwarded to client devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said proxy server is configured to only receive and forward traffic that is sent between a plurality of client devices and said content provider.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer of said data file is invoked by an application running on said client device, and said application is configured to create said session identifier and to cease running when transfer of said data file is complete.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said application is run in response to a user of said client device selecting a hyperlink in a web browser.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the selection of a hyperlink invokes an asynchronous connection between said proxy server and said web browser, and said proxy server instructs said web browser to load a predetermined page using said asynchronous connection when transfer of said data file is complete.

11. A proxy server apparatus for verifying the delivery by a content provider of a selected data file selected by a client device, comprising a processor, memory and a network interface, wherein said processor is configured to:

create a local set of characteristics of the selected data file;

monitor network traffic sent between the client device and the content provider to create a local record of a transfer session;

receive and forward a download request from the client device to initiate the transfer of the selected data file to the content provider;

receive a data file as a received data file from the content provider;

evaluate characteristics of said received data file;

verify that the characteristics of said received data file match the local set of characteristics of the selected data file; and

forward said data file to the client device.

12. The proxy server apparatus of claim 11, wherein said local set of characteristics includes the name of the data file, the size of the data file and a hash of the data file.

13. The proxy server apparatus of claim 11, wherein said processor, when monitoring network traffic sent between the client device and the content provider to create a local record of a transfer session, is configured to:

create a unique identifier for the client device;

receive metadata from the content provider related to said data file selected by the client device;

create modified metadata by modifying said metadata to include said unique identifier;

forward said modified metadata to the client device;

receive a transfer session request from the client device that initiates a transfer session between the client device and the content provider, said transfer session request comprising a transfer session identifier in addition to said unique identifier;

associate said transfer session identifier with said unique identifier to create said local record of the transfer session;

remove said unique identifier from said transfer session request to create a modified transfer session request;

forward said modified transfer session request to the content provider.

14. The proxy server apparatus of claim 11, wherein said processor is configured to prohibit forwarding of a download request from the client device to the content provider if a received download request is not for the selected data file.

15. The proxy server apparatus of claim 11, wherein said network interface is configured to only receive and forward traffic sent between a plurality of client devices and said content provider.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions executable by a computer that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to operate as a proxy server, and to carry out a method of verifying the transfer from a content provider of a selected data file selected by a client device, by performing steps of:

creating a local set of characteristics of the selected data file;

monitoring network traffic sent between the client device and the content provider to create a local record of a transfer session;

receiving and forwarding a download request from the client device to initiate the transfer of the selected data file to the content provider;

receiving a data file as a received data file from the content provider and forwarding said data file to the client device;

evaluating characteristics of said received data file;

verifying that the characteristics of said received data file match the local set of characteristics of the selected data file; and

forwarding the received data file to the client device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein said local set of characteristics includes the name of the data file, the size of the data file and a hash of the data file.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, having additional computer-readable instructions that, during said step of monitoring network traffic between the client device and the content provider, cause the computer to perform the further steps of:

creating a unique identifier for the client device;

receiving metadata from the content provider related to said data file selected by the client device;

creating modified metadata by modifying said metadata to include said unique identifier;

forwarding said modified metadata to the client device;

receiving a transfer session request from the client device that initiates a transfer session between the client device and the content provider, said transfer session request comprising a transfer session identifier in addition to said unique identifier;

associating said transfer session identifier with said unique identifier to create said local record of the transfer session;

removing said unique identifier from said transfer session request to create a modified transfer session request;

forwarding said modified transfer session request to the content provider.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, having additional computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to prohibit forwarding of a download request from the client device to the content provider if a received download request is not for the selected data file.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, having additional computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to only receive and forward traffic that is sent between a plurality of client devices and said content provider.