SHARED INTERNET STORAGE RESOURCE, USER INTERFACE SYSTEM, AND METHOD

• US 20140237571A1
• Filed: 12/02/2013
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yahoo AD Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: XDrive LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Brien, Brett, Whiteley, Sean, McGregor, Lucas, Hald, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 9,378,212 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/134 Distributed indices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/148 File search processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/176 Support for shared access to files; File sharing support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/18 File system types
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1824 implemented using Network-attached Storage [NAS] architecture distributed or networked storage systems G06F3/067; protocols for distributed storage of data in a network H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols

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.

Claims

1-65. -65. (canceled)

65. A method for data storage and retrieval, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a client device;

sending the request to an enterprise java bean cluster;

comparing, by the enterprise bean cluster, the request to a set of business rules;

forwarding the request to a transaction processor if the request complies with the set of business rules;

retrieving metadata from one or more metadata storage devices if the request is for metadata;

retrieving file data from one or more file storage devices, separated from the metadata storage devices, if the request is for file data, wherein the metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices corresponds to files stored in the one or more file storage devices;

converting the file data to a network data stream;

translating the metadata into XML format; and

sending the network data stream of the file data and the XML formatted metadata to the client device.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

authenticating the request by determining whether the request matches credentials associated with a user of the client device.

67. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

parsing a request header associated with the request;

parsing multipart form data associated with the request; and

determining, based on at least one of the parsed request header or multipart form data, a request type for the request.

68. The method of claim 65, wherein a request for file data is fulfilled based on corresponding metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices.

69. The method of claim 65, wherein the metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices is updated with information stored in the one or more file storage devices when a file command has been executed on a file stored in the one or more file storage devices.

70. The method of claim 65, wherein the enterprise bean cluster is implemented on a non-routable network.

71. The method of claim 65, wherein the client device comprises one or more web-based applications.

72. A system for data storage and retrieval, the system comprising:

a storage device that stores a set of instructions; and

at least one processor that executes the set of instructions, the set of instructions configuring the at least one processor to

receive a request from a client device;

compare the request to a set of business rules;

forward the request to a transaction processor, if the request complies with the set of business rules;

retrieve metadata from one or more metadata storage devices if the request is for metadata;

retrieve file data from one or more file storage devices if the request is for file data, wherein the metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices corresponds to files stored in the one or more file storage devices;

convert the file data to a network data stream;

translate the metadata into XML format; and

send the network data stream of the file data and the XML formatted metadata to the client device.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein the set of instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

authenticate the request by determining whether the request matches credentials associated with a user of the client device.

74. The system of claim 72, wherein the set of instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

parse a request header associated with the request;

parse multipart form data associated with the request; and

determine, based on at least one of the parsed request header or parsed multipart form data, a request type for the request.

75. The system of claim 72, wherein a request for file data from the one or more file storage devices is fulfilled based on corresponding metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices.

76. The system of claim 72, wherein the metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices is updated with information stored in the one or more file storage devices when a file command has been executed on a file stored in the one or more file storage devices.

77. The system of claim 72, wherein the enterprise bean cluster is implemented on a non-routable network.

78. The system of claim 72, wherein the client device comprises one or more web-based applications.

79. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage device for data storage and retrieval, the storage device including a set of instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to:

receive a request from a client device;

compare the request to a set of business rules;

forward the request to a transaction processor if the request complies with the set of business rules;

retrieve metadata from one or more metadata storage devices if the request is for metadata;

retrieve file data from one or more file storage devices if the request is for file data, wherein the metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices corresponds to files stored in the one or more file storage devices;

convert the file data to a network data stream;

translate the metadata into XML format; and

send the network data stream of the file data and the XML formatted metadata to the client device.

80. The computer-readable storage device of claim 79, wherein the set of instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

authenticate the request by determining whether the request matches credentials associated with a user of the client device.

81. The computer-readable storage device of claim 79, wherein the set of instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

parse a request header associated with the request;

parse multipart form data associated with the request; and

determine, based on at least one of the parsed request header or parsed multipart form data, a request type for the request.

82. The computer-readable storage device of claim 79, wherein a request for file data is fulfilled based on corresponding metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices.

83. The computer-readable storage device of claim 79, wherein the metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices is updated with information stored in the one or more file storage devices when a file command has been executed on a file stored in the one or more file storage devices.

84. The computer-readable storage device of claim 79, wherein the enterprise bean cluster is implemented on a non-routable network.

85. The computer-readable storage device of claim 79, wherein the client device comprises one or more web-based applications.