Method and system for creating and searching directories on a server

• US 5,794,230 A
• Filed: 06/28/1996
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Horadan, Peter H., Candell, Eric M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALAM, SHAHID AL
• Application Number:
  US08/671,771
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 380/24, 380/49, 707/102, 707/104, 707/2
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

In association with a computer system, a method and system for storing and locating information pertaining to a particular financial institution that supports on-line services. Information relating to each financial institution is stored as a separate file on the server. The files on the server are organized in a file structure that includes subdirectories identified by the routing in transit number (RTN) or bank identification number (BIN) of the financial institution. The files relating to each financial institution and the subdirectories on the server are identified by the financial institution'"'"'s (RTN) or BIN. A file is requested by sending a universal resource locator (URL) to the server. The URL identifies the server and also identifies a file path to the file stored on the server based on the RTN or BIN. The file is located on the server and downloaded to the client computer, where an application program extracts information regarding on-line services of the financial institution.

Claims

1. A method for downloading a file containing information about an institution from a memory storage device on a server to a client computer, the institution being identified by a unique identifier comprising a predetermined plurality of symbols, comprising the steps of:

(a) maintaining information relating to a plurality of institutions in respective files stored on the memory storage device of the server, wherein each respective file is identified by a unique filepath;

(b) transmitting, in response to input from a user of the client computer, a request from the client computer to the server for a specific file identified by a specific filepath, the filepath including the unique identifier;

(c) at the server, parsing the unique identifier into predetermined segments comprising a subset of said symbols, the segments corresponding respectively to a directory at least one subdirectory, and a file name;

(d) searching the server using the segments of the unique identifier to locate the specific file as identified within the directory, the at least one subdirectory, and the file name; and

(e) downloading the specific file from the server to the client computer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each file is associated with a respective financial institution.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the directory identifies that the filepath includes the routing in transit number (RTN) of a financial institution.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a first subdirectory is identified by a segment of the unique identifier comprising the first three digits of the RTN.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein a second subdirectory is identified by a segment of the unique identifier comprising the middle three digits of the RTN.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the file name is identified by a segment of the unique identifier comprising the last three digits of the RTN.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the directory identifies that the filepath includes the bank identification number (BIN) of a financial institution.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein a first subdirectory is identified by a segment of the unique identifier comprising the first three digits of the BIN.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the file name is identified by a segment of the unique identifier comprising the last three digits of the BIN.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein the specific file includes a pointer identifying another file including information regarding the on-line services offered by the respective financial institution.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the information is used to configure a program module running on the client computer to utilize the on-line services offered by the financial institution.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the request is in the form of a URL that includes the unique identifier.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the client computer is connected to the server through the Internet.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the client computer is connected to the server through a private dial-up network.

15. The medium of claim 1 wherein the request is in the form of a URL that includes the unique identifier.

16. A computer system including a client and a server, the client being operative to execute a program module for allowing the client to download a file stored on the server, the server comprising:

a memory for storing files containing information relating to a plurality of respective institutions, each institution being identified by a unique identifier comprising a predetermined plurality of symbols, each file being identified by a unique filepath; and

a processing device, coupled to said memory, for searching and locating a specific file;

and the client comprising;

a memory for storing the program module;

a processing device, responsive to instructions from the program module, operative to;

connect the client to the server;

transmit, in response to input from a user of the client computer, a request to the server for a specific file identified by a specific filepath, the filepath including a unique identifier;

parse the unique identifier into predetermined segments comprising a subset of said symbols, the segments corresponding respectively to a directory, at least one subdirectory, and a file name;

search the server using the segments of the unique identifier to locate the specific file as identified within the directory, the at least one subdirectory, and the file name; and

receive the downloaded specific file from the server.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein each file is associated with a respective financial institution.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the directory identifies that the filepath includes the routing in transit number (RTN) of a financial institution.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein a first subdirectory is identified by a segment of the unique identifier comprising the first three digits of the RTN.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein a second subdirectory is identified by a segment of the unique identifier comprising the middle three digits of the RTN.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the file name is identified by a segment of the unique identifier comprising the last three digits of the RTN.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the directory identifies that the filepath includes the bank identification number (BIN) of a financial institution.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein a first subdirectory is identified by a segment of the unique identifier comprising the first three digits of the BIN.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the file name is identified by a segment of the unique identifier comprising the last three digits of the BIN.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein the specific file includes a pointer identifying another file including information regarding the on-line services offered by the respective financial institution.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the information is used to configure a program module running on the client to utilize the on-line services offered by the financial institution.

27. The system of claim 17 wherein the request is in the form of a URL that includes the unique identifier.

28. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a program module for allowing a client computer to download information stored on a server, wherein the server maintains information relating to a plurality of institutions in respective files, the institution being identified by a unique identifier comprising a predetermined plurality of symbols and wherein each file on the server is identified by a unique filepath, the program module comprising instructions which, when executed by the client computer, performs the steps of:

transmitting, in response to input from a user of the client computer, a request to the server for a specific file, identified by a specific filepath which includes the unique identifier to be downloaded to the client;

searching the server using the specific filepath to locate the specific file, the server being responsive to parse the unique identifier into predetermined segments comprising a subset of said symbols, the segments corresponding respectively to a directory, at least one subdirectory, and a file name, with the server utilizing the segments of the unique identifier to locate the specific file as identified within the directory, the at least one subdirectory and the file name; and

receiving the downloaded specific file from the server.

29. The medium of claim 28 wherein each file is associated with a respective financial institution.

30. The medium of claim 29 wherein the directory identifies that the filepath includes the routing in transit number (RTN) of a financial institution.

31. The medium of claim 30 wherein a first subdirectory is identified by a segment of the unique identifier comprising the first three digits of the RTN.

32. The medium of claim 30 wherein a second subdirectory is identified by a segment of the unique identifier comprising the middle three digits of the RTN.

33. The medium of claim 30 wherein the file name is identified by a segment of the unique identifier comprising the last three digits of the RTN.

34. The medium of claim 29 wherein the directory identifies that the filepath includes the bank identification number (BIN) of a financial institution.

35. The medium of claim 34 wherein a first subdirectory is identified by a segment of the unique identifier comprising the first three digits of the BIN.

36. The medium of claim 34 wherein the file name is identified by a segment of the unique identifier comprising the last three digits of the BIN.

37. The medium of claim 29 wherein the specific file includes a pointer identifying another file including information regarding the on-line services offered by the respective financial institution.

38. The medium of claim 37 wherein the information is used to configure a program module running on the client computer to utilize the on-line services offered by the financial institution.

39. The medium of claim 28 wherein the client is connected to the server through the Internet.

40. The medium of claim 28 wherein the client is connected to the server through a private dial-up network.