System and method for distributing data simultaneously to multiple computers on a network, with advanced notice to intended recipients

• US 5,857,072 A
• Filed: 04/30/1996
• Issued: 01/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Crowle, Nelson Fredrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowler, Alyssa H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dzung C.
• Application Number:
  US08/641,380
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 364/DIG. 1, 370/471, 370/474, 395/200.33, 395/200.31, 395/800.28, 395/800.31, 395/200.3, 395/200.36, 395/200.56
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system and method for distributing data to multiple computer locations associated with a computer network determines which of the multiple network computer locations are to receive a data distribution, and then generates a first message indicating the data comprising the data distribution and the network computer locations intended to receive the data distribution. The first message and the data distribution are transmitted to the network such that each of the multiple network locations is capable of receiving the data distribution. The multiple network computer locations examine the first message so that each network computer location can determine whether it is an intended location for receiving the data distribution. Then, one or more intended network locations receive the data distribution.

Claims

1. A method for distributing data to multiple computer locations associated with a network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining which of the multiple network computer locations are to receive a data distribution;

(b) generating a first message, said first message identifying the data comprising the data distribution, and said first message identifying the network computer locations intended to receive the data distribution;

(c) transmitting the first message to the network for examination by the multiple network computer locations;

(d) examining the first message at the multiple network computer locations so that each network computer location can determine whether it is an intended location for receiving the data distribution;

(e) transmitting the data distribution to the network for receipt by one or more of the intended network computer locations; and

(f) receiving the data distribution at one or more of the intended network computer locations.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(g) transmitting another message to the network requesting all of the intended network computer locations to indicate the status of the receipt of the data distribution;

(h) receiving individual responses from the network computer locations indicating the status of the receipt of the data distributions;

(i) transmitting data to the network, based on said individual responses, that was not received by the network computer locations; and

(j) repeating steps (f) through (i) until the data distribution is complete.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises:

transmitting an initial message across the network requesting information relating to the status of the current data files of the network computer locations, and

receiving individual responses from the network computer locations relating to the status of the current data files.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the data distribution comprises at least one file header and at least one data file including at least one file record, wherein the file header comprises the first message.

5. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein the data distribution further comprises program files.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the network comprises a local area network.

7. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the network comprises a wide area network.

8. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of maintaining a data table including network addresses of all network computer locations associated with the network.

9. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of tracking successive data distributions to the network computer locations to maintain current information relating to the data files of the network computer locations.

10. A computer-readable memory having stored therein computer-executable program code for distributing data to multiple computer locations associated with a network, the computer-readable memory comprising:

structure for determining which of the multiple network computer locations are to receive a data distribution;

message announcement structure for generating and transmitting to the network a first message, said first message identifying the data that comprises the data distribution and identifying the network computer locations intended to receive the data distribution, wherein the multiple network computer locations examine the first message so that each network computer location can determine whether it is an intended location for receiving the data distribution; and

file record structure for transmitting the data distribution to the network after transmission of the first message, such that a plurality of the multiple network computer locations are capable of receiving the data distribution, and wherein one or more intended network computer locations receive the data distribution as specified in the first message.

11. The computer-readable memory as defined in claim 10 further comprising structure for indicating the status of data files on individual network computer locations.

12. The computer-readable memory as defined in claim 10 further comprising resend structure for requesting that missing data from the data distribution be resent.

13. The computer-readable memory as defined in claim 12 wherein the intended network computer locations maintain individual listings of the data received during the data distribution to determine whether certain data was not received.

14. The computer-readable memory as defined in claim 10 wherein the data distribution comprises a single copy of data including at least one file header and at least one data file having at least one file record, the single copy being accessible by a plurality of the network computer locations.

15. The computer-readable memory as defined in claim 14 wherein the data distribution further comprises program files.

16. The computer-readable memory as defined in claim 10 wherein the network comprises a local area network.

17. The computer-readable memory as defined in claim 10 wherein the network comprises a wide area network.

18. The computer-readable memory as defined in claim 10 wherein the structure for determining comprises structure for transmitting a message across the network requesting information indicating the status of current data files on individual network computer locations, and structure for receiving individual responses from the network computer locations relating to the status of the current data files.

19. The computer-readable memory as defined in claim 10 wherein the computer-executable program code maintains a data table which includes network addresses of all network computer locations associated with the network.

20. The computer-readable memory as defined in claim 10 further comprising structure for tracking successive data distributions to the network computer locations so that said memory maintains current information relating to the data files of the network computer locations.

21. A data distribution system for distributing data to multiple computer locations associated with a network, the data distribution system comprising:

means for determining which of the multiple network computer locations are to receive a data distribution;

means for generating a first message, said first message identifying the data that comprises the data distribution and identifying the network computer locations intended to receive the data distribution;

means for transmitting the first message across the network, wherein the multiple network locations determine whether they are intended locations for receiving the data distribution based the first message

means for transmitting a single copy of the data distribution across the network after transmission of the first message across the network, such that each of the multiple network computer locations is capable of receiving the data distribution and one or more of the intended network computer locations can accept the data distribution.

22. The data distribution system as defined in claim 21 wherein the data distribution comprises at least one file containing at least one record.

23. The data distribution system as defined in claim 22 wherein the file of the data distribution comprises a file header and a plurality of file records, and wherein the file header comprises the first message and includes destination, origination, and identification information.

24. The data distribution system as defined in claim 21 wherein the network comprises a local area network.

25. The data distribution system as defined in claim 21 wherein the network comprises a wide area network.

26. A computer network adapted to distribute data, the network comprising:

a plurality of client computers connected to the network; and

a data server adapted to communicate with the plurality of client computers;

the data server including;

means for determining which of the plurality of client computers are to receive a data distribution;

means for generating a first message, said first message identifying the data that comprises the data distribution and identifying which of the plurality of client computers are intended to receive the data distribution,

means for transmitting the first message across the network, wherein the plurality of client computers examine the first message so that the client computers can determine whether they are intended locations for receiving the data distribution; and

means for transmitting a single copy of the data distribution across the network after transmission of the first message across the network, such that the plurality of client computers are capable of receiving the data distribution, wherein one or more of the plurality of client computers receive the data distribution as indicated in the first message.

27. The computer network as defined in claim 26 wherein the network comprises a local area network.

28. The computer network as defined in claim 26 wherein the network comprises a wide area network.

29. The computer network as defined in claim 28 wherein the data server comprises a master server and one or more sub-servers each associated with a local area network of client computers, and wherein the sub-servers receive the data distribution from the master server and communicate said distribution to a corresponding local area network of client computers.

30. The computer network as defined in claim 26 wherein the data distribution comprises a single copy of data including at least one file header and at least one data file having at least one file record, the single copy being accessible by the plurality of client computers.