System and method to expedite the transfer of data within a network by sending request for source information to server through a slow-speed data transfer facility and downloading data to user through a fast-speed data transfer facility

• US 6,334,144 B1
• Filed: 11/16/1999
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BMC Software Incorporated (KKR & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compuware Corporation (KKR & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Horwitz, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/440,988
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 709/263, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/225, 709/226, 709/227, 709/229, 709/238, 709/329, 709/230, 709/232
• US Class Current: 709/213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system and method is described for expediting the transfer of data in a network system wherein a user is coupled by a slow-speed data transfer facility to a first user environment which is the primary interface system for the user. The user begins the process by requesting the download of a data packet. The user interface sends a request for source information to the first user environment along its slow-speed data transfer facility. The response to the request consists of the source information of the data packet. The source information is received by the user interface, and is then sent to the second user environment having a fast-speed data transfer facility. The second user environment locates the data packet using the source information, and downloads the data packet to the user interface through the fast-speed data transfer facility. In a further aspect of the invention, the first user environment operates in accordance with CICS protocols, and uses a HLLAPI interface in conjunction with a user interface, and the second user environment is a MVS platform, coupled to the user interface with a TCP/IP connection. The user requests the download of a data packet a block of source code, and the CICS region returns the program name, the date and time it was compiled, and the MVS dataset name containing the source program information. Since CICS runs on a layer on top of MVS, this MVS dataset is available to both operating systems. The source information is then sent to the workstation, restructured and then sent by the workstation through a TCP/IP connection to MVS. MVS receives the source information, locates the dataset, and begins to download the source code.

Claims

1. A method for expediting data transfer in a system in response to a request for a block of source code, the system having multiple user environments, including a first user environment coupled to a slow-speed data transfer facility and a second user environment coupled to a fast-speed data transfer facility, comprising:

requesting source information corresponding to the requested block of source code from the first user environment;

receiving the requested source information;

requesting transfer of the block of source code corresponding to the received source information from the second user environment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein requesting source information further comprises:

translating the request for a block of source code into a request for source information corresponding to the requested block of source code.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the source information includes a minimum amount of information necessary to locate a specific block of source code in a stored grouping of data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested block of source code was created on a date and the date information was stored, and the source information requested includes the date information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested block of source code was created at a certain time and the time information was stored, and the source information includes the time information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the request for the block of source code from a user;

determining which of the multiple environments can access the block of source code requested by the user;

specifying one of the multiple user environments to retrieve the source information; and

responsive to the specified environment being an environment coupled to a fast-speed data transfer facility, requesting the transmission of the block of source code from the specified fast-speed data transfer facility.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein requesting the transfer of the requested block of source code includes restructuring the received source information to a form recognizable by the second user environment.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the block of source code from the second user environment to a central location responsive to the request for the transfer of the block of source code.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying the requested block of source code using the source information;

retrieving the requested block of source code, in response to said identifying; and

transmitting the requested block of source code to the central location, in response to said retrieving.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting the source information to the central location from the first user environment.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving the request for source information corresponding to the requested block of source code;

identifying the dataset name of the requested block of source code; and

transmitting source information comprises transmitting the identified dataset name to the central location.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

terminating a connection between the central location and the second user environment responsive to the retrieved data being transmitted to the central location.

13. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer network system having multiple user environments, including a first user environment coupled to a slow-speed data transfer facility and a second user environment coupled to a fast-speed data transfer facility, to transfer data in response to a request for a block of source code by:

requesting source information corresponding to the requested block of source code from the first user environment;

receiving the requested source information; and

requesting transfer of the block of source code corresponding to the received source information from the second user environment.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, whose contents further cause the computer network system to transfer the block of source code by translating the request for the block of source code into a request for source information corresponding to the requested block of source code.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, whose contents further cause the computer network system to transfer the block of source code by restructuring the received source information into a form recognizable by the second user environment.