System and method for providing information dispersal in a networked computing environment

• US 6,370,139 B2
• Filed: 10/24/1997
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 1, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tranz-Send Broadcasting Network, Inc.
• Inventors: Redmond, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US08/956,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20010043599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 707/9, 707/10, 707/104, 370/352, 370/354, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219
• US Class Current: 370/354
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

A system and method for providing information dispersal in a networked computing environment are described. A plurality of database servers is distributed throughout a networked computing environment. Each database server includes a database storing segments of information staged for retrieval upon user request. A user system uploads a message specifying an information request. The information request identifies a set of the information staged on the database servers for retrieval. A central controller is communicatively interfaced to the user system and each of the database servers and controls the database servers to disperse the information requested in the uploaded message.

Claims

1. A system for providing information dispersal in a networked computing environment, comprising:

a plurality of database servers distributed throughout a networked computing environment, each database server comprising a database storing information staged for retrieval upon user request;

a user system uploading a message specifying an information request and a PIN with the information request identifying a set of the information staged on the database servers for retrieval;

a PIN server communicatively interfaced to the user system, which directly establishes the PIN on the PIN server; and

a central controller communicatively interfaced to the user system and each of the database servers and communicatively interfaced to the PIN server, the central controller periodically updating and administering validation information stored on the database of each database server comprising issuance of each PIN by the PIN server, validating the PIN for the user system against the validation information stored on the database of the particular database, and controlling the database servers to disperse the information requested in the uploaded message.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the information comprises content, the system further comprising:

each such database server storing the content into the information in an encoded format.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

the central controller interfacing to the plurality of database servers in a control and communications structure.

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

the central controller queuing multiple requests from one or more user systems.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

the central controller automatically interpreting each message for the information contained therein, determining which database system is to be controlled, and automatically employing an optimal search or control routine based on the message and the particular database system.

6. A method for providing information dispersal in a networked computing environment, comprising:

distributing a plurality of database servers throughout a networked computing environment, each database server comprising a database storing information staged for retrieval upon user request;

communicatively interfacing a central controller to a user system and each of the database servers;

communicatively interfacing a PIN server to the user system and the central controller;

directly establishing a PIN on the PIN server via the user system;

periodically updating and administering validation information stored on the database of each database server comprising issuance of each such PIN by the PIN server;

uploading a message specifying an information request and one such PIN from the user system with the information request identifying a set of the information staged on the database servers for retrieval;

validating the one such PIN for the user system against the validation information stored on the database of the particular database servers; and

controlling the database servers via the central controller to disperse the information requested in the uploaded message.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the information comprises content, the method further comprising:

storing the content into the information in an encoded format on each such database server.

8. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

interfacing the plurality of database servers to the central controller in a control and communications structure.

9. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

queuing multiple requests from one or more user systems on the central controller.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

automatically interpreting each message for the information contained therein;

determining which database system is to be controlled; and

automatically employing an optimal search or control routine based on the message and the particular database system.

11. A computer-readable storage medium holding code for performing the method of claim 6.