Method for transferring data files between a user and an internet server

• US 6,510,467 B1
• Filed: 01/06/1999
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Behfar, Alex A., Ehrlickman, Richard L., Hussain, Muhammed I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit, Bunjob
• Application Number:
  US09/225,594
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227-228, 709/233-234, 709/238-239, 379/93.01
• US Class Current: 709/233
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method for increasing the rate of transfer of web page data files having embedded data files between users of an Internet service and an Internet server. The method is implemented from a set of instructions read by a computer from a diskette. The executed method assigns a first communication channel of the computer to transfer a first data file between the server and the user. The data file is checked for the identity of embedded files, and the identity and address of the embedded files are stored in a table. The embedded files are thereafter transferred through the first communication channel and a second communication channel following transfer of the first data file. In the event that a data transfer of a file becomes stalled, an additional channel is assigned to simultaneously transfer the stalled file with the channel carrying the stalled file.

Claims

1. A method for increasing the rate of transfer of a web page data file having embedded data files between a user and an Internet server comprising:

assigning a first communication channel to transfer a first data file between said Internet server and a user;

checking said first data file for the identity of said embedded data files;

storing the identity and address of said embedded data files in a table;

simultaneously transferring said embedded data files identified in said table through said first communication channel and a second communication channel which is connected between said server and said user following transfer of said first data file;

assigning said communication channels to transfer additional embedded files when said communication channels have completed transferring an embedded file; and

determining when a file being transferred has stalled; and

assigning an additional channel to transfer said stalled file.

2. A system for increasing the rate of recovery of files from an Internet server comprising:

first and second communication channels connected to an Internet provider which is capable of accessing said server;

a computer having first and second I/O ports connected to said first and second communication channels, said computer being programmed to execute the process of;

connecting each of said channels to said Internet provider;

initiating a request to said Internet provider to download a file of a web page to said computer over said first and second communication channels; and

terminating downloading of said file when one of said communication channels completes downloading of said web page file,

wherein said computer is programmed to initially assign one of said channels to download said file, and to subsequently assign the remaining channel to download said file when downloading of said file in said first channel stalls, whereby said channels simultaneously download said file.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein said computer is programmed to initially download one of said web page files, and to identify any embedded files in said one file.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein said computer is programmed to assign said first and second channels to download different embedded files.

5. A computer readable medium including stored therein instructions for performing the process of increasing the rate of transfer of a web page file having embedded data files between a user and an Internet server comprising:

assigning a first communication channel to transfer a first data file between said Internet server and a user;

checking said first data file for the identity of said embedded files;

storing the identity and address of said embedded data files in a table;

simultaneously transferring said embedded files identified in said table through said first communication channel and a second communication channel which is connected between said server and said user following transfer of said first file;

assigning said communication channels to transfer additional embedded files when said communication channels have completed transferring an embedded file;

determining when a file being transferred has stalled; and

assigning an additional channel to transfer said stalled file.