Viewing an information set originated from a distribution media and updating using a remote server

• US 6,535,911 B1
• Filed: 08/06/1999
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Infoprint Solutions Company LLC (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Salvadore, John M., Miller, Grant D., Steinbrecher, Marc L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, HIEU C
• Application Number:
  US09/369,768
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201-203, 709/218-219, 709/248, 709/217, 707/201-203, 717/212, 717/168, 717/173-174
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• 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 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

Automated computerized methods, computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions, and apparatus are disclosed for viewing an information set originated from a distribution media and updating using remote server. Initially, an information set is viewed from a standalone distribution media. A user can select all, or one or more components to be updated from a remote server. The local computer system is then updated with a modified index from the local computer referencing the original distribution media and received files kept in local storage. This update process is efficiently performed, and provides for resumption of downloads in the middle of sets of files, or even within a single file. Additionally, when the viewing system includes a standard browser, a proxy agent is used to provide access portions of the file system not normally accessible to the browser. The updated information set is then able to be viewed when the computer system is not connected with the remote server.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

maintaining a synchronization file, the synchronization file tracking one or more files including a file size value and a cyclic redundancy check value for each of the files;

requesting a distribution media update from a remote server, the distribution media update request including an index from an original distribution media and the synchronization file;

receiving an updated index from the remote server;

receiving one or more supplemental files, the supplemental files supplementing the information contained on the original distribution media;

updating the synchronization file in response to receiving the one or more supplemental files;

displaying an updated version of information originated from the original distribution media based on the received updated index and at least one of the received supplemental files;

reverting back to the original distribution media to use the index from the original distribution media; and

displaying a representation of the information originated from the original distribution media.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the original distribution media is a compact disk (CD) or a digital versatile disk (DVD).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the updated version is performed by a computer system not connected to the remote server when the updated version is displayed.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a selection of items for updating, wherein the update request includes the selection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the received updated index and supplemental files are stored in a local data storage, and wherein the updated index contains Universal Resource Locators (URLs) for referencing information contained on the original distribution media and the local data storage.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the received supplemental files include a partially received file;

and the method further comprises receiving from the remote server a remaining portion of the partially received supplemental.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a first set of files is received supplementing the information contained on the original distribution media in response to a sent first distribution media update request, and a second set of files is received supplementing the information contained on the original distribution media in response to a sent resumption of the sent first distribution media update request.

8. A method comprising:

maintaining a synchronization file on a secure portion of a local storage device not normally accessible by a browser, the synchronization file tracking a set of local files including a file size value and a cyclic redundancy check value for each of the local files;

requesting a distribution media update from a remote server, the distribution media update request including an index from an original distribution media and the synchronization file;

receiving an updated index from the remote server;

receiving one or more supplemental files, the supplemental files supplementing the information contained on the original distribution media;

storing the received one or more supplemental files on the secure portion of the local storage device;

updating the synchronization file in response to receiving the one or more supplemental files;

displaying the updated version of information originated from the original distribution media based on the received updated index and at least one of the received supplemental files stored on the secure portion of the local storage device;

reverting back to the original distribution media to use the index from the original distribution media; and

displaying a representation of the information originated from the original distribution media.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the original distribution media is a compact disk (CD) or a digital versatile disk (DVD).

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving a selection of items for updating, wherein the update request includes the selection.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the received updated index and supplemental files are stored on the secure portion of the local storage device, and wherein the updated index contains Universal Resource Locators (URLs) for referencing information contained on the original distribution media and the secure portion of the local storage device.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the received files include a partially received file;

and the method further comprises receiving from the remote server a remaining portion of the partially received file.