Method for file transfer restarts using standard internet protocol

• US 6,963,923 B1
• Filed: 02/10/1997
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bennett, Craig Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Application Number:
  US08/797,079
• Time in Patent Office: 3,193 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 709/232, 709/237
• US Class Current: 709/232
• 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: H04N 21/4351 involving reassembling additional data, e.g. rebuilding an executable program from recovered modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6375 for requesting retransmission , e.g. of data packets lost or corrupted during transmission from serverARQ protocols H04L1/18; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A method of downloading a file from a Internet server to an Internet client, preferably without action by the Internet client. The method begins by associating the file into a set of components at the server. A profile of the file is then generated. This profile includes identifying information for the file as well as for each component thereof. Such information preferably includes an identifier, a size value, and a code uniquely identifying the component. The file is transferred by initiating a download sequence by which each component is transferred, one-by-one, from the server to the client using an Internet protocol. When the download sequence is complete, the individual components are reassembled into the file using the profile without action by the Internet client. If the transmission is interrupted for any reason, the download sequence is restarted with the component affected by the interruption. This avoids the need to retransfer the entire file.

Claims

1. A method, in an Internet client, of downloading a download file, consisting of a set of component files, from an Internet server, comprising:

receiving from the server a profile of the download file that includes identifying information for each component file, wherein the identifying information in the profile for each component file includes an identifier, a value indicating a size of the component file, and a code uniquely identifying the component file and wherein the code is a cyclic redundancy code;

initiating a download sequence by which each component file is transferred, one-by-one, from the server using an Internet protocol;

upon interruption of the download sequence, restarting the download sequence with a component file affected by the interruption; and

when the download sequence is complete, reassembling the component files into the download file using the identifying information in the profile.

2. A method, in an Internet server, of downloading a download file, consisting of a set of component files, to an Internet client, comprising:

breaking the download file into the set of component files;

generating a profile of the download file that includes identifying information for each component file, wherein the identifying information in the profile for each component file includes an identifier, a value indicating a size of the component file, and a code uniquely identifying the component file and wherein the code is a cyclic redundancy code;

initiating a download sequence by which each component file is transferred, one-by-one, to the client using an Internet protocol; and

responsive to any interruption of the download sequence, restarting the download sequence with a component file affected by the interruption.

3. A method, in an Internet client, of downloading a download file, consisting of a set of component files, from an Internet server, the download file represented by a profile that includes identifying information for the download file and for each component file thereof, comprising:

transferring the profile from the server;

initiating a download sequence according to the profile by which each component file is transferred, one-by-one, from the serve using Internet File Transfer Protocol (FTP);

upon receipt of a component file, using the identifying information to verify whether a complete version of the component file has been transferred, wherein the identifying information for the download file includes a code uniquely identifying the download file and wherein the code is a cyclic redundancy code;

if the complete version of the component file has not been transferred, restarting the download sequence with the component file; and

when the download sequence is complete, reassembling the component files into the download file and verifying whether a complete version of the download file has been transferred using the identifying information for the download file.