Methods of selectively distributing data in a computer network and systems using the same

• US 7,191,208 B1
• Filed: 12/14/1999
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Workday Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Achtermann, Jeffrey Mark, Giammaria, Alberto, Tjio, Shinta Dewi Arifin, Cranford, Troy Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell; Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Willett; Stephan
• Application Number:
  US09/460,852
• Time in Patent Office: 2,646 Days
• Field of Search: 709/106, 709/202, 709/203, 709/245, 707/2, 707/7, 707/10, 717/168, 717/172, 717/173, 717/174, 717/177, 717/178, 717/171, 717/176
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A method of distributing data in a network including a server and an end-user computer. The end-user computer queries the server for a distribution list and then receives that list from the server. The end-user computer then determines if the distribution list is non-empty, and if it is non-empty, selects a distribution from the distribution list using a selected one of manual and automatic modes. The selected distribution is then downloaded from the server to the end-user computer.

Claims

1. A method of distributing data in a network including a server and an end-user computer comprising the steps of:

querying the server from the end-user computer for a distribution list;

receiving the distribution list from the server at the end-user computer;

determining if the distribution list from the server is non-empty;

selecting a distribution from the distribution list if the distribution list is non-empty using a selected one of manual and automatic modes; and

downloading the distribution from the server to the end-user computer.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of generating an indicator at the end-user computer in response to said step of determining that the distribution is non-empty.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein in the manual mode said step of selecting comprises the step of selecting the distribution using a graphical user interface at the end-user computer, the GUI for displaying distribution properties to an end-user.

4. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of pausing said step of downloading in response to input at the end-user computer in the manual mode.

5. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the steps of:

selectively rejecting a distribution on the distribution list at the end-user computer in the manual mode; and

transmitting a message to the server identifying the distribution rejected.

6. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of activating the selected distribution substantially concurrently with said step of downloading.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting comprises the step of automatically selecting the data distribution from the distribution list using a software filter comprising one or more end-user preselected criteria.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating said stored selected data distribution in response to end-user input via a graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying distribution properties to an end-user.

9. A computer network comprising:

a server coupled to said network and associated with memory storing a selected number of data distributions and operable to generate a list identifying said data distributions and selectively download said data distributions through said network; and

an end-user computer coupled to said network and operable to;

query said server for said distribution list;

receive the distribution list from the server;

determine if the distribution list from the server is non-empty;

select a distribution from the distribution list if the distribution list is non-empty for download from said server; and

receive and store the selected data distribution in local storage.

10. The computer network of claim 9 wherein said end-user computer is operable to select said distribution in response to end-user input.

11. The computer network of claim 10 wherein said end-user input is made through a graphical user interface (GUI) presented by said end-user computer, the GUI for displaying distribution properties to an end-user.

12. The computer network of claim 9 wherein said end-user computer is coupled to said server through at least one repeater within said network.

13. The computer network of claim 9 wherein said end-user computer is operable to activate said stored selected data distribution in response to end-user input.

14. The computer network of claim 13 wherein said stored selected data distribution is activated in response to user input via a graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying distribution properties to an end-user.

15. The computer network of claim 9 wherein the end-user computer operable to select the distribution from the distribution list is operable for selecting the distribution in a selected one of a manual mode and an automatic mode.

16. The computer network of claim 15 wherein in the automatic mode, the distribution is selected from the distribution list using a software filter comprising one or more end-user preselected criteria.

17. A computer program product embodied in a tangible storage medium, the program product comprising a program of instructions for performing:

querying the server from the end-user computer for a distribution list;

receiving the distribution list from the server at the end-user computer;

determining if the distribution list from the server is non-empty;

selecting a distribution from the distribution list if the distribution list is non-empty using a selected one of manual and automatic modes; and

downloading the distribution from the server to the end-user computer.

18. The program product of claim 17 and further comprising program instructions for generating an indicator at the end-user computer in response to said step of determining that the distribution is non-empty.

19. The program product of claim 17 wherein, in the manual mode, the step of selecting comprises selecting the distribution using a graphical user interface (GUI) at the end-user computer, the GUI for displaying distribution properties to an end-user.

20. The program product of claim 17 and further comprising, in the manual mode, program instructions for pausing the step of downloading in response to input at the end-user computer.

21. The program product of claim 17 and further comprising program instructions for:

selectively rejecting a distribution on the distribution list at the end-user computer; and

transmitting a message to the server identifying the distribution rejected.