Shared internet storage resource, user interface system, and method

• US 7,337,207 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2005
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: XDrive LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hald, Martin, O'Brien, Brett, Whiteley, Sean, McGregor, Lucas
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean; Frantz B.
• Application Number:
  US11/075,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20050193132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 709/247, 709/245, 709/223, 709/227, 709/200, 707/1, 707/4, 707/10, 707/100, 707/104, 707/104.1, 713/168
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23103 using load balancing strategies, e.g. by placing or distributing content on different disks, different memories or different servers storage management G06F3/0604; allocation of resources considering the load in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/505; techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system G06F9/5083; access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. load balancing, in data networks H04L67/1001
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

The Shared Internet Storage Resource provides Internet-based file storage, retrieval, access, control, and manipulation for a user. Additionally, an easy-to-use user interface is provided both for a browser or stand-alone application. The entire method provides means by which users can establish, use, and maintain files on the Internet in a manner remote from their local computers yet in a manner that is similar to the file manipulation used on their local computers. A high capacity or other storage system is attached to the Internet via an optional internal network that also serves to generate and direct metadata regarding the stored files. A web server using a CGI, Java®-based, or other interface transmits and retrieves TCP/IP packets or other Internet information through a load balancer/firewall by using XML to wrap the data packets. File instructions may be transmitted over the Internet to the Shared Resource System. The user'"'"'s account may be password protected so that only the user may access his or her files. On the user'"'"'s side, a stand-alone client application or JavaScript object interpreted through a browser provide two means by which the XML or other markup language data stream may be received and put to use by the user. Internet-to-Internet file transfers may be effected by directly downloading to the user'"'"'s account space.

Claims

1. A method for providing private file space and information transfer over a public computer network, the steps comprising:

providing a publicly-available private file space system coupled to the public computer network;

providing a client program in communication with the public computer network;

sending a request from said client program to said publicly-available private file space system;

evaluating said request for static content and returning an appropriate response if said request is for static content;

authenticating said request;

satisfying said request; and

returning a success indicator to said client program indicating the success or failure of said request;

whereby

said client program may create and control files held by said private file space system.

2. The method for providing private file space and information transfer over a public computer network as set forth in claim 1, the steps further comprising:

providing an application network within said private file space system;

proxying said request to said application network; and

parsing a header of said request.

3. The method for providing private file space and information transfer over a public computer network as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of authenticating said request further comprises:

authenticating a user using said client program; and

authenticating said request made by said client program to ensure that it conforms with an account associated with said user.

4. The method for providing private file space and information transfer over a public computer network as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

parsing multipart form data associated with said request;

determining said request'"'"'s type; and

submitting said request.

5. A method for providing private file space and information transfer over a public computer network, the steps comprising:

providing a publicly-available private file space system coupled to the public computer network;

providing a client program in communication with the public computer network;

sending a request from said client program to said publicly-available private file space system;

evaluating said request for static content and returning an appropriate response if said request is for static content;

providing an application network within said private file space system;

proxying said request to said application network; and

parsing a header of said request

authenticating said request by authenticating a user using said client program and authenticating said request made by said client program to ensure that it conforms with an account associated with said user;

parsing multipart form data associated with said request;

determining said request'"'"'s type;

submitting said request;

satisfying said request; and

returning a success indicator to said client program indicating the success or failure of said request;

whereby

said client program may create and control files held by said private file space system.