Method and system for operating a network server to discourage inappropriate use
First Claim
1. A method for operating a network server to discourage use that disproportionately depletes server resources such as distribution of large media files, wherein the server is connected to a plurality of client devices, and configured to transfer information between selected ones of the client devices and a memory for static storage of information, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a request to transfer a file between the memory and one of the plurality of client devices;
removing a packet of information from the file after said receiving step;
transferring the packet of information from the memory to a lower-level network component operative to configure the packet as at least one lower-level packet according to a protocol of a packet-switched network for transmission to the one of the plurality of client devices after said removing step;
pausing for a defined delay period after at least one of said removing and said transferring steps; and
repeating said removing step, said transferring step, and said pausing step in any operative order until all of the file has been transferred to the lower-level network component, wherein at least one of the delay period and a defined number of information bits in the information packet is controlled so as to cause later-transferred portions of the file to be delayed by increasing amounts until all portions of the file have been transferred, whereby the entire file is transferred at a rate that decreases with increasing file size.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for operating a network server to discourage inappropriate use are disclosed. A server is connected to a plurality of connected client devices, and is configured to transfer information between any selected one of the client devices and a memory for static storage of information. The method comprises the steps of receiving a request to transfer a file between the memory and one of the plurality of client devices, removing a packet comprising a defined number of information bits from the file, transferring the packet between the memory and the client device per the request, then pausing for a defined delay period, and repeating the removing, transferring, and pausing steps in order until all of the file has been transferred. Preferably, the method further comprises increasing the defined delay period after each execution of a packet transfer cycle, thereby discouraging the transfer of unacceptably large files. The delay period may be initiated, and the amount of increase or other adjustment to the delay period during the transfer cycle may be controlled, by selected a predetermined value from a table, or by calculating a value based on variable input parameters such as the file size, server load, network response time, and number of transfer requests from the client device within a defined prior period. The number of information bits in the packet may similarly be initiated, and adjusted during the transfer cycle. The system comprises the server having an application for performing the method according to the invention.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for operating a network server to discourage use that disproportionately depletes server resources such as distribution of large media files, wherein the server is connected to a plurality of client devices, and configured to transfer information between selected ones of the client devices and a memory for static storage of information, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request to transfer a file between the memory and one of the plurality of client devices; removing a packet of information from the file after said receiving step; transferring the packet of information from the memory to a lower-level network component operative to configure the packet as at least one lower-level packet according to a protocol of a packet-switched network for transmission to the one of the plurality of client devices after said removing step; pausing for a defined delay period after at least one of said removing and said transferring steps; and repeating said removing step, said transferring step, and said pausing step in any operative order until all of the file has been transferred to the lower-level network component, wherein at least one of the delay period and a defined number of information bits in the information packet is controlled so as to cause later-transferred portions of the file to be delayed by increasing amounts until all portions of the file have been transferred, whereby the entire file is transferred at a rate that decreases with increasing file size. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for discouraging use of memory connected to a network where the use, such as distribution of large media files, disproportionately depletes server resources, the system comprising:
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a memory for static storage of information; a server connected to a plurality of client devices and to the memory, the server controlling access by the client devices to the memory; and an application on the server for transferring information between selected ones of the client devices and the memory, the application comprising instructions to perform the steps of; receiving a request to transfer a file between the memory and one of the plurality of client devices; removing a packet of information from the file after the receiving step; transferring the packet of information from the memory to a lower-level network component operative to configure the packet as at least one lower-level packet according to a protocol of a packet-switched network for transmission to the one of the plurality of client devices after the removing step; pausing for a defined delay period after one of the removing and the transferring steps; repeating the removing step, the transferring step, and the pausing step in any operative order until all of the file has been transferred to the lower-level network component, wherein at least one of the delay period and a defined number of information bits in the information packet is controlled so as to cause later-transferred portions of the file to be delayed by increasing amounts. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification