Network-based file access system

• US 7,996,450 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2001
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Guozhong, Lee, Sharon A., Rubino, Michael S., Diamond, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, TE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/953,083
• Time in Patent Office: 3,616 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/102, 705/1, 709223-225, 709/217, 345/735, 715/744, 718/107, 717/100
• US Class Current: 707/899
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation

Abstract

A network-based file access system obtains an identifier for a resource stored on a remote storage system to an application. The application can use the identifier to pull the contents of a file associated with the identifier or to push contents of a file to a folder associated with the identifier.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying a user interface for a web application, the user interface displayed in a web browser at a client computer, the user interface including a form having fields for receiving content for use by the web application, the web application executing on a server that is remote from the client computer;

displaying, within a browser window of the user interface, representations of resources stored at a remote storage system, the remote storage system being remote from the client computer and remote from the server;

in response to receiving a selection of one of the representations of the resources stored at the remote storage system, obtaining, by the client computer, an identifier associated with a file corresponding to the selection, the file being a resource stored at the remote storage system, the client computer obtaining the identifier from the remote storage system, the identifier enabling the web application to directly pull contents of the file from the remote storage system to the server without storing the file on the client computer; and

forwarding, to the web application, the identifier associated with the file.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, within the browser window of the user interface, representations of files stored at the server;

obtaining, by the client computer, a second identifier, the second identifier associated with a folder at the remote storage system, the client computer obtaining from the remote storage system the second identifier, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push contents of a given file from the server to the remote storage system; and

in response to receiving a selection of one of the representations of files stored at the server, forwarding to the web application the second identifier associated with the folder, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push the contents of a second file from the server to the remote storage system.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

directly pulling, by the web application, the contents of the file from the remote storage system to the server; and

directly pushing, by the web application, the contents of the second file from the server to the remote storage system.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the web application directly pulling the contents of the file includes pulling the contents of the file to the server without storing the contents of the file at the client computer.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein displaying the user interface includes displaying a popup button that initiates display of the representations of resources stored at a remote storage system, the computer-implemented method further comprising:

receiving a selection of the popup button;

wherein displaying the representations of resources is in response to receiving the selection of the popup button;

wherein displaying the representations of resources includes displaying a popup window in the browser on the client computer, the popup window overlaid on the user interface of the web application, the popup window displaying the representations of the resources stored at the remote storage system; and

in response to the client computer obtaining the identifier associated with the file, closing the popup window from display on the client computer.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

displaying, within the browser window of the user interface, representations of files stored at the server;

obtaining, by the client computer, a second identifier, the second identifier associated with a folder at the remote storage system, the client computer obtaining from the remote storage system the second identifier, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push contents of a given file from the server to the remote storage system; and

in response to receiving a selection of one of the representations of files stored at the server, forwarding to the web application the second identifier associated with the folder, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push the contents of a second file from the server to the remote storage system.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing user authentication before displaying the representations of resources stored at a remote storage system.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the representations of resources displayed include the contents of a user'"'"'s account stored on the remote storage system.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein displaying representations of resources stored at a remote storage system, includes issuing a database query to a database stored on the remote storage system.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second identifier associated with the folder to push the second file is a Uniform Resource Locator.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying a user interface for a web application that includes a popup button that initiates display of the representations of resources stored at a remote storage system, the user interface displayed in a web browser at a client computer, the user interface including a form having fields for receiving content for use by the web application, the web application executing on a server that is remote from the client computer;

receiving a selection of the popup button;

in response to receiving the selection of the popup button, displaying a popup window of the user interface, the popup window overlaid on the user interface of the web application, the popup window displaying representations of resources stored at a remote storage system, the remote storage system being remote from the client computer and remote from the server;

in response to receiving a selection of one of the representations of the resources stored at the remote storage system, obtaining, by the client computer, an identifier associated with a file corresponding to the selection, the file being a resource stored at the remote storage system, the client computer obtaining the identifier from the remote storage system, the identifier enabling the web application to directly pull contents of the file from the remote storage system to the server;

in response to the client computer obtaining the identifier associated with the file, closing the popup window from display on the client computer; and

forwarding, to the web application, the identifier associated with the file.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying, within the popup window of the user interface, representations of files stored at the server;

obtaining, by the client computer, a second identifier, the second identifier associated with a folder at the remote storage system, the client computer obtaining from the remote storage system the second identifier, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push contents of a given file from the server to the remote storage system; and

in response to receiving a selection of one of the representations of files stored at the server, forwarding to the web application the second identifier associated with the folder, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push the contents of a second file from the server to the remote storage system.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

performing user authentication before displaying the representations of resources stored at a remote storage system.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the representations of resources displayed include the contents of a user'"'"'s account stored on the remote storage system.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein displaying representations of resources stored at a remote storage system, includes issuing a database query to a database stored on the remote storage system.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the second identifier associated with the folder to push the second file is a Uniform Resource Locator.

17. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying a user interface for a web application that includes a first popup button that initiates display of the representations of resources stored at a web server for pushing a file directly from the web server to a remote storage system, the user interface displayed in a web browser at a client computer, the user interface including a form having fields for receiving content for use by the web application, the web application executing on a server that is remote from the client computer;

receiving a selection of the first popup button associated with the web application for invoking a popup window;

in response to receiving the selection of the first popup button, displaying the popup window of the user interface, the popup window overlaid on the user interface of the web application, the popup window displaying representations of resources stored at the web server, the web server being remote from the client computer and remote from the server;

receiving a selection of a file to push to the remote storage system;

receiving a selection of a second popup button, the second popup button associated with the remote storage system;

in response to receiving the selection of the second popup button, displaying a file folder navigation menu for selection a save location at the remote storage system;

transmitting a file name and a selection of a folder location at the remote storage system to store the file from the web server;

in response to transmitting the file name and folder selection, the client computer obtaining, from the remote storage system, an identifier for identifying a file path name and location at the remote storage system; and

the client computer forwarding the identifier to the web server for pushing the file, at the web server, directly to the remote storage system.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the web application directly pushing the contents of the file includes pushing the contents of the file to the remote storage system without storing the contents of the file at the client computer.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising:

performing user authentication before displaying the representations of resources stored at the web server.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the identifier associated with the folder to save the file is a Uniform Resource Locator.

21. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory unit that stores instructions associated with an application executed by the processor; and

an interconnect coupling the processor and the memory unit, enabling the computer system to execute the application and perform operations of;

displaying a user interface for a web application, the user interface displayed in a web browser at a client computer, the user interface including a form having fields for receiving content for use by the web application, the web application executing on a server that is remote from the client computer;

displaying, within a browser window of the user interface, representations of resources stored at a remote storage system, the remote storage system being remote from the client computer and remote from the server;

in response to receiving a selection of one of the representations of the resources stored at the remote storage system, obtaining, by the client computer, an identifier associated with a file corresponding to the selection, the file being a resource stored at the remote storage system, the client computer obtaining the identifier from the remote storage system, the identifier enabling the web application to directly pull contents of the file from the remote storage system to the server without storing the file on the client computer; and

forwarding, to the web application, the identifier associated with the file.

22. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further enabled to perform the operations of:

displaying, within the browser window of the user interface, representations of files stored at the server;

obtaining, by the client computer, a second identifier, the second identifier associated with a folder at the remote storage system, the client computer obtaining from the remote storage system the second identifier, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push contents of a given file from the server to the remote storage system; and

in response to receiving a selection of one of the representations of files stored at the server, forwarding to the web application the second identifier associated with the folder, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push the contents of a second file from the server to the remote storage system.

23. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the processor is further enabled to perform the operations of:

directly pulling, by the web application, the contents of the file from the remote storage system to the server; and

directly pushing, by the web application, the contents of the second file from the server to the remote storage system.

24. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the web application directly pulling the contents of the file includes pulling the contents of the file to the server without storing the contents of the file at the client computer.

25. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the processor executing the operations of displaying the user interface includes displaying a popup button that initiates display of the representations of resources stored at a remote storage system, the processor is further enabled to perform the operations of:

receiving a selection of the popup button;

wherein displaying the representations of resources is in response to receiving the selection of the popup button;

wherein displaying the representations of resources includes displaying a popup window in the browser on the client computer, the popup window overlaid on the user interface of the web application, the popup window displaying the representations of the resources stored at the remote storage system; and

in response to the client computer obtaining the identifier associated with the file, closing the popup window from display on the client computer.

26. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the processor is further enabled to perform the operations of:

displaying, within the browser window of the user interface, representations of files stored at the server;

obtaining, by the client computer, a second identifier, the second identifier associated with a folder at the remote storage system, the client computer obtaining from the remote storage system the second identifier, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push contents of a given file from the server to the remote storage system; and

in response to receiving a selection of one of the representations of files stored at the server, forwarding to the web application the second identifier associated with the folder, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push the contents of a second file from the server to the remote storage system.

27. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further enabled to perform the operations of:

performing user authentication before displaying the representations of resources stored at a remote storage system.

28. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the representations of resources displayed include the contents of a user'"'"'s account stored on the remote storage system.

29. The computer system of claim 21, wherein displaying representations of resources stored at a remote storage system, includes issuing a database query to a database stored on the remote storage system.

30. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the second identifier associated with the folder to push the second file is a Uniform Resource Locator.

31. A computer program product including a non-transitory computer-storage medium having instructions stored thereon for processing data information, such that the instructions, when carried out by a processing device, enable the processing device to perform the operations of:

displaying a user interface for a web application, the user interface displayed in a web browser at a client computer, the user interface including a form having fields for receiving content for use by the web application, the web application executing on a server that is remote from the client computer;

displaying, within a browser window of the user interface, representations of resources stored at a remote storage system, the remote storage system being remote from the client computer and remote from the server;

in response to receiving a selection of one of the representations of the resources stored at the remote storage system, obtaining, by the client computer, an identifier associated with a file corresponding to the selection, the file being a resource stored at the remote storage system, the client computer obtaining the identifier from the remote storage system, the identifier enabling the web application to directly pull contents of the file from the remote storage system to the server without storing the file on the client computer; and

forwarding, to the web application, the identifier associated with the file.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, further comprising:

displaying, within the browser window of the user interface, representations of files stored at the server;

obtaining, by the client computer, a second identifier, the second identifier associated with a folder at the remote storage system, the client computer obtaining from the remote storage system the second identifier, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push contents of a given file from the server to the remote storage system; and

in response to receiving a selection of one of the representations of files stored at the server, forwarding to the web application the second identifier associated with the folder, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push the contents of a second file from the server to the remote storage system.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, further comprising:

directly pulling, by the web application, the contents of the file from the remote storage system to the server; and

directly pushing, by the web application, the contents of the second file from the server to the remote storage system.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the web application directly pulling the contents of the file includes pulling the contents of the file to the server without storing the contents of the file at the client computer.

35. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein displaying the user interface includes displaying a popup button that initiates display of the representations of resources stored at a remote storage system, the computer program product further comprising:

receiving a selection of the popup button;

wherein displaying the representations of resources is in response to receiving the selection of the popup button;

wherein displaying the representations of resources includes displaying a popup window in the browser on the client computer, the popup window overlaid on the user interface of the web application, the popup window displaying the representations of the resources stored at the remote storage system; and

in response to the client computer obtaining the identifier associated with the file, closing the popup window from display on the client computer.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, further comprising:

displaying, within the browser window of the user interface, representations of files stored at the server;

obtaining, by the client computer, a second identifier, the second identifier associated with a folder at the remote storage system, the client computer obtaining from the remote storage system the second identifier, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push contents of a given file from the server to the remote storage system; and

in response to receiving a selection of one of the representations of files stored at the server, forwarding to the web application the second identifier associated with the folder, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push the contents of a second file from the server to the remote storage system.

37. The computer program product of claim 31, further comprising:

performing user authentication before displaying the representations of resources stored at a remote storage system.

38. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the representations of resources displayed include the contents of a user'"'"'s account stored on the remote storage system.

39. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein displaying representations of resources stored at a remote storage system, includes issuing a database query to a database stored on the remote storage system.

40. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the second identifier associated with the folder to push the second file is a Uniform Resource Locator.

41. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory unit that stores instructions associated with an application executed by the processor; and

an interconnect coupling the processor and the memory unit, enabling the computer system to execute the application and perform operations of;

displaying a user interface for a web application that includes a popup button that initiates display of the representations of resources stored at a remote storage system, the user interface displayed in a web browser at a client computer, the user interface including a form having fields for receiving content for use by the web application, the web application executing on a server that is remote from the client computer;

receiving a selection of the popup button;

in response to receiving the selection of the popup button, displaying a popup window of the user interface, the popup window overlaid on the user interface of the web application, the popup window displaying representations of resources stored at a remote storage system, the remote storage system being remote from the client computer and remote from the server;

in response to receiving a selection of one of the representations of the resources stored at the remote storage system, obtaining, by the client computer, an identifier associated with a file corresponding to the selection, the file being a resource stored at the remote storage system, the client computer obtaining the identifier from the remote storage system, the identifier enabling the web application to directly pull contents of the file from the remote storage system to the server;

in response to the client computer obtaining the identifier associated with the file, closing the popup window from display on the client computer; and

forwarding, to the web application, the identifier associated with the file.

42. The computer system of claim 41, wherein the processor is further enabled to perform the operations of:

displaying, within the browser window of the user interface, representations of files stored at the server;

obtaining, by the client computer, a second identifier, the second identifier associated with a folder at the remote storage system, the client computer obtaining from the remote storage system the second identifier, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push contents of a given file from the server to the remote storage system; and

in response to receiving a selection of one of the representations of files stored at the server, forwarding to the web application the second identifier associated with the folder, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push the contents of a second file from the server to the remote storage system.

43. A computer program product including a computer-storage medium having instructions stored thereon for processing data information, such that the instructions, when carried out by a processing device, enable the processing device to perform the operations of:

displaying a user interface for a web application that includes a popup button that initiates display of the representations of resources stored at a remote storage system, the user interface displayed in a web browser at a client computer, the user interface including a form having fields for receiving content for use by the web application, the web application executing on a server that is remote from the client computer;

receiving a selection of the popup button;

in response to receiving the selection of the popup button, displaying a popup window of the user interface, the popup window overlaid on the user interface of the web application, the popup window displaying representations of resources stored at a remote storage system, the remote storage system being remote from the client computer and remote from the server;

in response to receiving a selection of one of the representations of the resources stored at the remote storage system, obtaining, by the client computer, an identifier associated with a file corresponding to the selection, the file being a resource stored at the remote storage system, the client computer obtaining the identifier from the remote storage system, the identifier enabling the web application to directly pull contents of the file from the remote storage system to the server;

in response to the client computer obtaining the identifier associated with the file, closing the popup window from display on the client computer; and

forwarding, to the web application, the identifier associated with the file.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, further comprising:

displaying, within the browser window of the user interface, representations of files stored at the server;

obtaining, by the client computer, a second identifier, the second identifier associated with a folder at the remote storage system, the client computer obtaining from the remote storage system the second identifier, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push contents of a given file from the server to the remote storage system; and

in response to receiving a selection of one of the representations of files stored at the server, forwarding to the web application the second identifier associated with the folder, the second identifier enabling the web application to directly push the contents of a second file from the server to the remote storage system.

45. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory unit that stores instructions associated with an application executed by the processor; and

an interconnect coupling the processor and the memory unit, enabling the computer system to execute the application and perform operations of;

displaying a user interface for a web application that includes a first popup button that initiates display of the representations of resources stored at a web server for pushing a file directly from the web server to a remote storage system, the user interface displayed in a web browser at a client computer, the user interface including a form having fields for receiving content for use by the web application, the web application executing on a server that is remote from the client computer;

receiving a selection of the first popup button associated with the web application for invoking a popup window;

in response to receiving the selection of the first popup button, displaying the popup window of the user interface, the popup window overlaid on the user interface of the web application, the popup window displaying representations of resources stored at the web server, the web server being remote from the client computer and remote from the server;

receiving a selection of a file to push to the remote storage system;

receiving a selection of a second popup button, the second popup button associated with the remote storage system;

in response to receiving the selection of the second popup button, displaying a file folder navigation menu for selection a save location at the remote storage system;

transmitting a file name and a selection of a folder location at the remote storage system to store the file from the web server;

in response to transmitting the file name and folder selection, the client computer obtaining, from the remote storage system, an identifier for identifying a file path name and location at the remote storage system; and

the client computer forwarding the identifier to the web server for pushing the file, at the web server, directly to the remote storage system.