Local agent for remote file access system

• US 9,325,774 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Original Assignee: Benhov GmbH, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Anderson, Jeffrey G., Hoffman, Daniel G., Hoffman, Amy N
• Primary Examiner(s): TANG, KAREN C
• Application Number:
  US12/609,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,370 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2895 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data provider application, e.g. reverse proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Systems and methods for remote file access are disclosed: According to an embodiment, a local agent polls a server for a task request at a polling interval scheduled by a schedule timer in accordance with a set of local agent and remote client preferences. The local agent is responsible for executing a task from the task request and causing a file to be uploaded to the server. The local agent uses a task processor for polling a server, a schedule timer for controlling polling, and one or more protocol stacks, such as TCP/IP and SOAP, for communicating with the server. The local agent can also interface with a MAPI database for message delivery.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a server periodically receiving polling messages from a local computer;

the server receiving a request for directory information of the local computer from a user operating a remote computing device distinct from the local computer;

the server transmitting the request for the directory information to the local computer in response to receiving one of the polling messages;

the server receiving the directory information from the local computer;

the server transmitting the directory information to the remote computing device;

the server receiving a file request for a file stored on the local computer and identified in the directory information, wherein the file request is originated by the user operating the remote computing device;

the server transmitting the file request to the local computer in response to receiving a subsequent one of the polling messages; and

the server receiving the file from the local computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote computing device is a phone.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the server causing an audio content corresponding to the file to be delivered to a telephonic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the directory information comprises information that enables browsing of a file system of the local computer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the server receiving an instruction from the remote computing device indicating a method of transferring the file; and

the server transferring the file to the remote computing device in response to receiving the instruction.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the server removing the file from a cache.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the server causing the file to be delivered to a destination device distinct from the remote computing device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises a file lock mode indicating a scope of use for the file.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the server transmitting the file to the remote computing device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the server sending a notification to the remote computing device that the received file is available at the server; and

the server transferring the file to the remote computing device in response to receiving an acknowledgement of the notification.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the server deleting the file from a memory upon expiration of a specified timeout period after its transfer to the remote computing device.

12. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a server, cause the server to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request for a file directory information of at least a portion of a local device, wherein the request for the file directory information is received from a user operating a remote device distinct from the local device;

transmitting the file directory information from the server to the remote device;

receiving a file request for a file stored on the local device and identified in the file directory information, wherein the file request is initiated by the user at the remote device;

periodically receiving polling messages from the local device;

transmitting the file request from the server to the local device in response to receiving one of the polling messages;

receiving the requested file from the local device;

transmitting a notification from the server to the remote device indicating that the requested file is available at the server;

receiving an instruction from the remote device in response to the notification, wherein the instruction directs transfer of the requested file to a destination device; and

transmitting the requested file from the server to the destination device in response to receiving the instruction.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 12, the operations further comprising checking a queue for another file request from the user operating the remote device in response to receiving another polling message from the local device.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the destination device is a telephonic device, and wherein transmitting the requested file comprises causing an audio content corresponding to the requested file to be delivered to the telephonic device.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the file directory information that enables the user'"'"'s browsing of a file system of the local device.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the instruction from the remote device indicates a method of transfer of the requested file.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the remote device is a mobile phone, and wherein the destination device is distinct from the mobile phone.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the destination device is the remote device, and wherein the remote device is a mobile phone.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the file request comprises a file lock mode indicating a scope of use for the requested file.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the file request comprises an indication of a file system of the local device.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 12, the operations further comprising deleting the requested file from a cache after transmitting said file.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 12, the operations further comprising deleting the requested file from a cache upon expiration of a timeout period after its transfer to the remote device.

23. A system comprising:

at least one hardware processor; and

at least one memory communicatively coupled to said at least one hardware processor, the at least one memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions that, when executed by said at least one hardware processor, cause the system to perform operations comprising;

periodically receiving polling messages from a local computer;

receiving a request for file system information of at least a portion of the local computer, wherein the request for file system information is a user-initiated request received from a mobile device, and wherein the file system information identifies at least one file stored on the local computer;

transmitting the request for file system information from the system to the local computer in response to receiving one of the polling messages;

receiving the file system information from the local computer;

transmitting the file system information to the mobile device;

receiving a request for the at least one file, wherein the request for the at least one file is another user-initiated request received from the mobile device;

sending the request for the at least one file to the local computer;

receiving the at least one file; and

communicating the at least one file to the mobile device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein sending the request for the at least one file to the local computer is responsive to receiving another of the polling messages from the local computer.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein communicating the at least one file to the mobile device comprises communicating the at least one file to a speech module of the mobile device.