File folder transmission on network

• US 9,792,297 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
• Inventors: Bai, Zhenguo
• Primary Examiner(s): Yohannes, Tesfay
• Application Number:
  US14/812,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20160019235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 709206, 709219, 709231
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and a system for transmitting a file folder from the sending end to the receiving end. The system uses a file folder transmission unit at the sending end side to generate a directory structure file of the file folder. The directory structure file may have properties such as the size of the file folder, paths and path lengths of the files in the file folder. The sending end then sends the directory structure file to the receiving end through the file folder transmission unit to allow the system to determine which files in the file folder need to be transmitted. The needed files in the file folder are then transmitted to the receiving end according to the determination. The sending end and the receiving end may communicate using an instant messaging tool. The disclosed method and system allow a faster and more convenient file folder network transmission.

Claims

1. A method to reduce file folder compressing resources, the method comprising:

generating a directory structure file of the file folder by traversing the file folder and computing properties of the directory structure file, the properties of the directory structure file including a size of the file folder, paths and path lengths of files in the file folder;

sending an index identifier of the directory structure file of the file folder to a receiving end through an instant messaging channel, the index identifier enabling the receiving end to determine whether the receiving end has the directory structure file;

sending the directory structure file to the receiving end in an event that the receiving end does not have the directory structure file;

receiving a file acquisition request from the receiving end, the file acquisition request indicating one or more files in the file folder requested by the receiving end; and

transmitting the one or more files in the file folder to the receiving end through a network data transmission channel which is different from the instant messaging channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the properties of the directory structure file further comprise one or more of a size of a subfolder in the file folder, paths of files in the subfolder and path lengths of the files in the subfolder.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a file folder transmission request to the receiving end through the instant messaging channel.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing the network data transmission channel based on network condition with the receiving end.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining breakpoint information of an interruption of a transmission of the directory structure file or the file folder in response to an occurrence of an interruption of a network connection with the receiving end; and

resuming the transmission from a position indicated by the breakpoint information after the network connection is recovered.

6. One or more storage devices storing executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

generating a directory structure file of a file folder by traversing the file folder and computing properties of the directory structure file, the properties of the directory structure file including a size of the file folder, paths and path lengths of files in the file folder;

sending an index identifier of the directory structure file of the file folder to a receiving end through an instant messaging channel, the index identifier enabling the receiving end to determine whether the receiving end has the directory structure file;

sending the directory structure file to the receiving end in an event that the receiving end does not have the directory structure file;

receiving a file acquisition request from the receiving end, the file acquisition request indicating one or more files in the file folder requested by the receiving end; and

transmitting the one or more files in the file folder to the receiving end through a network data transmission channel.

7. The one or more storage devices of claim 6, wherein the properties of the directory structure file further comprise one or more of a size of a subfolder in the file folder, paths of files in the subfolder and path lengths of the files in the subfolder.

8. The one or more storage devices of claim 6, the acts further comprising sending a file folder transmission request to the receiving end through the instant messaging channel.

9. The one or more storage devices of claim 6, the acts further comprising establishing the network data transmission channel based on network condition with the receiving end.

10. The one or more storage devices of claim 6, the acts further comprising:

obtaining breakpoint information of an interruption of a transmission of the directory structure file or the file folder in response to an occurrence of an interruption of a network connection with the receiving end; and

resuming the transmission from a position indicated by the breakpoint information after the network connection is recovered.

11. An apparatus to reduce file folder compressing resources, the apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising;

generating a directory structure file of the file folder by traversing the file folder and computing properties of the directory structure file, the properties of the directory structure file including a size of the file folder, paths and path lengths of files in the file folder;

sending an index identifier of the directory structure file of the file folder to a receiving end through a messaging channel, the index identifier enabling the receiving end to determine whether the receiving end has the directory structure file;

sending the directory structure file to the receiving end in an event that the receiving end does not have the directory structure file;

receiving a file acquisition request from the receiving end, the file acquisition request indicating one or more files in the file folder requested by the receiving end; and

transmitting the one or more files in the file folder to the receiving end through a network data transmission channel.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the properties of the directory structure file further comprise one or more of a size of a subfolder in the file folder, paths of files in the subfolder and path lengths of the files in the subfolder.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, the acts further comprising sending a file folder transmission request to the receiving end through the messaging channel.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, the acts further comprising establishing the network data transmission channel based on network condition with the receiving end.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, the acts further comprising:

obtaining breakpoint information of an interruption of a transmission of the directory structure file or the file folder in response to an occurrence of an interruption of a network connection with the receiving end; and

resuming the transmission from a position indicated by the breakpoint information after the network connection is recovered.