Transparent deferred spooling store and forward based on standard network system and client interface

• US 9,917,882 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2014
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SonicWALL US Holdings, Inc. (SonicWall Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: SonicWALL, Inc. (SonicWall Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Liddicott, Samuel, Ohanlon, Shane
• Primary Examiner(s): SALAD, ABDULLAHI ELMI
• Application Number:
  US14/556,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20160156696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,199 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/566 Grouping or aggregating service requests, e.g. for unified processing

Abstract

A transparent batch file transfer is provided from a client to a server via a batch pool system. The batch pool system may be implemented by a proxy file server which is used to receive the file transfer from the client device and free the client device as soon as possible. The file transfer to an intended remote server is carried out by a batch transfer system at the proxy file server. The user of the client machine may then use their device to perform other tasks while the file transfer is completed by the proxy file server batch transfer system. The file transfer is coordinated by a background transfer module that is integrated with file system protocols. Hence, there is no new system or software for a user of the client to learn or operate.

Claims

1. A method for transferring files, the method comprising:

providing a management interface for managing file transfer by a proxy application;

integrating a background transfer module with the proxy application, wherein the background transfer module transmits a data acknowledgement and an indication to a client device;

receiving a portion of a first file from the client device by a proxy file server, the first file portion intended for a second server, wherein the first file portion is received based on one or more preferences set over the management interface, the one or more preferences indicating that the proxy file server is allowed to transmit data of the first file to the second server and identifying at least one of a file extension, a file name, or an I/O server;

transmitting the data acknowledgment to the client device from the proxy file server via the background transfer module;

receiving a second file portion from the client device;

transmitting an indication that transfer is complete to the client device by the proxy file server;

transmitting the first file portion and the second file portion to the second server; and

transmitting a close file request to the second server from the proxy file server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication to the client device that the transfer is complete is a close file acknowledgement.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data acknowledgement is transmitted to the proxy file server immediately in response to receipt of the data from the first file.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

terminating a connection with the client device by the proxy file server after transmitting the indication; and

maintaining a connection with the second server by the proxy file server until the first file portion and second file portion are transmitted to the second server.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to open, delete, or rename a file comprised of the first file portion and second file portion, the request received by the proxy file server while the first file portion or second file portion is transferred to the second server; and

denying the request.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to abort the transfer of a file to the second server;

terminating the transfer of first file portion and second file portion to the second server by the proxy file server; and

deleting any first file portion and second file portion already transferred to the second server.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a processor to perform a method transferring files, the method comprising:

providing a management interface for managing file transfer by a proxy application;

integrating a background transfer module with the proxy application, the background transfer module configured to transmit a data acknowledgement and an indication to a client device;

receiving a portion of a first file from the client device by a proxy file server, the first file portion intended for a second server, wherein the first file portion is received based on one or more preferences set over the management interface and indicating that the proxy file server is allowed to transmit data of the first file to the second server and identifying at least one of a file extension, a file name, or an I/O server;

transmitting the data acknowledgment to the client device from the proxy file server;

receiving a second file portion from the client device;

transmitting an indication that transfer is complete to the client device by the proxy file server;

transmitting the first file portion and second file portion to the second server; and

transmitting a close file request to the second server from the proxy file server.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the indication to the client device that the transfer is complete is a close file acknowledgement.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the data acknowledgement is transmitted to the proxy file server immediately in response to receipt of the data from the first file.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising instructions executable to:

terminate a connection with the client device by the proxy file server after transmitting the indication; and

maintain a connection with the second server by the proxy file server until the first file portion and second file portion are transmitted to the second server.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising instructions executable to:

receive a request to open, delete, or rename a file comprised of the first file portion and second file portion, the request received by the proxy file server while the first file portion or second file portion is transferred to the second server; and

deny the request.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising instructions executable to:

receive a request to abort the transfer of a file to the second server;

transmit the transfer of first file portion and second file portion to the second server by the proxy file server; and

delete any first file portion and second file portion already transferred to the second server.

13. An apparatus for transferring files, the apparatus comprising:

a user interface that provides an interface for managing file transfer by a proxy application;

a processor of a proxy file server that executes one or more modules stored in memory, wherein execution of the modules by the processor integrates a background transfer module with the proxy application, wherein the background transfer module transmits a data acknowledgement and an indication to a client device; and

a computer network interface that;

receives a first file portion from the client device, the first file portion intended for a second server, wherein the first file portion is received based on one or more preferences set over the management interface, the one or more preferences indicating that the first server is allowed to transmit data of the first file to the second server and identifying at least one of a file extension, a file name, or an I/O server,

transmits the data acknowledgment to the client device via the background module,

receives a second file portion from the client device,

transmits an indication that transfer is complete to the client device,

transmits the first file portion and second file portion to the second server, and

transmits a close file request to the second server.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the indication to the client device that the transfer is complete is a close file acknowledgement.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data acknowledgement is transmitted immediately in response to receipt of the data from the first.