Selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism for transferring an object

• US 20030182441A1
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fortier, Dominique, Andrew, Felix G.T.I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,188,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/237
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A sending system, which includes one or more computer systems including a sending computer system, sends, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system. A receiving system, which includes one or more computer systems including a receiving computer system, receives the data indicative of an intent to send the object. In some embodiments, the receiving system may analyze the data indicative of an intent to send the object and select an appropriate transfer mechanism to receive the object. The receiving system sends data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system. The sending system may receive the data indicative of an intent to receive the object, may analyze the data, and select an appropriate transfer mechanism to send the object.

Claims

1. In a network environment that includes at least a sending computer system and a receiving computer system, a method for negotiating a transfer mechanism to utilize when sending an object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system, the method comprising the following:

an act of sending, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system;

an act of receiving data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system;

an act of identifying compatible transfer mechanisms that may be used when transferring the object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system; and

an act of selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism, based on the characteristics of the identified transfer mechanisms, for sending the object to the receiving computer system.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of sending, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system comprises the following:

an act of sending, via a transport that does not utilize a network address when facilitating the transfer of data, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of sending, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system comprises the following:

an act of sending data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system utilizing an IR transfer mechanism.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of sending, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system comprises the following:

an act of sending data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system utilizing an SMS transfer mechanism.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of sending, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system comprises the following:

an act of sending, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of transfer mechanisms the sending computer system is configured to utilize.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of sending, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system comprises the following:

an act of sending, via a predetermined transport, characteristics of transfer mechanisms the sending computer system is configured to utilize.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of sending, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system comprises the following:

an act of sending, via a predetermined transport, values that are associated with characteristics of transfer mechanisms the sending computer system is configured to utilize.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of sending, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system comprises the following:

an act of an initiating computer system sending data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of sending, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system comprises the following:

an act of the sending computer system sending data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of receiving data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of receiving data indicative of transfer mechanisms the receiving computer system is configured to utilize.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of receiving data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of receiving characteristics of transfer mechanisms the receiving computer system is configured to utilize.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of receiving data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of receiving values that are associated with characteristics of transfer mechanisms the receiving computer system is configured to utilize.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of receiving data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of an initiating computer system receiving data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of receiving data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of the sending computer system receiving data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of identifying compatible transfer mechanisms that may be used when transferring the object from the sending computer sys tem to the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of comparing transfer mechanisms the sending computer system is configured to utilize to transfer mechanisms the receiving computer system is configured to utilize.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the act of comparing transfer mechanisms the sending computer system is configured to utilize to transfer mechanisms the receiving computer system is configured to utilize comprises the following:

an act of an initiating computer system comparing transfer mechanisms the sending computer system is configured to utilize and transfer mechanisms the receiving computer system is configured to utilize.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the act of comparing transfer mechanisms the sending computer system is configured to utilize to transfer mechanisms the receiving computer system is configured to utilize comprises the following:

an act of the sending computer system comparing transfer mechanisms the sending computer system is configured to utilize to transfer mechanisms the receiving computer system is configured to utilize.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of identifying compatible transfer mechanisms that may be used when transferring the object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of determining network conditions associated with a transfer mechanism.

19. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of identifying compatible transfer mechanisms that may be used when transferring the object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of determining usage restrictions associated with a transfer mechanism.

20. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of identifying compatible transfer mechanisms that may be used when transferring the object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of an initiating computer system identifying compatible transfer mechanisms that may be used when transferring the object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system.

21. The method as recited in claims 1, wherein the act of identifying compatible transfer mechanisms that may be used when transferring the object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of the sending computer system identifying compatible transfer mechanisms that may be used when transferring the object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system.

22. The method as recited in claims 1, wherein the act of selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism, based on the characteristics of the identified transfer mechanisms, for sending the object to the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of comparing characteristics of the identified transfer mechanisms.

23. The method as recited in claims 1, wherein the act of selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism, based on the characteristics of the identified transfer mechanisms, for sending the object to the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of comparing values of characteristics associated with the identified transfer mechanisms.

24. The method as recited in claims 1, wherein the act of selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism, based on the characteristics of the identified transfer mechanisms, for sending the object to the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of combining characteristics of one of the identified transfer mechanisms to generate a representative value of the appropriateness of the transfer mechanism.

25. The method as recited in claims 1, wherein the act of selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism, based on the characteristics of the identified transfer mechanisms, for sending the object to the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of combining values of characteristics associated with one of the identified transfer mechanisms to generate a representative value of the appropriateness of the transfer mechanism.

26. The method as recited in claims 1, wherein the act of selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism, based on the characteristics of the identified transfer mechanisms, for sending the object to the receiving computer system comprises the following:

act of an initiating computer system selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism for sending the object to the receiving computer system.

27. The method as recited in claims 1, wherein the act of selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism, based on the characteristics of the identified transfer mechanisms, for sending the object to the receiving computer system comprises the following:

act of the sending computer system selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism for sending the object to the receiving computer system.

28. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an act of the sending computer system utilizing the selected transfer mechanism to send the object to the receiving computer system.

29. In a network environment that includes at least a sending computer system and a receiving computer system, a method for negotiating a transfer mechanism to utilize when sending an object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system, the method comprising the following:

an act of sending, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system;

an act of receiving data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system; and

a step for determining how the object should be sent so as to relieve a user from manually entering configuration information.

30. In a network environment that includes at least a sending computer systems and a receiving computer system, a method for negotiating a transfer mechanism to use when transferring an object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system, the method comprising:

an act of receiving, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system;

an act of identifying compatible transfer mechanisms that may be used when transferring the object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system;

an act of selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism, based on the characteristics of the identified transfer mechanisms, for receiving the object from the sending computer system; and

an act of sending data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system.

31. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the act of receiving, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system comprises the following:

an act of receiving, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of transfer mechanisms the sending computer system is configured to utilize.

32. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the act of receiving, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system comprises the following:

an act of receiving, via a predetermined transport, characteristics of transfer mechanisms the sending computer system is configured to utilize.

33. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the act of receiving, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system comprises the following:

an act of receiving, via a predetermined transport, values that are associated with characteristics of transfer mechanisms the sending computer system is configured to utilize.

34. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the act of receiving, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system comprises the following:

an act of a negotiating computer system receiving data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system.

35. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the act of receiving, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system comprises the following:

an act of the receiving computer system receiving data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system.

36. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the act of identifying compatible transfer mechanisms that may be used when transferring the object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of a negotiating computer system identifying compatible transfer mechanisms that may be used when transferring the object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system.

37. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the act of identifying compatible transfer mechanisms that may be used when transferring the object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of the receiving computer system identifying compatible transfer mechanisms that may be used when transferring the object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system.

38. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the act of selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism, based on the characteristics of the identified transfer mechanisms, for receiving the object from the sending computer system comprises the following:

an act of a negotiating computer system selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism for receiving the object from the sending computer system.

39. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the act of selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism, based on the characteristics of the identified transfer mechanisms, for receiving the object from the sending computer system comprises the following:

an act of the receiving computer system selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism for receiving the object from the sending computer system.

40. The method as recited in claims 30, wherein the act of sending data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of sending data indicative of transfer mechanisms the receiving computer system is configured to utilize.

41. The method as recited in claims 30, wherein the act of sending data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of sending characteristics of transfer mechanisms the receiving computer system is configured to utilize.

42. The method as recited in claims 30, wherein the act of sending data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of sending values that are associated with characteristics of transfer mechanisms the receiving computer system is configured to utilize.

43. The method as recited in claims 30, wherein the act of sending data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of act a negotiating computer system sending data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system.

44. The method as recited in claims 30, wherein the act of sending data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system comprises the following:

an act of the receiving computer system sending data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system.

45. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising:

an act of the receiving computer system utilizing the selected transfer mechanism to receive the object from the sending computer system.

46. In a network environment that includes at least a sending computer systems and a receiving computer system, a method for negotiating a transfer mechanism to use when transferring an object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system, the method comprising:

an act of receiving, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system;

a step for determining how the object should be received so as to relieve a user from having to enter configuration information; and

an act of sending data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system.

47. A computer program product for use in a network environment that includes at least a sending system and a receiving system, the computer program product for implementing a method for negotiating a transfer mechanism to utilize when sending an object from a sending computer system included in the sending system to a receiving computer system included in the receiving system, the computer program product comprising the following:

one or more computer-readable media carrying computer-executable instructions, that when executed at the sending system, cause the sending system to perform the method, including;

sending, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system;

receiving data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system;

identifying compatible transfer mechanisms that may be used when transferring the object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system; and

selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism, based on the characteristics of the identified transfer mechanisms, for sending the object to the receiving computer system.

48. The computer program product as recited claim 47, wherein the one or more computer-readable media include physical storage media.

49. The computer program product as recited claim 47, wherein the one or more computer-readable media include system memory.

50. A computer program product for use in a network environment that includes at least a sending system and a receiving system, the computer program product for implementing a method for negotiating a transfer mechanism to utilize when sending an object from a sending computer system included in the sending system to a receiving computer system included in the receiving system, the computer program product comprising the following:

one or more computer-readable media carrying computer-executable instructions, that when executed at the receiving system, cause the receiving system to perform the method, including;

receiving, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system;

identifying compatible transfer mechanisms that may be used when transferring the object from the sending computer system to the receiving computer system;

selecting an appropriate transfer mechanism, based on the characteristics of the identified transfer mechanisms, for receiving the object from the sending computer system; and

sending data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system.

51. The computer program product as recited claim 50, wherein the one or more computer-readable media include physical storage media.

52. The computer program product as recited claim 50, wherein the one or more computer-readable media include system memory.