Apparatus and method for transferring files from one machine to another using adjacent desktop displays in a virtual network

• US 20040070608A1
• Filed: 10/10/2002
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Saka, Oluyemi Babatunde
• Granted Patent: US 7,519,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/748
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An apparatus and method for transferring files between a plurality of computers in a virtual network is disclosed. The present invention allows the selective transference of files between designated computers in a virtual network. The computers contain a VNRS program that allows a computer to display another computer'"'"'s desktop next to its own. Although the two computers are not physically connected, the present invention allows files to be transferred from the first computer to the second computer and vice versa by merely dragging and dropping icons from one desktop to another.

Claims

1. A method of sharing files between a plurality of non-physically connected computers comprising the steps of:

electronically connecting a first machine to a second machine by a virtual network;

using a graphical user interface at the first machine, simultaneously displaying a first machine desktop and a second machine desktop; and

dragging a selected file icon from the second machine desktop to the first machine desktop, so that a copy of the file represented by the selected file icon is simultaneously electronically transferred from the second machine to the first machine.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

identifying participating machines.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

using the graphical user interface at the first machine, selecting a machine having a file.

4. A programmable apparatus for sharing files between a plurality of non-physically connected computers comprising:

programmable hardware comprising;

a first computer; and

a second computer;

a virtual network connecting said first computer and said second computer;

a program installed on said first computer and said second computer;

a selected file in said second computer;

wherein said first computer is directed by said program to display a graphical user interface having a first screen portion displaying a first computer desktop and a second screen portion displaying a second computer desktop; and

wherein, responsive to movement of a file icon on the second computer desktop to a location on the second computer desktop, a copy of the selected file is transferred from the second computer to the first computer.

5. The programmable apparatus of claim 4 wherein the program allows a user to elect to designate a machine as a participating machine.

6. The programmable apparatus of claim 4 wherein the program allows a user to elect to share files.

7. The programmable apparatus of claim 4 wherein the program maintains a master index of files available for sharing in the network.

8. The programmable apparatus of claim 4 wherein the program interrogates the network to identify a participating machine.

9. A computer readable memory for sharing files between a plurality of non-physically connected computers comprising:

a first computer and a second computer electronically connected to each other by a virtual network;

the first computer having a first computer readable storage medium;

a computer program stored in said storage medium;

the second computer having a second computer readable storage medium;

a file stored in said second computer readable storage medium;

the first computer readable storage medium, so configured by said computer program, causes the first computer to display a graphical user interface having a first screen portion displaying a first computer desktop and a second screen portion displaying a second computer desktop; and

responsive to movement of a file icon on the second computer desktop to a location on the second computer desktop, a copy of the selected file is transferred from the second computer to the first computer.

10. The computer readable memory of claim 9 wherein the program allows a user to elect to designate a machine as a participating machine.

11. The computer readable memory of claim 9 wherein the program allows a user to elect to share files.

12. The computer readable memory of claim 9 wherein the program maintains a master index of files available for sharing in the network.

13. The computer readable memory of claim 9 wherein the program interrogates the network to identify a participating machine.

14. A method for sharing files between a plurality of non-physically connected computers, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

connecting a first computer and a second computer by a virtual network;

executing instructions from the first computer, simultaneously displaying a first machine desktop and a second machine desktop; and

responsive to dragging a selected file icon from the second machine desktop to the first machine desktop, executing instructions from the second computer to copy the file represented by the file icon and electronically transfer the file from the second machine to the first machine.

15. A method of transferring a file between two computers in a virtual network comprising:

connecting a plurality of computers together in a virtual network;

identifying a file on a first computer;

identifying a target destination on a second computer;

transferring a file from said first computer to said second computer;

wherein a display device displays the desktop of the first computer next to the desktop of the second computer; and

wherein the sole means of communication between said first computer and said second computer is through a virtual network.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of transferring a file from said first computer to said second computer further comprises moving an icon representing the file from the desktop of the first computer to the desktop of the second computer.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising selecting a desktop view tab from a graphical user interface on the display device.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising selecting a file configuration tab from a graphical user interface on the display device.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising selecting a file move configuration tab from a graphical user interface on the display device.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising selecting an application move configuration tab from a graphical user interface on the display device.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising selecting a virtual connection log tab from a graphical user interface on the display device.

22. A graphical user interface for transferring files from a first computer to a second computer comprising:

responsive to selecting a desktop view tab, said graphical user interface displays a first computer desktop window and a second computer desktop window; and

wherein when a file icon is dragged from the first computer desktop window and dropped on the second computer desktop window, the file represented by the file icon is electronically transferred from the first computer to the second computer.

23. The graphical user interface of claim 22 further comprising an auto move window;

wherein when the auto move window is clicked on, a file selected on the first machine will be automatically transferred to the second machine without the need to drag and drop the file icon of the selected file.

24. The graphical user interface of claim 22 further comprising a log resource sharing process window.