File transfer system using dynamically assigned ports

• US 6,219,669 B1
• Filed: 11/13/1998
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: HyperSpace Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Clarke, Christopher D., Haff, Maurice W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RONES, CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US09/190,219
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 707/8, 707/10, 707/203, 707/104, 709/228, 370/225, 370/94.1, 395/187.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: H04L 2101/663 Transport layer addresses, e.g. aspects of transmission control protocol [TCP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 above the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1063 Discovery through centralising entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1078 Resource delivery mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1093 Some peer nodes performing special functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/162 involving adaptations of sockets based mechanisms secure socket layer H04L63/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/164 Adaptation or special uses of UDP protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/326 : in the transport layer [OSI layer 4] H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/922 : Communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 : Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 : Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 : Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 : Recoverability

Abstract

A computer data signal embodied in a propagation medium is provided. The signal enables a variable number of data transfers and includes an initial connection source code segment and a data transfer source code segment. The initial connection source code segment establishes a connection between at least two devices via predetermined listening ports, with at least one predetermined listening port residing within each device. The initial connection source code segment also dynamically assigns a first data port within a first device, and transmits the address of the first data port to a remaining device via the predetermined listening ports. The data transfer source code segment is for each of the variable number of data transfer operations. The data transfer source code segment dynamically assigns a corresponding second data port within the remaining device and transfers data between the connected devices via the data ports so that the data is substantially simultaneously transferred between a variable number of devices via the data ports. Each pair of first and second data ports is established in response to each listening port connection.

Claims

1. A file transfer device that transfers data with at least one remote device, the file transfer device comprising:

at least one listening port which receives a control connection from the at least one remote device; and

at least one dynamically assigned data port for data transfer with the at least one remote device, each data port being represented by a socket data structure and enabling a data transfer,

wherein the control connection is utilized to transmit the address of the at least one dynamically assigned data port,

wherein data is substantially simultaneously transferred with multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports, and

wherein each device stores the socket data structures in a linked list to manage the flow of data transfers, the linked list being traversed to enable substantially simultaneous data transfers.

2. A file transfer device that transfers data with at least one remote device, the file transfer device comprising:

at least one listening port which receives a control connection from the at least one remote device; and

at least one dynamically assigned data port for data transfer with the at least one remote device, each data port enabling a data transfer;

an active connection monitoring system that periodically determines whether each remote device in a list of at least one remote devices is currently actively connected to a communications pathway accessible to a local device;

a validating system that validates each remote device in the list of at least one remote devices that is currently actively connected to the communications pathway accessible to the local device; and

a monitoring system that defers a file transfer to a time when a selected remote device becomes actively connected to the communications pathway accessible to the local device if the selected remote device is not currently actively connected to the communications pathway accessible to the local device,

wherein the control connection is utilized to transmit the address of the at least one dynamically assigned data port,

wherein data is substantially simultaneously transferred with multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports.

3. A file transfer device that transfers data with at least one remote device, the file transfer device comprising:

at least one listening port which receives a control connection from the at least one remote device; and

at least one dynamically assigned data port for data transfer with the at least one remote device, each data port enabling a data transfer;

a parallel polling system that causes a local device to poll a directory on at least one of the remote devices, the directory being associated with an assigned destination, the local device requesting all data within the directory to be transferred to the local device, wherein multiple remote devices are substantially simultaneously polled and the data is transferred substantially simultaneously to the local device from all of the remote devices, and wherein the data always transfers to the assigned destination,

wherein the control connection is utilized to transmit the address of the at least one dynamically assigned data port,

wherein data is substantially simultaneously transferred with multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports.

4. A file transfer device that transfers data with at least one remote device, the file transfer device comprising:

at least one listening port which receives a control connection from the at least one remote device; and

at least one dynamically assigned data port for data transfer with the at least one remote device, each data port enabling a data transfer;

wherein the control connection is utilized to transmit the address of the at least one dynamically assigned data port,

wherein data is substantially simultaneously transferred with multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports, and

wherein the data transfer occurs by only logging onto any intermediate computers that provide a signal propagation medium for storageless transfer through the propagation medium.

5. A file transfer device that transfers data with at least one remote device, the file transfer device comprising:

at least one listening port which receives a control connection from the at least one remote device; and

at least one dynamically assigned data port for data transfer with the at least one remote device, each data port enabling a data transfer;

a credit system that maintains and monitors data transfer credits and detects each data transfer in order to debit a credit account after a successful data transfer, the data transfer only being permitted when a device initiating the transfer has sufficient credits,

wherein the control connection is utilized to transmit the address of the at least one dynamically assigned data port,

wherein data is substantially simultaneously transferred with multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports.

6. The file transfer device of claim 5, in which a number of available credits for the device is dynamically displayed on each device.

7. The file transfer device of claim 5, in which a transmitting device comprises an encrypting system that encrypts selected files prior to transmission, and a receiving device comprises a decrypting system that decrypts each encrypted file upon receipt, wherein the number of credits in the transmitting device is modified at least one additional credit upon each successful file transfer employing encryption.

8. The file transfer device of claim 5, further comprising a credit request system that requests additional credits from an external credit processor in response to a request from a device for additional credits, the external credit processor validating account information of the requesting device and dispensing additional credits if the account information is validated.

9. A file transfer device that transfers data with at least one remote device, the file transfer device comprising:

at least one listening port through which a control connection is established to the remote device, the control connection being utilized to determine a remote data port for transferring data, each data port enabling a data transfer and being represented by a socket data structure; and

at least one dynamically assigned data port for data transfer with the remote data port, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred with multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports,

wherein each device stores the socket data structures in a linked list to manage the flow of data transfers, the linked list being traversed to enable substantially simultaneous data transfers.

10. A file transfer device that transfers data with at least one remote device, the file transfer device comprising:

at least one listening port through which a control connection is established to the remote device, the control connection being utilized to determine a remote data port for transferring data, each data port enabling a data transfer;

at least one dynamically assigned data port for data transfer with the remote data port, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred with multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports; and

a credit system that maintains and monitors data transfer credits and detects each data transfer in order to debit a credit account after a successful data transfer, the data transfer only being permitted when a device that initiates the transfer has sufficient credits.

11. The file transfer device of claim 10, in which a number of available credits for the device is dynamically displayed on each device.

12. The file transfer device of claim 10, in which a transmitting device further comprises an encrypting system that encrypts selected files prior to transmission, and a receiving device further comprises a decrypting system that decrypts each encrypted file upon receipt, wherein the number of credits in the transmitting device is modified at least one additional credit upon each successful file transfer employing encryption.

13. The file transfer device of claim 10, further comprising a credit request system that requests additional credits from an external credit processor in response to a request from a device for additional credits, the external credit processor validating account information of the requesting device and dispensing additional credits if the account information is validated.

14. A file transfer device that transfers data with at least one remote device, the file transfer device comprising:

at least one listening port which receives a control connection from the at least one remote device; and

at least one dynamically assigned data port for data transfer with the at least one remote device, each data port enabling a data transfer;

a return receipt system that generates and sends a return receipt from a device that received the data transfer to a device that transferred the data after successful completion of the data transfer; and

a certifying system that communicates with an independent certifying processor that verifies return receipts, the independent certifying processor sending verification certification to a device that initiated the data transfer upon successful completion of the data transfer,

wherein the return receipt system generates and sends a return receipt from the device that received the data transfer to the independent certifying processor upon successful completion of the data transfer,

wherein the control connection is utilized to transmit the address of the at least one dynamically assigned data port, and

wherein data is substantially simultaneously transferred with multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports.

15. A file transfer device that transfers data with at least one remote device, the file transfer device comprising:

at least one listening port through which a control connection is established to the remote device, the control connection being utilized to determine a remote data port for transferring data, each data port enabling a data transfer;

at least one dynamically assigned data port for data transfer with the remote data port, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred with multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports;

a return receipt system that generates and sends a return receipt, including point of origin, destination, and successful completion information, from the device that received the data transfer to the device that transferred the data upon successful completion of the data transfer; and

a certifying system that communicates with an independent certifying processor that verifies return receipts for point of origin, destination, and successful completion information, the independent certifying processor sending verification certification to the device that transferred the data transfer upon successful completion of the data transfer,

wherein the return receipt system generates and sends a return receipt from the device that received the data transfer to the independent certifying processor upon successful completion of the data transfer.

16. A file transfer device that transfers data with at least one remote device, the file transfer device comprising:

at least one listening port through which a control connection is established to the remote device, the control connection being utilized to determine a remote data port for transferring data, each data port enabling a data transfer; and

at least one dynamically assigned data port for data transfer with the remote data port, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred with multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports,

each device further comprising a variable number of destination linked directories, each destination linked directory associated with another device, each destination linked directory being a file storage area on the device; and

a destination linked directory management system that detects storing of at least one data file in the destination linked directory and initiates a transfer of the detected data file to the associated device in response to the detection.

17. A file transfer device that transfers data with at least one remote device, the file transfer device comprising:

at least one listening port through which a control connection is established to the remote device, the control connection being utilized to determine a remote data port for transferring data, each data port enabling a data transfer;

at least one dynamically assigned data port for data transfer with the remote data port, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred with multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports;

an active connection monitoring system that periodically determines whether each remote device in a list of at least one remote devices is currently actively connected to a communications pathway accessible to a local device;

a validating system that validates each remote device in the list of at least one remote devices that is currently actively connected to the communications pathway accessible to the local device; and

a monitoring system that defers a file transfer to a time when a selected remote device becomes actively connected to the communications pathway accessible to the local device if the selected remote device is not currently actively connected to the communications pathway accessible to the local device.

18. A file transfer device that transfers data with at least one remote device, the file transfer device comprising:

at least one listening port through which a control connection is established to the remote device, the control connection being utilized to determine a remote data port for transferring data, each data port enabling a data transfer;

at least one dynamically assigned data port for data transfer with the remote data port, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred with multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports; and

a parallel polling system that causes a local device to poll a directory on at least one of the remote devices, the directory being associated with an assigned destination, the local device requesting all data within the directory to be transferred to the local device, wherein multiple remote devices are substantially simultaneously polled and the data is transferred substantially simultaneously to the local device from all of the remote devices, and wherein the data always transfers to the assigned destination.

19. A computer data signal embodied in a propagation medium, the signal enabling a variable number of data transfers and comprising:

an initial connection source code segment that establishes a connection between two devices via predetermined listening ports, at least one predetermined listening port residing within each device;

dynamically assigns a first data port within a first device; and

transmits the address of the first data port to a remaining device via the predetermined listening ports; and

a data transfer source code segment for each of the variable number of data transfer operations that

dynamically assigns a second data port within the remaining device corresponding to the first data port within the first device, each pair of first and second data ports being established in response to each listening port connection; and

transfers data between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between a variable number of devices via the dynamically assigned data ports;

a return receipt source code segment that generates and sends a return receipt, including point of origin, destination, and successful completion information, from the device that received the data transfer to the device that transferred the data upon successful completion of the data transfer; and

a certifying source code segment that communicates with an independent certifying processor that verifies return receipts for point of origin, destination, and successful completion information, the independent certifying processor sending verification certification to the device that originated the data transfer upon successful completion of the data transfer,

wherein the return receipt source code segment generates and sends a return receipt from the device that received the data transfer to the independent certifying processor upon successful completion of the data transfer.

20. A computer data signal embodied in a propagation medium, the signal enabling a variable number of data transfers and comprising:

an initial connection source code segment that establishes a connection between two devices via predetermined listening ports, at least one predetermined listening port residing within each device;

dynamically assigns a first data port within a first device; and

transmits the address of the first data port to a remaining device via the predetermined listening ports; and

a data transfer source code segment for each of the variable number of data transfer operations that

dynamically assigns a second data port within the remaining device corresponding to the first data port within the first device, each pair of first and second data ports being established in response to each listening port connection; and

transfers data between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between a variable number of devices via the dynamically assigned data ports,

wherein each data port is represented by a socket data structure, and

wherein each device stores the socket data structures in a linked list to manage the flow of data transfers, the linked list being traversed to enable substantially simultaneous data transfers.

21. A computer data signal embodied in a propagation medium, the signal enabling a variable number of data transfers and comprising:

an initial connection source code segment that establishes a connection between two devices via predetermined listening ports, at least one predetermined listening port residing within each device;

dynamically assigns a first data port within a first device; and

transmits the address of the first data port to a remaining device via the predetermined listening ports; and

a data transfer source code segment for each of the variable number of data transfer operations that

dynamically assigns a second data port within the remaining device corresponding to the first data port within the first device, each pair of first and second data ports being established in response to each listening port connection; and

transfers data between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between a variable number of devices via the dynamically assigned data ports; and

a credit source code segment that maintains and monitors data transfer credits and detects each data transfer in order to deduct credit from a credit account after a successful data transfer, the data transfer only being permitted when the device initiating the transfer has sufficient credits.

22. The signal of claim 21, in which the remaining device comprises a transmitting device comprising an encrypting source code segment that encrypts selected data prior to transmission;

and

the first device comprises a receiving device comprising a decrypting source code segment that decrypts each encrypted file upon receipt;

wherein data transfer credits comprise a definite number of credits, and wherein the number of credits in the transmitting device is modified at least one additional credit upon each successful data transfer employing encryption.

23. The signal of claim 21, further comprising a credit request source code segment that requests additional credits from an external credit processor in response to a request for additional credits from one of the devices, the external credit processor validating account information of the requesting device and dispensing additional credits if the account information is validated.

24. A computer data signal embodied in a propagation medium, the signal enabling a variable number of data transfers and comprising:

an initial connection source code segment that establishes a connection between two devices via predetermined listening ports, at least one predetermined listening port residing within each device;

dynamically assigns a first data port within a first device; and

transmits the address of the first data port to a remaining device via the predetermined listening ports; and

a data transfer source code segment for each of the variable number of data transfer operations that

dynamically assigns a second data port within the remaining device corresponding to the first data port within the first device, each pair of first and second data ports being established in response to each listening port connection; and

transfers data between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between a variable number of devices via the dynamically assigned data ports; and

an index source code segment that defines an index for request by remote devices via a connection, the index being associated with at least one destination and listing information representative of at least one file that the remote devices can request, devices corresponding to the associated destination having exclusive access to the index.

25. The signal of claim 24, further comprising an index request source code segment that permits a requesting device to select a particular remote device to which a request for an index will be sent, the request being sent to the selected remote device, the remote device returning the index to the requesting device, the requesting device storing the index in a storage device.

26. The signal of claim 25, further comprising an index transfer source code segment that, in response to each file listed in the index being selected by the requesting device, permits the requesting device to request a copy of the selected file to be transferred from the remote device, the remote device transferring each file in response to the request.

27. A computer data signal embodied in a propagation medium, the signal enabling a variable number of data transfers and comprising:

an initial connection source code segment that establishes a connection between two devices via predetermined listening ports, at least one predetermined listening port residing within each device;

dynamically assigns a first data port within a first device; and

transmits the address of the first data port to a remaining device via the predetermined listening ports; and

a data transfer source code segment for each of the variable number of data transfer operations that

dynamically assigns a second data port within the remaining device corresponding to the first data port within the first device, each pair of first and second data ports being established in response to each listening port connection; and

transfers data between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between a variable number of devices via the dynamically assigned data ports,

wherein the initial source code segment establishes more than one connection, each connection being between two devices via a different pair of listening ports, each device selecting listening ports from a predetermined range of available ports.

28. A computer data signal embodied in a propagation medium, the signal enabling a variable number of data transfers and comprising:

an initial connection source code segment that establishes a connection between two devices via predetermined listening ports, at least one predetermined listening port residing within each device;

dynamically assigns a first data port within a first device; and

transmits the address of the first data port to a remaining device via the predetermined listening ports; and

a data transfer source code segment for each of the variable number of data transfer operations that

dynamically assigns a second data port within the remaining device corresponding to the first data port within the first device, each pair of first and second data ports being established in response to each listening port connection; and

transfers data between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between a variable number of devices via the dynamically assigned data ports,

wherein each device further comprises a variable number of destination linked directories, each destination linked directory associated with another device, each destination linked directory being a file storage area on the device, and

wherein the signal further comprises a destination linked directory management source code segment that detects storing of at least one data file in the destination linked directory and initiates a transfer of the detected data file to the associated device in response to the detection.

29. A computer data signal embodied in a propagation medium, the signal enabling a variable number of data transfers and comprising:

an initial connection source code segment that establishes a connection between two devices via predetermined listening ports, at least one predetermined listening port residing within each device;

dynamically assigns a first data port within a first device; and

transmits the address of the first data port to a remaining device via the predetermined listening ports; and

a data transfer source code segment for each of the variable number of data transfer operations that

dynamically assigns a second data port within the remaining device corresponding to the first data port within the first device, each pair of first and second data ports being established in response to each listening port connection; and

transfers data between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between a variable number of devices via the dynamically assigned data ports;

an active connection monitoring source code segment that periodically determines whether each remote device in a list of at least one remote devices is currently actively connected to a communications pathway accessible to a local device;

a validating source code segment that validates each remote device in the list of at least one remote devices that is currently actively connected to the communications pathway accessible to the local device; and

a monitoring source code segment that defers a file transfer to a time when a selected remote device becomes actively connected to the communications pathway accessible to the local device if the selected remote device is not currently actively connected to the communications pathway accessible to the local device.

30. A computer data signal embodied in a propagation medium, the signal enabling a variable number of data transfers and comprising:

an initial connection source code segment that establishes a connection between two devices via predetermined listening ports, at least one predetermined listening port residing within each device;

dynamically assigns a first data port within a first device; and

transmits the address of the first data port to a remaining device via the predetermined listening ports; and

a data transfer source code segment for each of the variable number of data transfer operations that

dynamically assigns a second data port within the remaining device corresponding to the first data port within the first device, each pair of first and second data ports being established in response to each listening port connection; and

transfers data between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between a variable number of devices via the dynamically assigned data ports; and

a parallel polling source code segment that causes a local device to poll a directory on at least one of the remote devices, the directory being associated with an assigned destination, the local device requesting all data within the directory to be transferred to the local device, wherein multiple remote devices are substantially simultaneously polled, and the data is transferred substantially simultaneously to the local device from all of the remote devices, and wherein the data transfers to the assigned destination.

31. A data file delivery system for delivering data files between a variable number of devices, comprising:

a variable number of peer systems, each peer system having;

a connection negotiating system for opening at least one listening port for exchanging control data;

a data connection system for opening a variable number of data ports, each associated with a destination, for exchanging data files;

a file selection system for selecting a variable number of data files residing on at least one peer system designated as a file source; and

a destination selection system for selecting a variable number of destinations for receiving the selected data files,

at least the file source having a transmitting system for storageless sending of the selected data files over a variable number of data communications pathways corresponding to the data ports,

the destinations each having a receiving system for storageless receiving of the files sent via storageless sending, and

at least one of the file source and the destination having an initiating system for initiating operation of the transmitting system, via at least one communications negotiating pathway corresponding to the at least one listening port, from either the file source or the destination,

wherein each peer further comprises;

a variable number of destination linked directories, each associated with another device, each destination linked directory being a file storage area on the device; and

a destination linked directory management system for detecting storing of at least one data file in the corresponding file storage area and for controlling the initiating system to initiate operation of a transceiver system in response to the detection.

32. A data file delivery system for delivering data files between a variable number of devices, comprising:

a variable number of peer systems, each peer system having;

a connection negotiating system for opening at least one listening port for exchanging control data;

a data connection system for opening a variable number of data ports, each associated with a destination, for exchanging data files;

a file selection system for selecting a variable number of data files residing on at least one peer system designated as a file source; and

a destination selection system for selecting a variable number of destinations for receiving the selected data files,

at least the file source having a transmitting system for storageless sending of the selected data files over a variable number of data communications pathways corresponding to the data ports,

the destinations each having a receiving system for storageless receiving of the files sent via storageless sending, and

at least one of the file source and the destination having an initiating system for initiating operation of the transmitting system, via at least one communications negotiating pathway corresponding to the at least one listening port, from either the file source or the destination;

each peer system further comprising a return receipt system, for generating and sending a return receipt including point of origin, destination, and successful completion information from each destination peer system receiving the selected files to the file source over the storageless communications pathway corresponding to the data ports upon successful completion of the storageless receiving of the selected files; and

a third party transaction certificate processor for examining and verifying return receipts for point of origin, destination, and successful completion information, and for sending verification certificate data files over a first additional storageless communications pathway corresponding to a first additional data port to the file source peer system upon successful completion of the storageless receiving of the selected files;

wherein the return receipt system generates and sends a return receipt from each destination receiving the selected files to the third party transaction certificate processor over a second storageless communications pathway corresponding to a second additional data port upon successful completion of the storageless receiving of the selected files.

33. A data file delivery system for delivering data files between a variable number of devices, comprising:

a variable number of peer systems, each peer system having;

a connection negotiating system for opening at least one listening port for exchanging control data;

a data connection system for opening a variable number of data ports, each associated with a destination, for exchanging data files;

a file selection system for selecting a variable number of data files residing on at least one peer system designated as a file source; and

a destination selection system for selecting a variable number of destinations for receiving the selected data files,

at least the file source having a transmitting system for storageless sending of the selected data files over a variable number of data communications pathways corresponding to the data ports,

the destinations each having a receiving system for storageless receiving of the files sent via storageless sending, and

at least one of the file source and the destination having an initiating system for initiating operation of the transmitting system, via at least one communications negotiating pathway corresponding to the at least one listening port, from either the file source or the destination,

wherein each peer system further comprises a file credit monitoring system for maintaining and monitoring file delivery credits, the file credit monitoring system detecting each storageless sending of selected file and debiting a credit account variable on an associated peer system in accordance with a function based on the storageless sending.

34. A data file delivery system for delivering data files between a variable number of devices, comprising:

a variable number of peer systems, each peer system having;

a connection negotiating system for opening at least one listening port for exchanging control data;

a data connection system for opening a variable number of data ports, each associated with a destination, for exchanging data files;

a file selection system for selecting a variable number of data files residing on at least one peer system designated as a file source; and

a destination selection system for selecting a variable number of destinations for receiving the selected data files,

at least the file source having a transmitting system for storageless sending of the selected data files over a variable number of data communications pathways corresponding to the data ports,

the destinations each having a receiving system for storageless receiving of the files sent via storageless sending, and

at least one of the file source and the destination having an initiating system for initiating operation of the transmitting system, via at least one communications negotiating pathway corresponding to the at least one listening port, from either the file source or the destination;

a credit processor for receiving credit requests, and for incrementing a credit account variable on an associated one of the peer systems upon receipt of a credit request and successful comparison of the credit request against a credit authorization function,

wherein the file credit monitoring system generates and sends a credit request from one of the peer systems to the credit processor.

35. A data file delivery system for delivering data files between a variable number of devices, comprising:

a variable number of peer systems, each peer system having;

a connection negotiating system for opening at least one listening port for exchanging control data;

a data connection system for opening a variable number of data ports, each associated with a destination, for exchanging data files;

a file selection system for selecting a variable number of data files residing on at least one peer system designated as a file source; and

a destination selection system for selecting a variable number of destinations for receiving the selected data files,

at least the file source having a transmitting system for storageless sending of the selected data files over a variable number of data communications pathways corresponding to the data ports,

the destinations each having a receiving system for storageless receiving of the files sent via storageless sending, and

at least one of the file source and the destination having an initiating system for initiating operation of the transmitting system, via at least one communications negotiating pathway corresponding to the at least one listening port, from either the file source or the destination;

an index generating system for generating an index of files on a peer system;

an index requesting system for requesting and retrieving an index of files from any one of the variable number of peer systems;

a subset selecting system for selecting a subset of a variable number of files from the retrieved index of files from any of the variable number of peer systems; and

a file subset requesting system for initiating operation of the transceiver system to transfer the subset from any one of the variable number of peer systems to the peer system.

36. A file transfer system for transferring files between at least one local computer and at least one remote computer selected from a list of at least one remote computers, across at least one communications pathway, the file transfer system comprising:

a file selector that selects at least one file stored on the local computer for transferring to the at least one remote computer;

a destination selector that selects, from the list of at least one remote computer, at least one remote computer designated as a destination computer to which the file will be transferred;

a transmitter that transfers the selected file to the destination computer via the at least one communications pathway without storing the selected file on any intermediate computers;

a receiver that receives the transferred file;

an initial connection system that establishes a connection between the local computer and the destination computer via predetermined listening ports, at least one predetermined listening port residing within each computer, data transfer characteristics being exchanged during the initial connection, identities of the local and destination computers being authenticated by verifying each computer'"'"'s identifying information;

a first allocator that dynamically assigns a first data port represented by a socket data structure within the destination computer;

a first transmitter that transmits the address of the first data port to the local computer via the predetermined listening ports;

a second allocator that dynamically assigns a second data port represented by a socket data structure within the local computer corresponding to the first data port within the destination computer, each pair of first and second data ports being dynamically assigned in response to each listening port connection;

a second transmitter that transfers data between the connected computers via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between a variable number of computers via the dynamically assigned data ports;

wherein each computer is capable of substantially simultaneously sending and receiving data,

wherein each computer dynamically manages socket data structures to enable substantially simultaneous data transfers,

a generator that generates and sends a return receipt, including point of origin, destination, and successful completion information, from the computer that received the file transfer to the computer that transferred the file, and an independent certifying processor upon successful completion of the file transfer;

a third transmitter that communicates with the independent certifying processor that verifies return receipts for point of origin, destination, and successful completion information, the independent certifying processor sending verification certification to the computer that originated the file transfer upon successful completion of the file transfer;

a credit system that maintains and monitors file transfer credits and detects each file transfer in order to debit a credit account after a successful file transfer, the file transfer only being permitted when the computer initiating the transfer has sufficient credits; and

a credit request system that requests additional credits from an external credit processor in response to a request from a computer for additional credits, the external credit processor validating account information of the requesting computer and dispensing additional credits if the account information is validated.

37. A file transfer method that enables data transfers between a local device and at least one remote device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the at least one remote device via preestablished listening ports that reside within each device;

dynamically assigning a data port within the local device, each data port within the local device enabling a data transfer; and

transmitting the address of the data port to the at least one remote device via the listening ports;

transferring data in a data transfer between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between multiple remote devices and the local device via the dynamically assigned data ports;

generating and sending a return receipt, including point of origin, destination, and successful completion information, from a device that received the data transfer to a device that transferred the data upon successful completion of the data transfer; and

communicating with an independent certifying processor that verifies return receipts for point of origin, destination, and successful completion information, the independent certifying processor sending a verification certification to the device that transferred the data after successful completion of the data transfer,

wherein the device that received the data transfer generates and sends a return receipt to the independent certifying processor upon successful completion of the data transfer.

38. A file transfer method that enables data transfers between a local device and at least one remote device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the at least one remote device via preestablished listening ports that reside within each device;

dynamically assigning a data port within the local device, each data port within the local device enabling a data transfer and being represented by a socket data structure; and

transmitting the address of the data port to the at least one remote device via the listening ports; and

transferring data in a data transfer between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between multiple remote devices and the local device via the dynamically assigned data ports,

wherein each device stores the socket data structures in a linked list to manage the flow of data transfers, the linked list being traversed to enable substantially simultaneous data transfers.

39. A file transfer method that enables data transfers between a local device and at least one remote device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the at least one remote device via preestablished listening ports that reside within each device;

dynamically assigning a data port within the local device, each data port within the local device enabling a data transfer; and

transmitting the address of the data port to the at least one remote device via the listening ports;

transferring data in a data transfer between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between multiple remote devices and the local device via the dynamically assigned data ports; and

maintaining and monitoring data transfer credits and detecting each data transfer in order to debit a credit account after a successful data transfer, the data transfer only being permitted when a device that initiates the transfer has sufficient credits.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising requesting additional credits from an external credit processor in response to a request from one of the devices for additional credits, the external credit processor validating account information of the requesting device and dispensing additional credits if the account information is validated.

41. A file transfer method that enables data transfers between a local device and at least one remote device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the at least one remote device via preestablished listening ports that reside within each device;

dynamically assigning a data port within the local device, each data port within the local device enabling a data transfer; and

transmitting the address of the data port to the at least one remote device via the listening ports;

transferring data in a data transfer between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between multiple remote devices and the local device via the dynamically assigned data ports; and

defining an index that can be requested by remote devices via the connection, the index comprising information indicating at least one file that the remote computer can request a copy of via the data transfer, and an associated destination.

42. The method of claim 41, in which the associated destination is a specific destination, and devices corresponding to the specific destination have exclusive access to the index.

43. The method of claim 41, in which the associated destination is a general destination, and all remote devices have access to the index.

44. The method of claim 41, further comprising permitting a requesting device to select a remote device where a request for an index will be sent, the request being sent to the selected remote device, the selected remote device returning the index to the requesting device, the requesting device storing the index in a storage device.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein when any file listed in the index is selected by the requesting device, the requesting device requests that a copy of the selected file be transferred from the selected remote device, the selected remote device transferring each file in response to the request.

46. A file transfer method that enables data transfers between a local device and at least one remote device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the at least one remote device via preestablished listening ports that reside within each device;

dynamically assigning a data port within the local device, each data port within the local device enabling a data transfer; and

transmitting the address of the data port to the at least one remote device via the listening ports;

transferring data in a data transfer between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between multiple remote devices and the local device via the dynamically assigned data ports;

each device further comprising a variable number of destination linked directories, each associated with another device, each destination linked directory being a file storage area on the device; and

wherein the method further comprises detecting storing of at least one data file in the destination linked directory and initiating a transfer of the detected data file to the associated device in response to the detection.

47. A file transfer method that enables data transfers between a local device and at least one remote device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the at least one remote device via preestablished listening ports that reside within each device;

dynamically assigning a data port within the local device, each data port within the local device enabling a data transfer; and

transmitting the address of the data port to the at least one remote device via the listening ports;

transferring data in a data transfer between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between multiple remote devices and the local device via the dynamically assigned data ports;

periodically determining whether each remote device in a list of at least one remote devices is currently actively connected to a communications pathway accessible to a local device;

validating each remote device in the list of at least one remote devices that is currently actively connected to the communications pathway accessible to the local device; and

deferring a file transfer to a time when a selected remote device becomes actively connected to the communications pathway accessible to the local device, if the selected remote device is not currently actively connected to the communications pathway accessible to the local device.

48. A file transfer method that enables data transfers between a local device and at least one remote device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the at least one remote device via preestablished listening ports that reside within each device;

dynamically assigning a data port within the local device, each data port within the local device enabling a data transfer; and

transmitting the address of the data port to the at least one remote device via the listening ports;

transferring data in a data transfer between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between multiple remote devices and the local device via the dynamically assigned data ports; and

polling a directory on at least one of the remote devices, the directory being associated with an assigned destination, and requesting all data within the directory to be transferred to the local device, wherein multiple remote devices are substantially simultaneously polled and data is transferred substantially simultaneously to the local device from all of the multiple remote devices, and wherein the data transfers to the assigned destination.

49. A file transfer method that enables data transfers between a local device and at least one remote device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the at least one remote device via preestablished listening ports that reside within each device;

dynamically assigning a data port within the local device, each data port within the local device enabling a data transfer; and

transmitting the address of the data port to the at least one remote device via the listening ports; and

transferring data in a data transfer between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred between multiple remote devices and the local device via the dynamically assigned data ports,

wherein the established connection comprises more than one connection, each connection being between two devices via a different pair of listening ports, each device selecting listening ports from a predetermined range of available ports.

50. A file transfer method that enables data transfers between a local device and at least one remote device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the at least one remote device via preestablished listening ports which reside within each device;

receiving an address of a first data port from the at least one remote device via the listening ports;

dynamically assigning a second data port, corresponding to the first data port within the remote device, within the local device, each data port within the local device enabling a data transfer;

transferring data between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred to multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports;

generating and sending a return receipt, including point of origin, destination, and successful completion information, from a device that received the data transfer to a device that transferred the data after successful completion of the data transfer; and

communicating with an independent certifying processor that verifies return receipts for point of origin, destination, and successful completion information, the independent certifying processor sending verification certification to the device that transferred the data after successful completion of the data transfer,

wherein the device that received the data transfer generates and sends a return receipt to the independent certifying processor upon successful completion of the data transfer.

51. A file transfer method that enables data transfers between a local device and at least one remote device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the at least one remote device via preestablished listening ports which reside within each device;

receiving an address of a first data port from the at least one remote device via the listening ports;

dynamically assigning a second data port, corresponding to the first data port within the remote device, within the local device, each data port within the local device enabling a data transfer and being represented by a socket data structure; and

transferring data between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred to multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports,

wherein each device stores the socket data structures in a linked list to manage the flow of data transfers, the linked list being traversed to enable substantially simultaneous data transfers.

52. A file transfer method that enables data transfers between a local device and at least one remote device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the at least one remote device via preestablished listening ports which reside within each device;

receiving an address of a first data port from the at least one remote device via the listening ports;

dynamically assigning a second data port, corresponding to the first data port within the remote device, within the local device, each data port within the local device enabling a data transfer;

transferring data between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred to multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports; and

maintaining and monitoring data transfer credits and detecting each data transfer in order to debit a credit account after a successful data transfer, the data transfer only being permitted when a device that initiates the transfer has sufficient credits.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising requesting additional credits from an external credit processor in response to a request from a device for additional credits, the external credit processor validating account information of the requesting device and dispensing additional credits if the account information is validated.

54. A file transfer method that enables data transfers between a local device and at least one remote device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the at least one remote device via preestablished listening ports which reside within each device;

receiving an address of a first data port from the at least one remote device via the listening ports;

dynamically assigning a second data port, corresponding to the first data port within the remote device, within the local device, each data port within the local device enabling a data transfer;

transferring data between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred to multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports; and

defining an index that can be requested by remote devices via the connection, the index comprising information indicating at least one file of which the remote device can request a copy via the data transfer, and an associated destination, at least one device corresponding to the associated destination having exclusive access to the index.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising permitting a requesting device to select a remote device where a request for an index will be sent, the request being sent to the selected remote device, the selected remote device returning the index to the requesting device, the requesting device storing the index in a storage device.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein when any file listed in the index is selected by the requesting device, the requesting device requests that a copy of the selected file be transferred from the selected remote device, the selected remote device transferring each file in response to the request.

57. A file transfer method that enables data transfers between a local device and at least one remote device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the at least one remote device via preestablished listening ports which reside within each device;

receiving an address of a first data port from the at least one remote device via the listening ports;

dynamically assigning a second data port, corresponding to the first data port within the remote device, within the local device, each data port within the local device enabling a data transfer;

transferring data between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred to multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports;

each device further comprising a variable number of destination linked directories, each associated with another device, each destination linked directory being a file storage area on the device; and

wherein the method further comprises detecting storing of at least one data file in the destination linked directory and initiating a transfer of the detected data file to the associated device in response to the detection.

58. A file transfer method that enables data transfers between a local device and at least one remote device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the at least one remote device via preestablished listening ports which reside within each device;

receiving an address of a first data port from the at least one remote device via the listening ports;

dynamically assigning a second data port, corresponding to the first data port within the remote device, within the local device, each data port within the local device enabling a data transfer;

transferring data between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred to multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports;

periodically determining whether each remote device in a list of at least one remote devices is currently actively connected to a communications pathway accessible to a local device;

validating each remote device in the list of at least one remote devices that is currently actively connected to the communications pathway accessible to the local device; and

deferring a file transfer to a time when a selected remote device becomes actively connected to the communications pathway accessible to the local device if the selected remote device is not currently actively connected to the communications pathway accessible to the local device.

59. A file transfer method that enables data transfers between a local device and at least one remote device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with the at least one remote device via preestablished listening ports which reside within each device;

receiving an address of a first data port from the at least one remote device via the listening ports;

dynamically assigning a second data port, corresponding to the first data port within the remote device, within the local device, each data port within the local device enabling a data transfer;

transferring data between the connected devices via the data ports, the data being substantially simultaneously transferred to multiple remote devices via the dynamically assigned data ports;

polling a directory on at least one of the remote devices, the directory being associated with an assigned destination, and requesting all data within the directory to be transferred to the local device, wherein multiple remote devices are substantially simultaneously polled and the data is transferred substantially simultaneously to the local device from all of the remote devices, and wherein the data transfers to the assigned destination.