Computer implemented method and apparatus for enhancing access to a file

• US 6,408,296 B1
• Filed: 06/09/1999
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sound View Innovations, LLC (Sound View Innovation Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Acharya, Swarup, Korth, Henry F., Poosala, Viswanath
• Primary Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane D.
• Application Number:
  US09/328,606
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/102, 707/513, 707/533, 709/218, 712/29, 370/231, 370/392, 370/395, 370/466, 370/468
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• 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 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A computer implemented method and apparatus for enhancing access to a file and communicating a file over a communications network using an indirect link. An indirect link is a logical hyperlink identifying a file to be retrieved, not by its electronic address, but by a logical representation. The link may denote the server on which the file exists, but does not identify the file'"'"'s full address. Rather, the server or a proxy machine uses a look-up table which relates a logical link to an actual electronic address. This system helps minimize broken links, since a file can still be located on the server and accessed even if it has been relocated on the server since the link was established.

Claims

1. A method of operation of a server computer connected to a client computer by a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving from the client computer, at the server computer, a logical reference uniquely identifying a file independently of an electronic address at which the file is located;

(b) determining, at the server computer, an electronic address corresponding to the logical reference; and

(c) transmitting, from the server computer, the file identified by the electronic address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical reference further identifies the server computer independently of an electronic address at which the file is located.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (b) comprises reference to a look-up table listing the logical reference and a corresponding electronic address of the file to determine the electronic address of the file corresponding to the logical reference.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein step (c) comprises retrieval of a file from a location identified by the current electronic address.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical reference is received in step (a) responsive to a user'"'"'s selection at the client computer, of an indirect link.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical reference is received in step (a) automatically, in the process of loading a Web page containing an embedded logical reference.

5. A computer for transmitting a file to a client computer over a communications network responsive to a request from the client computer, said computer comprising:

a memory for storing computer programs and files;

a first computer program for determining an electronic address corresponding to a logical reference to the file received from a client computer;

a second computer program for transmitting the file to the client computer.

6. The computer of claim 5, further comprising a look-up table disclosing electronic addresses of files corresponding to logical references to those files wherein the first computer program comprises:

a routine for referencing the look-up table to determine a current electronic address of the file corresponding to the logical reference.

7. The computer of claim 6, wherein the computer is a server computer connected to the network.

8. The computer of claim 6, wherein the computer is a proxy computer connected to the network.

9. A server computer configured to determine an electronic address of a file upon receipt from a client computer of a logical reference to the file, the logical reference identifying the server computer and uniquely identifying the file associated with the logical reference independently of an electronic address at which the file is located, the server computer being further configured to transmit the file identified by the electronic address to the client computer responsive to receipt of the logical reference.

10. A method of communication between a client computer and a server computer connected to the client computer by a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) requesting, at the client computer, a file identified by a logical reference uniquely identifying the file independently of an electronic address at which the file is located;

(b) identifying an electronic address corresponding to the logical reference; and

(c) receiving, at the client computer, the file identified by the logical reference.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

(d) transmitting the logical reference from the client computer to the server computer, step (d) being performed intermediate steps (a) and (b).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the identifying step is performed at the server computer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the logical reference is transmitted in step (d) responsive to a user'"'"'s selection, at the client computer, of an indirect link.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the logical reference is transmitted in step (d) automatically, in the process of loading a Web page containing an embedded logical reference.