Shared internet storage resource, user interface system, and method

• US 6,985,927 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2002
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: XDrive LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hald, Martin, O'Brien, Brett, Whiteley, Sean, McGregor, Lucas
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B.
• Application Number:
  US10/073,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20020133561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 709/213, 709/218, 707/8, 707/10, 707/201, 707/100, 707/1
• US Class Current: 709/213
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23103 using load balancing strategies, e.g. by placing or distributing content on different disks, different memories or different servers storage management G06F3/0604; allocation of resources considering the load in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/505; techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system G06F9/5083; access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. load balancing, in data networks H04L67/1001
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• 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

The Shared Internet Storage Resource provides Internet-based file storage, retrieval, access, control, and manipulation for a user. Additionally, an easy-to-use user interface is provided both for a browser or stand-alone application. The entire method provides means by which users can establish, use, and maintain files on the Internet in a manner remote from their local computers yet in a manner that is similar to the file manipulation used on their local computers. A high capacity or other storage system is attached to the Internet via an optional internal network that also serves to generate and direct metadata regarding the stored files. A web server using a CGI, Java®-based, or other interface transmits and retrieves TCP/IP packets or other Internet information through a load balancer/firewall by using XML to wrap the data packets. File instructions may be transmitted over the Internet to the Shared Resource System. The user'"'"'s account may be password protected so that only the user may access his or her files. On the user'"'"'s side, a stand-alone client application or JavaScript object interpreted through a browser provide two means by which the XML or other markup language data stream may be received and put to use by the user. Internet-to-Internet file transfers may be effected by directly downloading to the user'"'"'s account space.

Claims

1. A shared computer network storage system, comprising:

a first database containing file data;

a second database containing information (metadata) about said file data of said first database;

a server, said server executing file commands on said first file database, said server contemporaneously updating said second metadatabase upon executing said file commands, said server comprising;

a transaction processor, said transaction processor on a non-routable network, said transaction processor guarantees access to and transactions on said first and second databases;

an enterprise java bean cluster (EJBC) on a non-routable network, said enterprise java bean cluster (EJBC) coupled to said transaction processor and handling business logic and resource access methods as well as memory caching for common resources;

an application network on a non-routable network, said application network coupled to said enterprise java bean cluster, said application network including a java application cluster and handling display functions and resource requests;

a web server, said web server coupled to said application network and handling all requests for static content and proxies requests for dynamic content;

a load balancer, said load balancer coupled to said web server and proxying requests to a sub-server having the highest degree of availability or functionality; and

a DNS redirector, said DNS redirector coupled to said load balancer and proxying requests to a resource having a highest degree of functionality; and

a client application, said client application communicating with said server, said client application invoking file commands upon said server, said server executing said file commands and updating information regarding said first file and second metadata databases displayed by said client application;

whereby

said client application controls files in said first file database and information regarding status of said first database files is more readily available by reference to said second metadatabase.

2. The shared computer network storage system of claim 1, wherein said first file database is distributed over at least two physical storage devices.

3. The shared computer network storage system of claim 1, wherein said second metadatabase is distributed over at least two physical storage devices.

4. The shared computer network storage system of claim 1, wherein said client application communicates with said server via a proxy.

5. The shared computer network storage system of claim 1, wherein said server comprises a non-routable network.

6. The shared computer network storage system of claim 1, wherein said server comprises a transaction processor.

7. The shared computer network storage system of claim 6, wherein said transaction processor guarantees access to and transactions on said first and second databases.

8. The shared computer network storage system of claim 1, wherein said server comprises an enterprise java bean cluster (EJBC).

9. The shared computer network storage system of claim 8, wherein said enterprise java bean cluster (EJBC) handles business logic and resource access methods a well as memory caching for common resources.

10. The shared computer network storage system of claim 1, wherein said server further comprises an application network.

11. The shared computer network storage system of claim 10, wherein said application network further comprises a java application cluster.

12. The shared computer network storage system of claim 10, wherein said application network handles display functions and resource requests.

13. The shared computer network storage system of claim 1, wherein said server further comprises a web server.

14. The shared computer network storage system of claim 13, wherein said web server handles all requests for static content and proxies requests for dynamic content.

15. The shared computer network storage system of claim 1, wherein said server further comprises a load balancer, said load balancer proxying requests to a sub-server having the highest degree of availability or functionality.

16. The shared computer network storage system of claim 1 wherein said server further comprises a DNS redirector, said DNS redirector proxying requests to a resource having a highest degree of functionality.

17. The shared computer network storage system of claim 1, wherein said server application is web-based.

18. The shared computer network storage system of claim 1, wherein said client application interacts with an operating system running upon a computer upon which said client application is also running, said client application adopting and implementing a visual display format similar to said operating system.

19. A shared computer network storage system, comprising:

a first database containing file data, said first database distributed over at least two physical storage devices;

a second database containing information (metadata) about said file data of said first database, said second database distributed over at least two physical storage devices;

a server, said server executing file commands on said first file database, said server contemporaneously updating said second metadatabase upon executing said file commands, said server including;

a transaction processor, said transaction processor on a non-routable network, said transaction processor guarantees access to and transactions on said first and second databases;

an enterprise java bean cluster (EJBC) on a non-routable network, said enterprise java bean cluster (EJBC) coupled to said transaction processor and handling business logic and resource access methods a well as memory caching for common resources;

an application network on a non-routable network, said application network coupled to said enterprise java bean cluster, said application network including a java application cluster and handling display functions and resource requests;

a web server, said web server coupled to said application network and handling all requests for static content and proxies requests for dynamic content;

a load balancer, said load balancer coupled to said web server and proxying requests to a sub-server having the highest degree of availability or functionality; and

a DNS redirector, said DNS redirector coupled to said load balancer and proxying requests to a resource having a highest degree of functionality; and

a client application, said client application communicating with said server via a proxy, said client application invoking file commands upon said server, said server executing said file commands and updating information regarding said first file and second metadata databases displayed by said client application;

whereby

said client application controls files in said first file database and information regarding status of said first database files is more readily available by reference to said second metadatabase.

20. The shared computer network storage system of claim 19, wherein said client application is web-based.

21. The shared computer network storage system of claim 19, wherein said client application interacts with an operating system running upon a computer upon which said client application is also running, said client application adopting and implementing a visual display format similar to said operating system.