EP0862304A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for file transfer
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1998-02-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2018-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A method is provided of downloading a file from an Internet server 12 to an Internet client 10, preferably without action by the Internet client. The method begins by associating the file into a set of components at the server. A profile of the file is then generated. This profile includes identifying information for the file as well as for each component thereof. Such information preferably includes an identifier, a size value, and a code uniquely identifying the component. The file is transferred by initiating a download sequence by which each component is transferred, one-by-one, from the server to the client using an Internet protocol. When the download sequence is complete, the individual components are reassembled into the file using the profile without action by the Internet client. If the transmission is interrupted for any reason, the download sequence is restarted with the component affected by the interruption. This avoids the need to retransfer the entire file.
Inventors
- 👤 Craig Alan Bennett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:44
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/435; H04N21/4351; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/06; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/47; H04N21/478; H04N21/4782; H04N21/60; H04N21/63; H04N21/637; H04N21/6375; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/8166; H04N21/8173; H04N21/83; H04N21/835; H04N21/8352; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/163; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of downloading a file comprising a set of components from
a server (12) to a client (10) over a network (14), comprising the steps
of: generating a profile of the file that includes identifying
information for each component; initiating a download sequence by which each component is
transferred (268), one-by-one, from the server to the client using a
network transmission protocol; when the download sequence is complete, reassembling (276) the
components into the file using the profile.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of Claim 1, further comprising the step of restarting
the download sequence, following interruption of the download sequence,
with a component affected by the interruption.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of Claim 2, wherein any component transferred prior to
the interruption is not re-transferred from the server to the client.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
17 words
The method of any preceding Claim, wherein the network transmission
protocol is the File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
34 words
The method of any preceding Claim, wherein the identifying
information in the profile for each component includes an identifier, a
value indicating the size of the component, and a code uniquely
identifying the component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of Claim 5, wherein the code is a cyclic redundancy
code.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
29 words
The method of any preceding Claim, further comprising the step of
verifying (270) that a component transferred to the client is part of the
file using the identifying information.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of any preceding Claim, further comprising the initial
step of breaking the file into the set of components.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
27 words
The method of any preceding Claim, further comprising the step of
transferring (263) the profile from the server to the client prior to
initiating the download sequence.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
The method of Claim 9, wherein the profile includes identifying
information for the file and each component thereof, said method further
comprising the steps of: using the identifying information upon receipt at the client of a
component to verify whether a complete version of the component has been
transferred; if the complete version of the component has not been transferred,
restarting the download sequence with the component; and when the download sequence is complete, verifying (278, 280)
whether a complete version of the file has been transferred using the
identifying information for the file; if the complete version of the file has been transferred,
reassembling the components into the file.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of Claim 10, further including the step of
re-transferring the profile from the server to the client prior to
restarting the download sequence.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of Claim 10 or 11, wherein the identifying information
for the file includes a code uniquely identifying the file.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of Claim 12, wherein the code is a cyclic redundancy
code.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of any preceding Claim wherein the components are
transferred in a sequential order as determined by the profile.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
23 words
The method of any preceding Claim wherein the network is the
Internet, and the client is a Web appliance attached to the Internet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of Claim 15 wherein the file is a updated version of a
program running on the Web appliance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15 or 16 wherein the file is downloaded over
the Internet to the Web appliance without requiring any specific action
by a user.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
A computer program product for use in downloading a file,
comprising a set of components, from a server to a client, the computer
program product comprising: a computer-readable storage medium having a substrate; and a
program encoded in the substrate of the computer-readable storage medium,
wherein the program includes means for performing the method of any
preceding claim.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
70 words
A client computer connectable to the Internet, comprising: a processor; an operating system; Internet protocol means; and a client component of a file transfer download routine, the client
component having an associated server component supported on a server;
wherein the client component of the file transfer download routine
includes means responsive to receipt of component pieces of a file for
reassembling component pieces into the file using a file profile.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
A data processing system (100), comprising: a remote control unit (106); and a base unit (102) connectable to a monitor (104) for providing
Internet access under the control of the remote control unit, the base
unit comprising the client computer of Claim 19.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
93 words
A server computer connectable to the Internet, comprising: a processor; an operating system; Internet protocol means; and a server component of a file transfer download routine, the server
component having an associated client component supported on a client
machine; wherein the server component includes means for initiating a
download sequence by which components of a file are transferred,
one-by-one, from the server computer to the client machine using the
Internet protocol means, and means responsive to any interruption of the
download sequence for restarting the sequence with the component affected
by the interruption.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer of Claim 19 or 21 wherein the Internet protocol means
is FTP.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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