U.S. patent application number 09/393084 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-07 for remote access of archived compressed data files.
Invention is credited to RODRIGUEZ, HERMAN, WRIGHT, CORNELL G. JR..
Application Number | 20020029228 09/393084 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23553204 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020029228 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RODRIGUEZ, HERMAN ; et
al. |
March 7, 2002 |
REMOTE ACCESS OF ARCHIVED COMPRESSED DATA FILES
Abstract
The method disclosed and a system employing the method provide
remote access via a computer network to individual files contained
within a multi-file archive file on a computer network file server,
such as ZIP files stored on an Internet web server. The method
allows a user equipped with a standard web browser to view a
listing of the files contained within an archive file prior to
actually downloading the archive file. The user can then select one
or more files to receive or download, and the web server extracts
only the selected files for transmission to the client computer.
The method particularly reduces the amount of time, network
bandwidth and computer storage necessary to view the file listing,
and to download the selected files.
Inventors: |
RODRIGUEZ, HERMAN; (AUSTIN,
TX) ; WRIGHT, CORNELL G. JR.; (AUSTIN, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT H FRANTZ
PO BOX 23324
OKLAHOMA CITY
OK
731232334
|
Family ID: |
23553204 |
Appl. No.: |
09/393084 |
Filed: |
September 9, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ; 707/999.2;
707/999.204; 707/E17.006 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 707/959 20130101;
Y10S 707/99942 20130101; Y10S 707/915 20130101; G06F 16/116
20190101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/204 ;
707/200 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/30 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. The method for remote selective access of an archived data by a
computer operator file using a client computer, a server computer,
and a computer network, said method comprising the steps of:
transmitting a list of files contained within said archived data
file to said client computer, said list containing a first input
selection for at least one individually selectable downloadable
file contained within said archived data file; receiving a
selection from said computer operator on said client computer using
said first input selection for at least one individually and
selectable downloadable file; extracting said selected file or
files from said archived data file on said server computer; and
transmitting said extracted file or files to said client computer
via said computer network.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving a
password by the server computer from the client machine as a
security measure.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying
on a client computer display the list of files contained within
said archive data file.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of displaying
on a client computer display the list of files including a first
input selection which is a user-selectable hyperlink.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
transmitting to said client computer a second input selection
associated with said list of files; receiving a selection from said
computer operator on said client computer using said second input
selection; and decompressing said extracted file or files on said
server computer before transmitting said extracted file or files to
the client computer.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of displaying
on a client computer display the second input selection.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of displaying
on a client computer display the second input selection as a
user-selectable hyperlink.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
retrieving data from said archive file by said server computer
containing information regarding the files contained within the
archive file in response to receipt of said selection of said first
input selection by said computer operator; and dynamically creating
from said retrieved data a list of files for transmission to said
client computer, and including said first input selection.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of dynamically creating a
list of files from said retrieved data includes the creation of at
least one Hyper Text Markup Language document.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprises retrieving said list of
files from a computer-readable medium.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of retrieving said list
of files from a computer-readable medium includes the retrieval of
at least one Hyper Text Markup Language document.
12. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for a
networked server computer to enable a remote client computer to
selectively access files contained within an archive data file
accessible by the server computer, by: receiving a first request
from said remote client computer; transmitting to said remote
client computer a list of files contained within an archive data
file in response to receipt of said first request; receiving a
second request from said remote client computer; extracting at
least one file from said archive data file in response to receipt
of said second request from said remote client computer; and
transmitting at least one extracted file to said remote client
computer.
13. The computer-readable medium as described in claim 12 further
containing instructions for: receiving a third request from said
remote client computer; and extracting and decompressing at least
one file from said archive data file in response to receipt of said
third require from said remote client computer, and transmitting at
least one extracted and decompressed file to said remote client
computer.
14. The computer-readable medium as described in claim 12 further
containing instructions for dynamically creating said list of files
after receipt of said request from said remote client computer.
15. The computer-readable medium as described in claim 14 further
containing instructions for dynamically creating at least one Hyper
Text Markup Language document after receipt of said request from
said remote client computer.
16. A networked file server suitable for selectively transmitting
files contained within a stored archive data file, comprising: a
computer platform including a computer and an operating system
suitable for executing software, said computer platform including a
computer network interface for sending and receiving data over a
computer network, and further including data storage means for
storing data files; a network server software package for
interacting with remote client computers over a computer network; a
means for receiving a first request from a client computer over a
computer network; a means for transmitting a list of files
contained within said stored archive data file to said client
computer over a computer network in response to receipt of said
first request; a means for receiving a second request from a client
computer over a computer network; a means for extracting at least
one file stored in said archive data file; and a means for
transmitting at least one extracted file to said client machine via
said computer network.
17. The networked file server as described in claim 16 further
comprising a means to dynamically created at least one Hyper Text
Markup Language document in response to said first require from
said client computer.
18. The networked file server as described in claim 16 further
comprising: a means to receive a third request from said client
computer over a computer network; a means for decompressing at
least one extracted file in response to receipt of said third
request; and a means for transmitting said decompressed file or
files to said client computer via said computer network.
19. The networked file server as described in claim 16 wherein said
means for transmitting said list of files to said client computer
via a computer network further comprises a means to transmit Hyper
Text Markup Language documents.
20. The networked file server as described in claim 19 wherein said
Hyper Text Markup Language documents contain hyperlinks for user
selection of files to be extracted and transmitted to said client
computer via a computer network.
21. The networked file server as described in claim 19 wherein said
Hyper Text Markup Language documents contain hyperlinks for user
selection of files to be extracted, decompressed and transmitted to
said client computer via a computer network.
22. The networked file server as described in claim 19 wherein said
Hyper Text Markup Language further includes hyperlinks to graphic
icon image files located on the networked file server for
displaying icons related to a file type associated with each file
in said list of files.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention pertains to the arts of selective access and
download of archived compressed files via computer networks such as
the Internet and intranets. This invention relates in particular to
standard multi-file compression archives, such as ZIP, GZIP, and
CAB files, and the ability to access files contained within those
archives on an individual or group basis via computer networks.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] As shown in FIG. 4, client/server computer systems are well
known within the art, including those which are interconnected via
intranets and Internets. A client computer (60) may access (61) a
web server computer (64) through the Internet or "world wide web"
(62) using a dial-up modem connection, cable modem, Asymmetric
Digital Subscriber Loop ("ADSU"), Integrated Services Digital
Network ("ISDN") or other data connection. Likewise, the web server
computer (64) may interface (63) to the Internet using the same
data connection options, but more commonly through much higher data
rate connections such as T1 or T3 digital transmission lines. A
client computer may also access a "local" web server or corporate
intranet server via an intranet (65), which may be a local area
network ("LAN"). A typical client computer is provided with a
keyboard (81) for receiving input and commands from a user, and a
display (80) for outputting information to a user, as well as
optional pointing devices such as a mouse or pointing pad.
[0005] Web "browsers" are commonly used on networked client
computers in order to access a web server. FIG. 5 shows the
functional organization of the software and hardware components of
a client computer (60) utilized when a web server is accessed to
retrieve stored files. An Internet browser program (71), such as
Microsoft Explorer or Netscape Navigator, communicates to a network
communications protocol stack (73), such as Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol ("TCP/IP"). The protocol stack controls
and communicates to a network interface ("NIC"), such as an
Ethernet LAN interface card or a modem. The browser program (71)
may store (75) files which have been downloaded from servers on the
network on the system hard drive(s) or in system memory (76).
[0006] Various file archive and compression methods and systems are
well known within the arts of computer and networking technology.
Public standards or conventions for the compression and archiving
of data files such as "ZIP" files are available, as well as certain
proprietary formats such as the Microsoft "cabinet" file
format.
[0007] A zip file may contain only one compressed data file or
multiple data files. The Internet request for comment ("RFC") 1952,
a public document, discloses in detail the format and organization
of a zip file developed by the Free Software Foundation, called
GZIP. FIG. 1 shows the format of a GZIP file (1), including a
header section (2), the compressed data blocks (3), and a tail
section (4). The header section (2) contains information to
identify the file as a GZIP file in the ID1 through ID3 elements,
an indication of the type of compression used (i.e. deflation, LZW,
etc.) in the compression mode element, a set of flags to indicate
optional parameters that may be included in the GZIP file, a record
of the operating system with which the original file was
compatible, the original file name, a comment possibly entered by
the operator, and a CRC value. Following the header section (2) is
the actual compressed file data organized in blocks (3), which is
in turn followed by another CRC and a record of the original,
uncompressed file size.
[0008] In order to store multiple compressed data files in a single
archive file, the common technique is to repeat the sequence of
elements as given in FIG. 1. This allows for individual compressed
files to be extracted and decompressed without requiring all the
archived files to the extracted and decompressed.
[0009] Many Internet and intranet servers provide downloadable
archive files. For example, many software corporations provide
downloadable demonstration copies of their products on their
corporate web sites. This allows potential customers to use a web
browser to select products to preview, download the demo versions,
decompress or "unzip" the files and install the software products.
As seen in FIG. 5, an archive and compression utility program (78)
such as Pkware Incorporated's PKUNZIP may be used to retrieve an
archive file from system memory or hard drive (76) and to extract
and decompress the files contained therein. Alternatively, the
browser program (71) may launch (77) the utility program (78)
directly, or may use a browser "plug-in" (72) to extract and
decompress files from the downloaded archive file.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows the typical process or method used to retrieve
these archive files. An Internet or intranet client computer uses a
web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer, to
select (21) a page or address on an web server to be viewed. When
the address or page is selected, a series of commands and responses
(22) are exchanged between the web server and the web browser via
the Internet or an intranet. This type of "web browsing" is well
known within the art.
[0011] The web server accesses (23) the requested web address or
web page, and returns (24) one or more web objects, typically in
the form of Hypertext Markup Language ("HTML") documents, JAVA
scripts, and graphics files such as Compuserve Graphics files
("GIF") and Joint Photographics Experts Group ("JPEG") files. The
operator of the web browser reviews the web page which he or she
has received, and selects (25) a hyperlink which points to an
archive file such as a ZIP file. The operator may be presented with
a choice to download and save the file to the client computer's
disk drive, or to download the file and immediately launch an
application associated with the file, such as PKUNZIP from Pkware,
Inc.
[0012] Then, a request (26) is made to the web server to download
the indicated archive file. In response to this request (26), the
web server accesses (27) the entire archive file and begins
transmitting this file to the web browser via the computer network.
If the archive file is large in size relative to the data transfer
rate between the web server and the client computer, the download
may require several minutes to hours to complete.
[0013] Finally, after the entire file has been downloaded, the file
is either saved (31) or the file is "opened" (33) using the
registered application program, such as PKUNZIP, on the client
computer. If the archive file contains multiple compressed files,
the operator is presented for the first time during the process
with a list of the contained file names, lengths, and comments as
the utility program extracts and displays those elements from the
archive file. The operator can then selectively extract and
decompress one or more of the multiple files as desired.
[0014] The problems that arise with this process are the time
required to retrieve just one or a few of the files contained in
the archive file, and the disk space consumed by the storage of
unwanted files. With the prior art method, an operator may
ultimately only desire to access one small file that is contained
in a much larger multi-file archive file. But, in order to access
the individual file, the operator may have to download the entire
archive file and then extract and decompress the single file
contained within. This means that the operator may have to wait for
several minutes to hours to receive a file contained within an
archive file, which, if transmitted individually, may only require
a few seconds to minutes to download. This repeated many times a
day or week, and multiplied by many users on a network (such as a
corporate LAN or intranet) accumulates to considerable wasted human
operation hours as well as significant wasted computer network
bandwidth, disk storage and memory.
[0015] Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a method to
selectively retrieve compressed data files over computer networks
which are stored within multiple-file archive files. There further
exists a need in the art for this method to provide the user with a
listing of the files available within an archive file without
requiring a full download of the actual archive file, and to do so
in a timely manner to minimize operator wait time. Finally, there
exists a need in the art for this method to be realizable and
compatible with existing equipment and software commonly used for
computer network communications and browsing, and to minimize the
need for special software or hardware to practice the method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of
the invention will be apparent from the following more particular
description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference
numbers represent like parts of the invention.
[0017] The method disclosed herein provides the capability of a
standard Internet browsing utility such as Netscape's Navigator or
Microsoft's Explorer, to display the contents of a web-stored
archive file and to selectively download compressed files from
within the archive file without the need for a special browser
"plug-in" and without the need to download the entire archive file.
By providing file listing and extraction functions on the web
server, and by delivering the file listing to the browser using a
common and standard interface such as HTML, the method can be
realized using common technology on web servers and without need
for changes to or additions to millions of client computers'
software.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 discloses an archive file format which is well known
within the art, and is exemplary of other archive file formats
which are also known within the art.
[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates a typical method followed for accessing,
downloading, and selectively extracting and decompressing files
from archive files which are stored on computer network
servers.
[0020] FIG. 3 sets forth the method of the invention which allows
the contents of the archive file to be viewed prior to downloading
any compressed data, such that individual files can be selected and
downloaded, thereby avoiding wasted time and computer network
bandwidth required to download undesired files within the archive
file.
[0021] FIG. 4 shows the general arrangement of client computers,
web servers, intranets and the Internet.
[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates the functional organization of software
and hardware components of a client computer used when accessing
files via a network.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] The method of the invention relies upon changes to the web
server only, and does not necessarily require special modifications
to the client computer software, browsers, or hardware. Primarily,
a number of software functions are added to the web server
functionality, such as a software function to extract a listing of
file names and file comments from archive files, and a software
function to generate an HTML document containing this information
with hyperlinks to indicate specific files to be downloaded. Also,
a function to extract an individual or group of compressed files
from an archive file is added to the web server. These kinds of
functions can be custom developed relying upon knowledge within the
art, or by using source code commonly available from sources such
as the Free Software Foundation. These functions may also be
purchased from vendors of compression and archive utilities, such
as Pkware, Inc.
[0024] Turning to FIG. 3, the variation in the steps taken from the
typical process as shown in FIG. 2 is evident. As in the typical
process, the user selects (21) a web page to view using a web
browser such as Explorer or Navigator. This results in a request
(22) to the web server to receive the web page. The web server then
accesses (23) all of the web objects required by that page, such
HTML documents, JAVA scripts, and graphics files, and transmits
(24) those objects to the browser over the computer network, such
as the Internet or an intranet. This web page contains one or more
hyperlinks to archive files, such as a ZIP file.
[0025] The user then selects a hyperlink (40) which refers to an
archive file, and results in a special request (41) to the web
server for a listing of the contents of the archive file rather
than a request to directly proceed to downloading the entire
archive file. This special request can be as simple as a second
hyperlink on the original web page:
[0026] Click here to download the entire ZIP file, or
[0027] Click here to view the contents of the ZIP file
[0028] where hyperlinked text is underlined following Internet page
conventions, and where the first hyperlink refers directly to the
ZIP file itself (the traditional method). Likewise, the second
hyperlink refers to an existing file listing or a request to create
and transmit a file listing.
[0029] To follow the conventional method to download the entire
archive file, the user would click on the first hyperlink, as
indicated in the process of FIG. 2. However, if the user preferred
to view a listing of files contained within the archive file, the
user would click on the second hyperlink. This would result in a
special request, preferably in the form of a hyperlink, being
transmitted (41) to the web server from the client computer. The
web server would then use the file list function and dynamic web
page creation functions described supra to create (42) a web page
containing a list of the files contained within the archive file.
The web page would also contain hyperlinks to individual file
names, which would allow the user to indicate which files to
extract and download. Alternatively, the file listing web page may
already exist, and it may be stored or accessible by the web
server.
[0030] In an enhanced embodiment, this step may include the
transmission of a password dialog page, in the form of HTML or a
web form, to collect and verify a password from the user prior to
transmitting the file listing.
[0031] In a further enhanced embodiment, the file listing may
include icons next to or near each file name in the listing such
that the user can quickly identify the types of files listed, such
as word processor files, video clips, and spreadsheets. This
feature may be realized by the web server including these icons in
the form of Compuserve graphics ("GIF") files to the HTML document
for the file listing, which eliminates the need for the client to
have the associated icons stored on the client computer.
[0032] The file listing page is then transmitted (43) to the
browser on the client computer, where the user reviews the list,
and selects (44) one or more files for reception. This results in
one or more requests being transmitted (46) to the web server in
the same manner that previous requests for data have been
transmitted in the method. The web server responds by executing
(47) the file extraction utilities to extract and optionally
decompress the selected files from the archive file. Those
extracted files are then transmitted (48) to the client computer or
network client, where they are saved (49) and/or decompressed (50)
by the appropriate software application. The time (45) spent
waiting for the transfer to complete using this method is
substantially reduced compared to the conventional method as the
total data volume to be downloaded is reduced, and as unwanted data
is not downloaded at all.
[0033] For files which were selected to be extracted and
decompressed by the web server prior to transmission to the client
computer, the proper application program on the client computer
which is registered to that file type may be optionally launched to
allow immediate operation on the file after it is received. For
example, if the file is an Apple Quicktime video clip, the proper
Apple viewer could be launched. Or, if the file were a Lotus
WordPro word processor document, Lotus WordPro would be launched.
The method of using file name extensions to associate files with
and cooperatively launch the application is well understood in the
art, and similar functionality is found in most personal computer
operating systems.
[0034] The use of a standard HTML document to communicate the file
list and to provide selection command interface to the user avoids
the need for a special plug-in or modification to the existing
browser software, and enables it to be compatible with all standard
web browsers. Finally, the dynamic creation of the file listing
page minimizes web server storage requirements, which is often a
complementary requirement on servers which are storing compressed
archive files.
[0035] The method and system described herein is preferably
implemented on a web server system based on an IBM RS6000 computer
platform running a suitable web server suite, such as the IBM AIX
operating system and the IBM WebSphere Application Server product.
Alternative computer platforms, web server software, and operating
systems such as Microsoft NT or IBM OS/2, and IBM-compatible
personal computers or Sun workstations, can be utilized, as
well.
[0036] The functions for the web server to list archived files and
selectively extract compress files from archive files are
preferably part of the Data Compression Library available from
Pkware, Inc.
[0037] It will be understood from the foregoing description that
various modifications and changes may be made in the preferred
embodiment of the present invention without departing from its true
spirit, such as the use of alternate web server platforms,
operating systems and archive file management utilities. It is
intended that this description is for purposes of illustration only
and should not be construed in a limiting sense. The scope of this
invention should be limited only by the language of the following
claims.
* * * * *