CN1194747A - Method for conveying data between a plurality of geographically-remote sender and recipient sites - Google Patents

Abstract

The method for electronically conveying large blocks of data between geographically-remote locations by uploading the sender's data to the local hub site of a service provider's network, earmarking that data with an electronic invoice, transmitting that data via the service provider's high speed network to a secondary hub site that is local to the recipient's geographic location, and downloading the data from the second hub site to the recipient's network. Duplicate archival versions of the transmitted data may be maintained at two geographically-distinct locations, such as the service provider's primary and secondary network hub sites. The total number of network connections may be reduced with a minimum number of alternative connections maintained to ensure data delivery in the event of a network connection failure. Value-added services may be performed on the data either prior or subsequent to its transmission between the primary and secondary hub sites.

Description

Between plurality of geographically-remote sender and recipient sites, transmit the method for data

The present invention relates generally to the computer based data transmission network, particularly a kind of method, in this way by the data of supplier operation send service can be geographically be that the user transmits big data block with the high speed between the place at a distance.

Transmitting big data file (generally being those files in Mbytes and more extensive scope) or a large amount of less data block between two remote places is with the realization of one of three kinds of methods traditionally always: (1) is such as tape, entity transmits data on the tangible medium of floppy disc or CD (being called " hidden net ") and so on, (2) via the electric transmission of modulator-demodulator and common telecommunication circuit, or (3) are passed through in electronic applications by one or more circuit, optical fiber, the transmission of the dedicated transmission channel that microwave or satellite connect to form.

In many branchs of industry, as the operation before photography and the news report, periodical and catalogue printing, medical image, manufacturing and the production of CAD (computer-aided design)/CAM (computer-aided manufacture), finance and accounting service, and many Science and Technologies research operation, the demand that transmits huge data file between remote site is continuing to enlarge always.

Entity transports that data are subjected to the length of big data file and the restriction of the capacity of the medium that can transport.Because the low relatively price of its every Mbytes memory capacity, the floppy disc medium are a kind of optimization approach at present.Have about 1.44 Mbytes and format the conventional high density floppy disk of compression volume not being replaced, as the Iomega of 100 Mbytes by the optional medium of various big capacity ^ZIPTM or Syquest ^Driver, and the 120 backward compatible Mbytes LS-120 of 1.44 Mbytes forms with popular that release by 3M company recently ^TMFloppy disc.Utilization resembles 230 Mbytes DynaMO of Fujitsu ^The magneto optical disk of form and so on resembles Write-once the industrial standard 650 Mbytes compact disc read-only memories and reads repeatedly and rewritable CD, and various removable disk drive, can obtain even bigger capacity.

But even the equipment price that has day by day the memory capacity that increases and reduced, the entity of data transports and still has many intrinsic shortcomings.Except the expense of medium, also have actual entities to transport additional financial resources cost, comprise packing, postal service, the messenger or courier's expense, and with unloading, look into the location, transmission receives time and the expense relevant with the personnel of the data of packing into subsequently.If data are processed and when returning at remote site, expense is to double.

Utilize courier whole day or the same day, on two geography between the remote site (boundary that promptly exceeds a metropolitan area) back and forth the shipment also will need one day or two days in transit.

At last because defective medium, keep an eye on bad, environmental condition, and the transit route mistake also has the inherent dangerous of loss of data or deterioration.Prevent the claimed property of the trial packing of these problems, repeat shipment and other safety measure, all these had both spent many, and were time-consuming, and were slippery.Even safety measure puts in place, the data of Sun Shi medium or deterioration may cause losing several days time in transit, but also personnel's time of consume valuable, cause the uncertainty of the state of relevant specific project or operation.

Various electronic data transmission systems are arranged, transmission data file between the place that is used for separating in two spaces.Local Area Network is considered to be most appropriate to usually in the scope in a laboratory or campus, utilize file server or host computer system as based on, many personal computers are connected together, and some LAN utilizes special-purpose transmission channel to expand to outside the geographical frontier in the laboratory of regulation or campus.Wide Area Network (WAN) is normally used for the connection between the farther place, and can be used to independent lan interconnection.Have again at existing LAN under the situation of WAN, between local computer, have the network that utilizes low speed hardwired or infrared channel to connect usually, special-purpose high speed connection is arranged between remote place or have shared ancillary equipment and system maintenance device.

Though it is inner as have the single company of several factories or have the transfer of data needs of the university in an above campus that special-purpose LAN or WAN will be adapted at similar individual, they have been verified to be unsuitable for being used for transmitting data between variety classes unit is as ISP and their client.

Transfer of data via the multi-channel long-distance communication passage of routine is too slow, is unsuitable for being used for data file big even that compressed.Error in data, verification method and cryptographic protocol all make such complex system.The common network of sharing is for the lasting use of the most of industries that require the big and complicated data file of quick shipping, and special is those occasions of overriding concern item for fail safe and data integrity, and equally too slow and inconvenience is used.

Special-purpose WAN is a kind of feasible solution, but makes the desired medium transmission quantity of many companies usually too expensive.In addition, company may require to be connected with the frequent transmission of many independently senders that are positioned at long-range place or recipient, each sender or recipient have different lan topologys and agreement, and a company may also require to be connected with the unduplicated transmission not frequent or " disposable " of other many independently places.

Utilize commercial WAN can overcome these problems for the company that has a large amount of or the transmission demand that repeats with place independently sometimes, but these may be quite complicated and expensive, equipment is promptly answered in requirement, the transmission channel of renting, technical support is safeguarded, and by the software application of user's exploitation.

Method of the present invention makes and might transmit big data block geographically at a distance between the place with electronic method: on the hub point of the network locality that installs to the ISP on sender's the data, stamp the mark of electronic invoice for these data, these data are sent to the second level hub point of locality, recipient geographical position via ISP's express network, data are installed on recipient's the network down from the second hub point.

Tick to data, so that the ISP can track data file and by any among several factors or standard price that multiple factor determined to sender or recipient's charge, the size of these factors such as data block or the additional value-added service that data are carried out, resemble checking, filing is encrypted or compression.Distinct place on two geography-as ISP's the first order and second level hub point-can keep the filing version that duplicates that is transmitted data, so that prevent that recipient or ISP need rebuild or retransmit when causing loss of data or deterioration just in case owing to the sender.

ISP's network is at a distance can be by daisy chain between the hub point on many geography, and the form of closed circuit or other hybrid layout is expanded (comparing with the spoke layout with the wheel that is used for traditional whole day package delivering business).Can reduce the sum that network connects, and the standby connection that still keeps minimum quantity, so that in contingency the data payment takes place to guarantee when network connects fault.Accounting and following function can be carried out on each hub point, perhaps can be sent to independent control data corporation to electronic invoice and also handle there.

This network virtual pellucidly with sender and recipient's network be connected-utilize with the link module of the compatible special use of existing graphical user interface (GUI) and OO program-rather than with those user network direct interactions.

Fig. 1 is the hybrid layout sketch of network of the present invention, and the ISP utilizes this network to use method of the present invention to transmit file between sender and recipient;

Fig. 2 shows the flow chart that uses method of the present invention to transmit the basic operational steps of file between sender and recipient;

Fig. 3 shows the flow chart that uses method of the present invention to handle and transmit the alternative operating procedure of file between sender and recipient;

Fig. 4 is from the sketch map of the representational example of conventional graphical user interface (GUI) of imaginary sender's point of observation on sender's computer system;

Fig. 5 is the GUI sketch map of Fig. 4, wherein by user's option program icon and produced additional screen icon;

Fig. 6 is the GUI sketch map of Fig. 5, and wherein the select File icon is also just dragged by the user;

Fig. 7 is the GUI sketch map of Fig. 6, and wherein the file icon just is being placed into the screen icon; And

Fig. 8 is the GUI sketch map of Fig. 7, has wherein opened dialog, and the user is input information and selection option, and software program provides response message.

Method of the present invention explains through diagrams in Fig. 1-8, and is wherein general dated with numeral 10.For convenience's sake, method 10 of the present invention and being used for of describing herein realize that various embodiment that the data of method 10 of the present invention send network simply are called method 10 or data interchangeably and send network 10.

Referring to Fig. 1, represented network 10 is made up of many hub 12 in detail, the latter placed apart geographically on many spaces remote place, as different cities, metropolitan zone, state, rural area or other similar place.Each hub 12 is via high-speed figure, simulation or hybrid electronic transmission channel 14, be referred to as network herein and connect 14, be connected with other hub 12 at least.Different networks connects 14 and uses a, b, c, d, e and f represent, connect a and extend between the first order and second level hub 12, connecting b extends between the first order and third level hub 12, connect c and extend between the third level and second level hub 12, and connect d, e and f connect into an integral body to many additional hub 12.

Many senders or recipient 16 are connected with each hub, among these senders or the recipient each is usually located at geographical more hithermost corresponding hub 12 places of, and each sender or recipient 16 have a computer system that is connected with hub 12 accordingly via the electron propagation ducts 18 of special use and network access device 20.

The sender may constitute independent or relevant industry with recipient 16, individuality, school or other entity.In Fig. 1, the geometry with common comprises triangle, square, and pentagon, hexagon and octangle represent to belong to the sender or the recipient 16 of similar or related entities.Therefore, the sender that connects of subjective that represent with triangle and first order hub 12 or recipient 16 with represent with triangle relevant with the second level with sender or the recipient that the hub 12 of adding is connected.Sender that each is such or recipient 16 may be the district offices of a company, parent and subsidiary, and the branch of financial organization, Government Office, the campus, or the like.

Therefore can easily understand various distinct operation layouts.For example, sender who represents with hexagon and recipient 16 are along by indicating a, and the network of b and c is connected 14 closed circuits of forming in the first order, connects together between the second level and the third level hub.There is not one among the additional hub 12 outside such sender or recipient 16 and this closed circuit to be connected.The sender who represents with triangle just is connected 14 by hub 12 with network along passage b-d-f with recipient 16 and connects together, connect together and just be connected 14 by hub 12 with network with recipient 16, have only when the hub 12 that does not have the centre that similar or relevant sender or recipient 16 be attached thereto included to form closed circuit along passage a-e-f with the sender that octangle is represented.Relevant sender can be connected to by on one among a plurality of go-between hubs 12 that do not have relevant sender or recipient 16 each hub 12 that separates with recipient 16, as under sender who represents with pentagon or recipient's 16 situation, perhaps they can be connected on each hub 12, as the sender or the recipient 16 that represent with square.In addition, referring to be connected on the third level hub 12 with the square common sender and the recipient 16 that represent, many independent senders or recipient 16 place or equipment can interconnect via local area network (LAN) 22, the latter has one or more and connection hub 12 (referring to third level hub 12) here.

Therefore, sender 16 can perhaps be connected with the indirect of hub 12 by relevant sender or recipient 16 the file of electronic applications via being connected with the direct of hub 12, sends the arbitrary possible recipient who effectively is connected with network 12 to.

Like this, will form the shortest physical channel between any two senders and recipient 16, the quantity that is connected with network along with hub 12 increases, and also can increase the alternate channel quantity between sender and the recipient 16 in possible each.These alternate channels may connect longer physically than the shortest passage, therefore, will build and safeguard that they may be more expensive on the expense level that increases progressively, and this physically difference will be inappreciable for the electric transmission of file.Connect 14 although can between each hub 12, set up direct network, can be understood that easily, the quantity of actual network connection 14 can be reduced to bottom line, make each hub 12 be connected with every another hub 12, thereby guarantee to lead to or will can be owing to the fault that is connected a connection among 14 with the corresponding network of this hub 12 is interrupted from the transmission of a particular network hub 12 by a shortest path and a stand-by channel.

Be understandable that equally, the different stand-by channel of setting up between two hub 12 makes and might be transferred to the hub 12 of separation to the file copy of electronic applications while (or almost simultaneously) and send different recipient 16 to, perhaps send distinct hub 12 and recipient 16 in the diverse time, this depends on the relative urgency level of transmission respectively and the file " traffic " in affected network connection 14 in network 10 inside.Therefore, file can be divided into separately with different subfiles and by two different paths transmission, and reconfigures at hub 12 places, and file will directly send recipient 16 to from this.For example, first subfile is transferred to second level hub 12 from the first order, and the subfile of separating is transferred to the third level again to second level hub 12 from the first order, and is reassembled into file at second level hub 12 places.

Therefore, in order to illustrate, " file " this term can comprise the individual data file on function, and a collection of data file of separating perhaps is attached to mutually together to form many data blocks of a synthetic data file.

Data of the present invention send network 10 and are preferably managed by " ISP ", the latter is such as exploitation on the whole or partly, installs, and supports and maintaining network 10, hub 12, parts of network connection 14 and network access device 20 and so on are movable to be responsible for.Like this, many senders or recipient 16 each all can be considered to ISP " client " or " user ".

The workpiece that is positioned at the network 10 at each hub 12 place will comprise that at least one is contained in main frame or structural CPU of file server or processor display, the access control module that is connected with CPU, being used for one or more Wide Area Networks (WAN) router of the data flow between the distributed node on the supervising the network is connected 14 with diverse network, channel and DSU, power supply, user interface (as personal computer or terminal), various ancillary equipment, comprise floppy disk, magneto optical disk and CD I/O, optics, RAID (arbitrary access image device) or other mass storage, high-resolution printers or draught machine, scanner or other digitalizer are as charge-coupled device (CCD) gamma camera, modulator-demodulator, and be used for finishing encryption, compression, colour correction, integrity check, index, the RISC processor of the special use of file comparison or serial data search.

Network access module will comprise usually the hardware and software composition both, they are used for limiting unauthorized access network 10 and control is connected 14 communication with the ISP or along network, also monitor transmission parameter and detect being connected of the characteristic attribute relevant with each file that will pass through network 10 transmission and each sender or recipient 16 and network 10.Network access module will effectively be connected with item control module and information database, both handle the back and state that keeps the relevant file that is transmitted and tracking data together, the expense of other value-added service of transmitting and being provided is provided, and is finished the processing capacity of ISP's defined.The part of access control module, item control module and information database can be generated or be retained on (or packing into) computer system by sender or recipient's 16 operations, as one or more software programs or hardware interface.

From the explanation of optimum manipulation method discussed in more detail below, will be appreciated that the various aspects of software and hardware configuration, but, in design, the operation and maintenance Wide Area Network, data base management system and may develop various embodiment based on the those of ordinary skill in the technical field of the network communicating system of item, they suitably move and satisfy the special performances requirement, these depend on the desired use of network 10, design and the restriction of counting in advance, inner industrial standard and agreement, the user selects, rule request, and the availability of hardware and software technology and development in future.

For example, network connects 14 and may comprise optical fiber, microwave, satellite or other high-bandwidth communication passage of high speed data transfer relatively.To depend on each sender or recipient 16 transmission quantity to be processed of this passage 18 with the electron propagation ducts that corresponding hub 12 couples together, file be sent to the up duration and the transmission rate of hub 12.Passage 18 is can be because of the place different and may comprise various known specifications, and this comprises that special-purpose T1 or T3 connect integrated services digital network (ISDN), fibre circuit, microwave remote communication link, switching circuit, the Internet, perhaps even modulator-demodulator and general telegraph circuit.In some cases, the electron propagation ducts that each sender or recipient 16 and corresponding hub 12 are coupled together may be worked being connected than the network between the hub 12 under the 14 in fact slower transmission rates, but, short relatively physical distance between sender or recipient 16 and the corresponding hub 12 makes that sender or recipient might be to the specification investments of the transmission channel 18 of relative high speed, otherwise, if when sender 16 will set up direct connection with one or more geographic long-range recipients 16, all may be unpractiaca financially or in logic.

Referring to Fig. 2, described here with utilizing network 10 and transmitted the relevant basic operational steps of file to recipient 16 in detail from sender 16.Be appreciated that, a lot of steps in these operating procedures can be finished by order different or non-order, can be divided into subprogram and finish by the heterogeneity of network 10, can comprise the step of manually finishing by operator or individual, and the step that instruction is finished automatically according to preset program, also may comprise additional or selectable step.Therefore, the various steps of the inventive method of describe and claimed right are considered to the representative of whole process, rather than in order between the recipient 16 of sender 16 and expection, to reach a kind of order formula of the required result who transmits file.

Initial on computer system that is positioned at sender 16 places or network by sender 16 or produce file for it, or be used for sense data or the input/output device of arbitrary routine of Data Digital installed to file in this system.Then or via the electron propagation ducts that sender 16 and corresponding hub 12 are connected together, or transmit the tangible medium that contain file, file is sent to first order hub 12 by reality.

Produce an electronic invoice and in use with file chaining.Electronic invoice can utilize the software that moves on sender 16 computer system that is provided by the ISP to produce, and perhaps can produce by interacting with Network Interface Unit 20 or hub 12.Electronic invoice can be by the data file of link or by using common reference to be attached on the file, as a unitary part of data file.Electronic invoice will comprise at least two data elements, one is the unique identification mark of file, another is at least one characteristic attribute relevant with file or its transmission, and the latter is relevant from the price that sender 16 sends recipient 16 to file with (perhaps indirectly and).

Identification mark and characteristic attribute may be distinct data elements, perhaps be combined into the individual data element to them so long, and network access module, item module, information database and file tracking system can be discerned it and its decoding, for reprocessing.Identification mark may also comprise the information of relevant sender 16 or recipient's 16 identity, Route Selection or transfer instruction, value-added service requirement, confirm or the repeating transmission instruction batch processing instruction, piecemeal or block data structure information, access to netwoks authorization message, and safety or data detection standard.Characteristic attribute may be usually or relate to the digital document length of the file of representing with Mbytes, desired network priority or transmission rate, be sent to first order hub 12 or be transferred to the date of second level hub 12 with constantly, the digit order number degree of depth or the analog content of file, the value-added service that will provide with respect to file, recipient 16 the feature or the state of expection perhaps determines to collect to sender 16 or recipient 16 any other proper standard of the expense that transmits or handle file whole or in part.

Produce the duplicate of file at first order hub 12 places and be stored in the profile storage system, to be used for following reference, safety, check or the purpose of retransmitting.

Also can finish at the first order hub place first step of file (or its part) is handled operation, comprise encryption, compression, screening or error detection, the perhaps value-added service of any kind is as the colour correction or the color separation of graph image, produce compression tangible or electronic applications, video and audio frequency ordering, the copyright royalty that is used for electronic publishing is calculated, or the like.Can finish this class of any amount and handle operation, decide on the expense and the time restriction that are applied.

Then file just via suitable network connect 14 in accordance with regulations route carry out electric transmission.For specific sender-recipient 16 transmission, can select predetermined route, perhaps network 10 can be according to the size of file, complexity, processing requirements, network information traffic, and each hub 12 be connected 14 operating state with network be that a given file calculates the most effective route.File just is transferred to second level hub by the route of determining from first order hub then.

Finish any second treatment step that may require then at second level hub 12 places, as the decompression or the deciphering of data.In addition, can carry out handling the value-added service that operation has been done as " first step " in another case, as the colour correction or the color separation of graph image.Can finish these value-added services in second level hub 12, or because these operations finish after should and then transmitting, guaranteeing data integrity, or owing to compare more useful or effective disposal ability with those abilities of first order hub 12.

Utilize above-described then about file is transferred to recipient 16 to file from second level hub 12 from the same method that sender 16 is transferred to first order processing hub 12.

Handle electronic invoice, be the expense of transmitting or value-added service should be collected so that calculate, this expense is basis and file at least in part, its transmission, and perhaps the relevant one or more characteristic attributes of sender or recipient 16 (they are considered to this document characteristic attribute too) calculate.Expense can be collected to sender or recipient 16 or both, can or receive file in transmission successfully before or collect later on.Sender or recipient can keep ISP's bill, so that contrast with the expense that debts, perhaps the ISP can be authorized to carry out electronic funds transfer, so that obtain this expense termly or on the basis of file one by one.The ISP can be assembled into an expense to several expenses that are used to transmit, and receives amount paid or leaves bill from the mode with any routine to sender or recipient 16.Can understand like this, utilization can be whole or in part before transfer files by software program and database information that the ISP provided, after, or in its process, can be at place among the first order or the second level hub 12 or two places, can be on remote data management equipment by ISP operation, perhaps can on the own computer system of sender or recipient 16, handle electronic invoice and collect and transmit or the step of value-added service expense.

Referring to Fig. 3, represented some change or the option in the above-mentioned steps, for example, before sending file to first order hub 12, sender 16 just electronic invoice and file are connected, file is divided into subfile, so that connect 14 parallel transmissions by network same or that separate, by the distinct passage that comprises network connection 14 separately different subfiles is transferred to second level hub 12, subfile is reconfigured or form original document in second level hub 12, integrality at checking file aspect the deterioration of the standard of predetermined matter or amount or boundary, if when checkout procedure produces unsafty or unacceptable result or other criterion requirement repeating transmission, just retransmit file.

In detail referring to Fig. 4-8, described in more detail that according to a given sender 16 pictorial perspective view file is sent to the recipient's 16 of expection operating procedure from sender 16, this sender utilizes the computer system with the graphical user interface (GUI) that diagrammatizes in Fig. 4-8.This GUI just prepares as representational example, and it comprises with the same or similar composition of other commercial existing GUI and describes, and comprises the Windows95TM of Microsoft's sale and the Mac-OS that Apple Computer sells.The technical staff who is familiar with design and writes software program and GUI will readily appreciate that the essence that these describe to represent, because they are with two specific GUI above-mentioned and other known GUI with object oriented programming system (OOPS) is relevant widely.

Referring to Fig. 4, the scope of having represented monitor screen 24 or virtual " table top ", software or the relevant various graphic elements of hardware component have been shown in the above with sender 16 computer system, comprise and operation system of computer is housed and has the hard disk drive 26 that specific file label claims, resemble the function icon 28 " dustbin ", it finishes specific operation (keeping and delete the file of placement under the situation of dustbin 28) when starting, each and the relevant many program icons 30 of software program that are present in or are applicable to operating system, and be contained in system storage in or be stored in relevant many file icons 32 of digital data file on the hard disk.

In Fig. 5, sender 16 utilizes and resembles the indicating device 34 " lighting " the cursor that Genius mouse or touch pads drive and select required program icon 30 (be in this case corresponding to and be responsible for setting up the software program that communicates to connect with ISP's network 10) and start indicating device or other order, so that start the operating system interior program.The result who is activated as this program, produce independent demonstration icon 36 in the precalculated position of desktop computer 24, the latter can be moved or be reapposed on the desktop computer on any desired position subsequently selectively, and it is hidden, dwindle, perhaps change profile alternatively.In the GUI of other type, showing that (or thereon) can produce menu bar or menu bar on icon 36 positions.

Fig. 6 represents that sender 16 utilizes indicating device 34 to select and outstanding file icon 32 and drag this document icon 32 and cross desktop computer 24 equally, and this document icon 32 is with to send recipient 16 the file of expection to by network corresponding.

In Fig. 7, the sender puts into this document icon 32 and the corresponding demonstration icon 34 of ISP's program (thereby with leading to network 10 be connected 18), so this icon is temporarily lighted.

As the result of this operation, on desktop computer 24, produce dialog 38 as shown in Figure 8.This dialog 38 comprises data input field 40, can be by sender 16 relevant document, and sender or recipient 16, Path selection, or the information of other criterion is imported in this hurdle.Dialog also comprises selectionbar 42, and the sender can import corresponding information according to the information of importing in advance from wherein selecting the recipient of one or more expections in the time of perhaps can or requiring at needs.Dialog 38 provides button 44 available or that start, so that selected and fileinfo or content, its transmission perhaps should be by the relevant various options of the value-added service that the ISP provides.Start those button 44 expressions and select an option, and make the software program generation order accordingly or suitable information is appended on file or the electronic invoice.Some information that is produced (or transmitting back sender 16 computer system from the ISP) by software program also can show in dialog 38, or is retained in the independent log file.The information that is shown can comprise the identifying information that file is exclusive, as numbering or tracking number, and with the file size of Mbytes or other unit representation, desired scheduled transmission time or calculated expectation transmission time, acknowledge receipt of, or the like.

Yes designs for every kind of certain embodiments of network 10 or application for hurdle that these that provide or show are different and information, the ability of type, ISP and the sender of the transmission that provided and value-added service and recipient's 16 feature, related file type, sender or recipient's software, hardware and communication equipment is provided for they, and can further be customized by the user in the parameter area of predesignating that software is allowed.

Like this, by starting ISP's program, via network access device 20 and communication port 18, can set up with the effective of ISP and be connected, this program will keep resident and offer sender 16 under GUI " background " then, till " withdrawing from " up to afterwards, thereby for sender 16 provides with high transmission rate quickly and easily to the ability of recipient's 16 transfer files that link with ISP's network 10 of arbitrary expection, this recipient even can need not consider sender and recipient's 16 computer system or the difference between the localized network agreement in furthest place on the geography.

When sender 16 angle is described the work of network 10, network 10 will be worked in the mode of same complete sum " invisible " concerning recipient 16.Recipient 16 may transmit file in expectation, will open by corresponding program screen or dialog that software program produced on the computer system that is present in the recipient, and determines whether to receive this document.Conversely, can produce a signal to recipient 16 after receiving file on recipient 16 the computer system, as email message, visible icon or sign appear in prompt tone on table top or menu bar, perhaps flicker or flash of light icon or symbol.

Can be understood that easily, also can dispose software and network 10 like this, make potential recipient 16 send request to particular network hub 12 or sender's 16 computer system, perhaps in whole network range, send search request, to seek to satisfy the file of the given standard of searching.In case after finding, just can provide the place of this document to potential recipient 16, the recipient just may send request to the computer system thereof or the storage device at file place then, perhaps can automatically retrieve file and be transferred to recipient 16.Safety and access protocal can limit recipient's visit and search only some computer system or hub 12, allow that perhaps 16 of potential recipients search its people or computer system has the specific file type of mandate to it.Equally, the degree of technical sophistication and the scope of adoptable various designs make those of ordinary skill might develop the various embodiment of network 10, so that in fact finish the combination in any of the task that may require, and satisfy the needs of various user and industry.

Although describe the most preferred embodiment of said method 10 in detail, be appreciated that and under the situation of the spirit and scope that do not break away from additional claim, in method 10, can make various changes and modification with reference to accompanying drawing.

Claims (43)

1. the file of electronic applications is sent to a kind of method that is positioned at the recipient of geographic remote site with respect to described sender from the sender, described method is carried out by the ISP at least in part, and described method comprises the following steps:

File is sent to the first order hub of the service network of being managed by the ISP from the sender, and described first order hub is positioned at the place of comparing more close geographically file sender with the recipient;

Electronic invoice and file are connected, described electronic invoice comprise with the corresponding unique identification mark of file and with the relevant characteristic attribute of price that file is sent to the recipient from the sender;

With electronic method file is transferred to the second level hub of the described service network of being managed by the ISP from described first order hub, described second level hub is positioned at the place of more close file recipient on the geography;

File is sent to the recipient from the described second level hub of described service network;

In the information database of setting up by the ISP, handle described electronic invoice; And

Collect to sender or recipient file sent to recipient's expense from the sender, described expense at least in part according to and the corresponding described price decision of the described characteristic attribute of file.

2. the method for claim 1 further may further comprise the steps:

Produce the file copy of electronic applications; And

Described duplicate is stored in the profile storage system with the first order hub effective connection of service network.

3. the method for claim 2 further may further comprise the steps:

Produce second duplicate of electronic applications file; And

Described second duplicate is stored in second profile storage system with the second level hub effective connection of service network.

4. the method for claim 1 further may further comprise the steps:

Produce the file copy of electronic applications; And

Described duplicate is stored in the profile storage system with the second level hub effective connection of service network.

5. the process of claim 1 wherein that file comprises numerical data, this method further may further comprise the steps:

Finish the processing operation at least a portion of the numerical data in the file, described processing operation is undertaken by the processor that the ISP safeguards.

6. the method for claim 5 wherein is contained in the interior numerical data of file and comprises graph image, is exactly the described graph image of colour correction and handle operation.

7. the method for claim 5, wherein handling operation is the digital compression of numerical data.

8. the method for claim 7, wherein this method further may further comprise the steps:

Finish second processing operation at least a portion of the numerical data in the file, handle operation and undertaken by second processor that the ISP safeguards for described second, described second to handle operation be to the decompression of compressed numerical data in handling operation in the past.

9. the method for claim 5, wherein handling operation is to encrypt to digital data.

10. the method for claim 9, wherein this method further may further comprise the steps:

Finish second processing operation at least a portion of the numerical data in the file, handle operation and undertaken by second processor that the ISP safeguards for described second, described second to handle operation be to the deciphering of encrypted numerical data in handling operation in the past.

11. the method for claim 5, wherein numerical data has a level of integrity after with the electronic method transmission, handles operation and may further comprise the steps:

With electronic method file transfer after the step of second level hub, with respect to the level of integrity of the standard test data of the matter of selecting; With

If when the level of integrity of numerical data is lower than predetermined gratifying threshold value with respect to the standard of the matter of described selection, at least a portion of file is transferred to second level hub from first order hub again.

12. the process of claim 1 wherein file be may further comprise the steps from the step that the first order hub of service network is transferred to second level hub:

Utilization is divided into first subfile and second subfile to file with the processor of the first order hub effective connection of service network, described first subfile is transferred to the second level hub of service network with electronic method;

With electronic method second subfile is transferred to third level hub from the first order hub of the service network managed by the ISP, described third level hub is positioned at the geographical all remote place with respect to first order hub and second level hub of going up;

With electronic method second subfile is transferred to second level hub from the described third level hub of service network; And

Reconfigure first subfile and second subfile send the recipient to formation file.

13. the process of claim 1 wherein that the sender has computer system, file comprised from the step that the sender is sent to the first order hub of service network:

Be provided at the electron propagation ducts between the first order hub of sender's computer system and service network; And

With electronic method file is transferred to the first order hub of service network from sender's computer system by described electron propagation ducts.

14. the method for claim 13, wherein sender's computer system effectively is connected with the local area network (LAN) with first procotol, electron propagation ducts is included in the dedicated Internet access between the first order hub of sender's described local area network (LAN) and service network, service network has second procotol, described dedicated Internet access comprises network access device, the feasible electronic switch that might carry out file between described first agreement and described second agreement of the latter.

15. the method for claim 13, wherein electron propagation ducts is included in the dedicated Internet access between the first order hub of sender's computer system and service network.

16. the method for claim 13, wherein at least a portion of electron propagation ducts comprises Internet connection.

17. the method for claim 13, wherein electron propagation ducts comprises the integrated services digital network circuit.

18. the method for claim 13, wherein electron propagation ducts comprises microwave transmission system.

19. the process of claim 1 wherein and comprise optical fiber transport channel with at least a portion of the service network of electronic method transfer files by it.

20. the process of claim 1 wherein that at least a portion of service network comprises satellite link, file transmits with electronic method by this network.

21. the method for claim 1, wherein the sender has computer system, this system comprises the ancillary equipment that data is write tangible medium, the first order hub of service network comprises the ancillary equipment of sense data from the described tangible medium, wherein file is further comprised from the step that the sender is sent to the first order hub of service network:

File is write on the tangible medium;

Tangible medium from sender's computer system entity be sent to and the ancillary equipment that is used for sense data that the first order hub of service network effectively is connected; And

Sense data from the tangible medium is so that can be by service network electronic method transfer files.

22. the process of claim 1 wherein that the recipient has computer system, file comprised from the step that the second level hub of service network sends the recipient to:

Between the second level hub of recipient's computer system and service network, provide electron propagation ducts; And

By described electron propagation ducts file is transferred to recipient's computer system from the second level hub of service network with electronic method.

23. the method for claim 22, wherein recipient's computer system effectively is connected with the local area network (LAN) with first procotol, electron propagation ducts is included in the dedicated Internet access between the second level hub of recipient's described local area network (LAN) and service network, service network has second procotol, described dedicated Internet access comprises network access device, the feasible electronic switch that might carry out file between described first agreement and described second agreement of the latter.

24. the method for claim 22, wherein electron propagation ducts is included in the dedicated Internet access between the second level hub of recipient's computer system and service network.

25. the method for claim 22, wherein at least a portion of electron propagation ducts comprises Internet connection.

26. the method for claim 22, wherein electron propagation ducts comprises the integrated services digital network circuit.

27. the method for claim 22, wherein electron propagation ducts comprises microwave transmission system.

28. the method for claim 1, wherein the recipient has computer system, this system comprises the ancillary equipment that is used for sense data from the tangible medium, the second level hub of service network comprises the ancillary equipment that is used for data are write described tangible medium, wherein file is further comprised from the step that the second level hub of service network sends the recipient to:

File is write tangible medium;

Tangible medium from second level hub entity be sent to the ancillary equipment that is used for sense data that effectively is connected with recipient's computer system; And

Sense data from the tangible medium is so that can handle file with electronic method by recipient's computer system.

29. the process of claim 1 wherein that service network has a transmission rate the highest, the sender has computer system, wherein the first order hub that file is sent to service network from the sender step that sends the recipient again to further comprises:

Provide electron propagation ducts between the first order hub of sender's computer system and service network, described electron propagation ducts has the maximum transmission rate more much lower than the maximum transmission rate of service network.

30. the method for claim 29, wherein electron propagation ducts comprises many parallel connections, wherein file is divided into many subfiles, and each among described many subfiles is general mutual simultaneously by a corresponding connection transmission among described many parallel connections.

31. the process of claim 1 wherein that service network has a maximum transmission rate, the recipient has computer system, wherein file is further comprised from the step that the second level hub of service network sends the recipient to:

Provide electron propagation ducts between the second level hub of recipient's computer system and service network, described electron propagation ducts has the maximum transmission rate more much lower than the maximum transmission rate of service network.

32. the method for claim 31, wherein electron propagation ducts comprises many parallel connections, wherein file is divided into many subfiles, and each among described many subfiles is general mutual simultaneously by a corresponding connection transmission among described many parallel connections.

33. the process of claim 1 wherein that unique identification mark is the sequence number relevant with file, be used for trace file.

34. the process of claim 1 wherein that the sender has computer system, unique identification mark is produced by sender's described computer system.

35. the process of claim 1 wherein that unique identification mark is produced by the ISP.

36. the process of claim 1 wherein with that file is sent to the relevant characteristic attribute of recipient's price byte length general and file from the sender is corresponding.

37. the process of claim 1 wherein with that file is sent to the relevant characteristic attribute of recipient's price transmission rate general and service network from the sender is corresponding.

38. the process of claim 1 wherein with corresponding from the geographical separation that the sender sends between the relevant characteristic attribute of recipient's price general and first order hub and the second level hub file.

39 the process of claim 1 wherein with file from the sender send to the relevant characteristic attribute of recipient's price general with the date of file from first order hub electric transmission to second level hub with constantly corresponding.

40. the process of claim 1 wherein and file is sent from the sender to the relevant characteristic attribute of recipient's price is general to be operated corresponding with the ISP to the processing that file carried out.

41. the process of claim 1 wherein that the sender has computer system, be used for determining that at least a portion of the information database of expense is present in sender's the described computer system.

42. the method for claim 1, wherein the sender has computer system, this system moves can supporting to drag and put down under the graphical user interface of function, wherein the ISP provides software program to the sender, this program by described graphical user interface work and produce the operator of sender's described computer system can observable icon, file also has the handle that can handle in described graphical user interface, so that described operator can begin file is sent to from the sender step of first order hub by following steps:

In by the icon that software program produced, drag and put down and will be transferred to recipient's the corresponding handle of file; And

Import relevant recipient's identifying information, the operator plans to give this recipient file transfer.

43. the method for claim 1, wherein file is transmitted to many additional recipients, service network comprises many additional hubs that effectively are connected with first order hub, in described many additional hubs each generally is configured in the place of comparing a recipient among more close described many additional recipients on the geography with the sender, and this method further may further comprise the steps:

Produce some duplicates of the file of the electronic applications that number equates with many additional recipient's numbers;

Be transferred to a corresponding hub among described many additional hubs to one among the described duplicate of file with electronic method; And

Each described duplicate among the described duplicate of file corresponding hub among described a plurality of hubs is sent to a recipient among many additional recipients.

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