High performance server data delivery system and method

#This invention relates to a secure, high-throughput, scalable apparatus and method of downloading software products and other data to authorized customers over the internet.

#Presently software is sold and shipped via electronic and optical storage mediums such as floppy disks and compact disks. Such methods require physical duplication and shipment of new products to customers. This adds considerable expense, particularly when data products change or are updated periodically. In order to have current information, a user might need to frequently receive new software revisions.

#Accordingly, the internet is fast becoming a preferred medium for information transfer, and new types of low cost equipment are continually being developed to connect users to the ever-growing number of websites. Access to a particular website is managed by a host server or router. External parties, or customers, typically contact the site via use of an internet browser to access a known URL (uniform resource locator). The website might be constructed so as to provide downloading access to programs or data, either on or through that host server, to customers contacting that site.

#FIG. 1 shows a prior art server configuration with the host machine running multiple processes external to a firewall.

#FIG. 2 shows a server configuration of the present invention which separates processes onto multiple machines having a secure communication link (commlink) between them, uses fast file staging, and provides dynamic ftp authentication with a firewall protected customer database.

#The present invention provides a fast and secure method and system for downloading software, or other data, from a server configuration. The configuration separates processing tasks between machines to improve efficiency, yet maintains system control via a secure commlink between machines. File staging is provided via direct customer hard links to data storage areas and customer access is dynamically authenticated from a secure database.

#FIG. 1 shows a prior art configuration 10 which implements multiple processing tasks on one host machine 12. Such tasks might include, for instance, web server processes and ftp server processes. Also shown is a storeroom disk storage area 14 and a customer account disk storage area 16. When a customer desires a software download, the host machine 12 is contacted through connection 19 by the customer's web browser 18, via modem and the like, using hypertext transfer protocols (http). If a software download is desired by the customer, then the host machine authenticates a customer account through a customer database. The host machine then allocates space in the customer storage area 16 and requests copying of the desired software from the storeroom 14 to the relevant customer account area 16. When the copying operation is completed, the ftp server contained on the host machine 12 provides file transfer to the customer's web browser 18 via file transfer protocols (ftp).

#This configuration results in a significant number of tasks being performed by one host machine 12, and over one customer/host connection 19. As a result, all of the host machine processes will be slowed down. Slower web processes result in customer access lags. Slower ftp processes result in longer file transfers. Limited bandwidth on the connection 19 results in bottle-necking of data being transferred to the customer web browser 18. Additionally, the server configuration 10 is located entirely outside of a protective firewall 20.