US 5,708,832 AGranted

Network redirection for the enhancement of server capacities

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsHadyn A. Inniss, Robert P. Welch

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Abstract

A network architecture and methodology provides two stages or levels of network redirection to allow effective importation of storage into either or both of a client/requester and a server. Each level of redirection is achieved through the establishment of a bi-directional communication link, preferably by the creation of an access list or export file at each host containing a portion of a distributed resource. By using two levels of network redirection, a terminal communicates only with a single, predetermined server, thus permitting the use of user-friendly Lan server systems. The predetermined server communicates with the remainder of the network as a client through the network communication protocols, thus removing constraints on operating systems which may be running at hosts. Full access to the distributed resource is thereby made transparent to the user and operational limitations engendered by limitations of hard disk capacity at terminals and servers are overcome.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method of accessing portions of a distributed resource existing on one or more of a plurality of data processing means, said plurality of data processing means being linked by a network, comprising the steps of

establishing existing user access authorizations at each of said data processing means containing a portion of said distributed resource, said existing access authorizations established at each said data processing means identifying authorized users of portions of the distributed resource owned by the data processing means at which the existing user access authorization is established,
forming a first link of said network between a first data processing means of said plurality of data processing means in which a first portion of said distributed resource exists and a second data processing means of said plurality of data processing means in accordance with an existing access authorization for a predetermined user,
exporting a second portion of said distributed resource, including all or part of said first portion of said distributed resource, from said first data processing means to said second data processing means in accordance with said existing access authorizations in response to forming said first link and storing said second portion of said distributed resource as a file at said second data processing means, and
forming a second link of said network between a terminal associated with said predetermined user and said second data processing means of said plurality of data processing means whereby said distributed resource is accessible by said predetermined user.

1 more element

A network including a plurality of data processing means and a distributed resource, portions of said distributed resource existing at ones of said plurality of data processing means, said network including

a first link between a terminal of said network and a predetermined one of said plurality of data processing means,
a second link between said predetermined one of said plurality of data processing means and another data processing means of said plurality of data processing means, said second link being independent of said first link and said second link corresponding to an existing access authorization of a user to a first portion of said distributed resource which exists at said another data processing means of said plurality of data processing means, said another data processing means of said plurality of data processing means containing a first portion of said distributed resource accessible by a predetermined user associated with said terminal in accordance with said existing access authorization,
each of said data processing means containing a portion of said distributed resource also including means for storing an export file comprising a list of existing user access authorizations,
means responsive to said export file for exporting from said another data processing means a second portion of said distributed resource to said predetermined one of said plurality of data processing means, said second portion of said distributed resource including all or part of said first portion of said distributed resource corresponding to said access authorization at said predetermined one of said plurality of data processing means, and
means for storing said second portion of said distributed resource at said predetermined on of said plurality of data processing means for access by said terminal of said network over said first link.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/232,306Filed 25 Apr 1994 · continuation
Priority: 24 Sep 1991
Granted: 13 Jan 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

G06F 16/10
Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor: file systems; File servers
H04L 9/40
Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols: network security protocols
G06F
Computing and data processing
H04L
Digital communication

Family

Serial765,903Parent of this continuation · filed 24 Sep 1991
US 5,708,832 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

Citations

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