Method and apparatus for uploading mass-distributed content to a server

A method for receiving content at a server from a client comprising:

• receiving a composite codeword and a content identifier for the content at the server, wherein the composite codeword is a function of a set of codewords, and wherein each codeword in the set of codewords is a function of a data-block of the content;
• determining if the content already exists on the server by checking if the content identifier exists in a database of content identifiers;
• if the content exists on the server, determining if the composite codeword matches a stored composite codeword for the content;
• if the composite codeword matches the stored composite codeword, notifying the client that the content is present on the server;
• whereby only one copy of the content is maintained on the server regardless of the number of upload instances of the content;
• and
• if the content is not present on the server,
• notifying the client that the content is not present on the server,
• receiving the content from the client,
• dividing the content into data-blocks of a predetermined size,
• computing a codeword for each data-block,
• computing the composite codeword for the set of codewords by computing a function of the set of codewords,
• computing the content identifier for the content to differentiate the content from other content, and
• storing the codewords, the composite codeword, and the content identifier in the database.

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for uploading content to a server from a client, the method comprising:

• dividing the content into data-blocks of a predetermined size;
• computing a codeword for each data-block to form a set of codewords;
• computing a composite codeword for the set of codewords by computing a function of the set of codewords, wherein the set of codewords and the composite codeword can be computed using a hash function;
• computing a content identifier for the content to differentiate the content from other content;
• sending the composite codeword and the content identifier to the server;
• determining at the server whether the content is available on the server by comparing the composite codeword with composite codewords of previously stored content;
• receiving a response from the server indicating whether or not the content is present on the server;
• and
• if the content is not present on the server, sending the content to the server.

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for receiving content at a server from a client, the method comprising:

• receiving a composite codeword and a content identifier for the content at the server, wherein the composite codeword is a function of a set of codewords, and wherein each codeword in the set of codewords is a function of a data-block of the content;
• determining if the content already exists on the server by checking if the content identifier exists in a database of content identifiers;
• if the content exists on the server, determining if the composite codeword matches a stored composite codeword for the content;
• if the composite codeword matches the stored composite codeword, notifying the client that the content is present on the server;
• whereby only one copy of the content is maintained on the server regardless of the number of upload instances of the content;
• and
• if the content is not present on the server,
• notifying the client that the content is not present on the server,
• receiving the content from the client,
• dividing the content into data-blocks of a predetermined size,
• computing a codeword for each data-block,
• computing the composite codeword for the set of codewords by computing a function of the set of codewords,
• computing the content identifier for the content to differentiate the content from other content, and
• storing the codewords, the composite codeword, and the content identifier in the database.

An apparatus for uploading content to a server from a client comprising:

• a dividing mechanism configured to divide the content into data-blocks of a predetermined size;
• a codeword mechanism configured to compute a codeword for each data-block to form a set of codewords;
• a composite codeword mechanism configured to compute a composite codeword for the set of codewords by computing a function of the set of codewords, wherein the set of codewords and the composite codeword can be computed using a hash function;
• a content identifier mechanism configured to compute a content identifier for the content to differentiate the content from other content;
• a sending mechanism configured to send the composite codeword and the content identifier to the server;
• a determining mechanism at the server configured to determine whether the content is available on the server by comparing the composite codeword with composite codewords of previously stored content;
• a receiving mechanism configured to receive a response from the server indicating whether or not the content is present on the server;
• and
• an uploading mechanism configured to send the content to the server if the content is not present on the server.

An apparatus for receiving content at a server from a client comprising:

• a receiving mechanism configured to receive a composite codeword and a content identifier for the content at the server, wherein the composite codeword is a function of a set of codewords, and wherein each codeword in the set of codewords is a function of a data-block of the content;
• a determination mechanism configured to determine if the content already exists on the server by checking if the content identifier exists in a database of content identifiers;
• a secondary determination mechanism configured to determine if the composite codeword matches a stored composite codeword for the content if the content exists on the server;
• a notification mechanism configured to notify the client that the content is present on the server if the composite codeword matches the stored composite codeword;
• whereby only one copy of the content is maintained on the server regardless of the number of upload instances of the content;
• a secondary notification mechanism configured to notify the client that the content is not present on the server;
• a secondary receiving mechanism configured to receive the content from the client;
• a secondary dividing mechanism configured to divide the content into data-blocks of a predetermined size;
• a codeword mechanism configured to compute a codeword for each data-block;
• a composite codeword mechanism configured to compute the composite codeword for the set of codewords by computing a function of the set of codewords;
• a content identifier mechanism configured to compute the content identifier for the content to differentiate the content from other content;
• and
• a storage mechanism configured to store the codewords, the composite codeword, and the content identifier in the database.