Methods and systems for providing file data and metadata
View Patent ↗The Shared Internet Storage Resource provides Internet-based file storage, retrieval, access, control, and manipulation for a user. Additionally, an easy-to-use user interface is provided both for a browser or stand-alone application. The entire method provides means by which users can establish, use, and maintain files on the Internet in a manner remote from their local computers yet in a manner that is similar to the file manipulation used on their local computers. A high capacity or other storage system is attached to the Internet via an optional internal network that also serves to generate and direct metadata regarding the stored files. A web server using a CGI, Java®-based, or other interface transmits and retrieves TCP/IP packets or other Internet information through a load balancer/firewall by using XML to wrap the data packets. File instructions may be transmitted over the Internet to the Shared Resource System. The user's account may be password protected so that only the user may access his or her files. On the user's side, a stand-alone client application or JavaScript object interpreted through a browser provide two means by which the XML or other markup language data stream may be received and put to use by the user. Internet-to-Internet file transfers may be effected by directly downloading to the user's account space.
1. A method for data storage and retrieval, the method comprising:
receiving a request from a client device;
sending the request to an enterprise java bean cluster;
comparing, by the enterprise java bean cluster, the request to a set of business rules;
forwarding the request to a transaction processor if the request complies with the set of business rules;
retrieving metadata from one or more metadata storage devices if the request is for metadata;
retrieving file data from one or more file storage devices, separated from the metadata storage devices, if the request is for file data, wherein the metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices corresponds to files stored in the one or more file storage devices;
converting the file data to a network data stream;
translating the metadata into XML format; and
sending the network data stream and the XML formatted metadata to the client device.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
authenticating the request by determining whether the request matches credentials associated with a user of the client device.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
parsing a request header associated with the request;
parsing multipart form data associated with the request; and
determining, based on at least one of the parsed request header or multipart form data, a request type for the request.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a request for file data is fulfilled based on corresponding metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices is updated with information stored in the one or more file storage devices when a file command has been executed on a file stored in the one or more file storage devices.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enterprise java bean cluster is implemented on a non-routable network.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the client device comprises one or more web-based applications.
8. A system for data storage and retrieval, the system comprising:
a storage device that stores a set of instructions; and
at least one processor that executes the set of instructions, the set of instructions causing the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
receive a request from a client device;
compare the request to a set of business rules;
forward the request to a transaction processor, if the request complies with the set of business rules;
retrieve metadata from one or more metadata storage devices if the request is for metadata;
retrieve file data from one or more file storage devices if the request is for file data, wherein the metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices corresponds to files stored in the one or more file storage devices;
convert the file data to a network data stream;
translate the metadata into XML format; and
send the network data stream and the XML formatted metadata to the client device.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the set of instructions further cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
authenticate the request by determining whether the request matches credentials associated with a user of the client device.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the set of instructions further cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
parse a request header associated with the request;
parse multipart form data associated with the request; and
determine, based on at least one of the parsed request header or parsed multipart form data, a request type for the request.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein a request for file data from the one or more file storage devices is fulfilled based on corresponding metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices.
12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices is updated with information stored in the one or more file storage devices when a file command has been executed on a file stored in the one or more file storage devices.
13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the request is compared to the set of business rules by an enterprise java bean cluster that is implemented on a non-routable network.
14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the client device comprises one or more web-based applications.
15. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage device for data storage and retrieval, the storage device including a set of instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to:
receive a request from a client device;
compare the request to a set of business rules;
forward the request to a transaction processor if the request complies with the set of business rules;
retrieve metadata from one or more metadata storage devices if the request is for metadata;
retrieve file data from one or more file storage devices if the request is for file data, wherein the metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices corresponds to files stored in the one or more file storage devices;
convert the file data to a network data stream;
translate the metadata into XML format; and
send the network data stream and the XML formatted metadata to the client device.
16. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15 , wherein the set of instructions further cause the at least one processor to:
authenticate the request by determining whether the request matches credentials associated with a user of the client device.
17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15 , wherein the set of instructions further cause the at least one processor to:
parse a request header associated with the request;
parse multipart form data associated with the request; and
determine, based on at least one of the parsed request header or parsed multipart form data, a request type for the request.
18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15 , wherein a request for file data is fulfilled based on corresponding metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices.
19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15 , wherein the metadata stored in the one or more metadata storage devices is updated with information stored in the one or more file storage devices when a file command has been executed on a file stored in the one or more file storage devices.
20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15 , wherein the request is compared to the set of business rules by an enterprise java bean cluster that is implemented on a non-routable network.
21. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15 , wherein the client device comprises one or more web-based applications.