DIRECT FILE TRANSFER BETWEEN SUBSCRIBERS OF A COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
Systems and techniques for transferring a file from a first client associated with a first subscriber to a communications system to a second client associated with a second subscriber to the communications system by connecting from the first client to a communications system host; sending, through the communications system host, a request to the second client to establish a direct connection to the second client; when the second client accepts the request, establishing a direct connection to the second client that bypasses the communications system host; and transferring a file over the direct connection.
1 . A method of transferring a file from a first client associated with a first subscriber to a communications system to a second client associated with a second subscriber to the communications system, the method comprising:
connecting from the first client to a communications system host;
sending, through the communications system host, a request to the second client to establish a direct connection to the second client;
when the second client accepts the request, establishing a direct connection to the second client that bypasses the communications system host; and
transferring a file over the direct connection.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is authenticated by the communications system host.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second client accepts the request based on indicated preferences of the second subscriber.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the direct connection is initiated by the second client.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the direct connection to the second client is established using an IP address of the second client.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a graphical user interface indicating that a direct connection to the second client is established.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the communications systems host comprises an instant messaging host.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the file comprises a data file.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the file comprises a text file.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the file comprises a graphics file.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the file comprises an audio file.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the file comprises a video file.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the direct connection is a socket connection.
14 . A method of transferring a file from a first client associated with a first subscriber to a communications system to a second client associated with a second subscriber to the communications system, the method comprising:
connecting from the second client to a communications system host;
receiving, through the communications system host, a request from the first client to establish a direct connection;
accepting the request from the first client;
establishing a direct connection to the first client that bypasses the communications system host; and
receiving a file over the direct connection.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the request is authenticated by the communications system host.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein accepting the request is based on indicated preferences of the second subscriber.
17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising initiating the direct connection.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the direct connection is established by the first client using an IP address of the second client.
19 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising displaying a graphical user interface indicating that a direct connection to the first client is established.
20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the communications system host comprises an instant messaging host.
21 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the file comprises a data file.
22 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the file comprises a text file.
23 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the file comprises a graphics file.
24 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the file comprises an audio file.
25 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the file comprises a video file.
26 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising receiving an indication that the first subscriber using the first client is composing a message.
27 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising receiving the message composed by the first subscriber from the first client.
28 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the direct connection is a socket connection.
29 . An apparatus for transferring one or more files from a first client associated with a first subscriber to a communications system to a second client associated with a second subscriber to the communications system, the apparatus comprising a first client configured to:
connect from the first client to a communications system host;
send through the communications system host a request to the second client to establish a direct connection to the second client;
when the second client accepts the request, establish a direct connection to the second client that bypasses the communications system host; and
transfer a file over the direct connection.
30 . An apparatus for transferring one or more files from a first client associated with a first subscriber to a communications system to a second client associated with a second subscriber to the communications system, the apparatus comprising a second client configured to:
connect from the second client to a communications system host;
receive, through the communications system host, a request to the first client to establish a direct connection to the second client;
accept the request from the first client;
establish a direct connection to the first client that bypasses the communications system host; and
receive a file over the direct connection.
31 . A computer program, stored on a computer readable medium for transferring a file from a first client associated with a first subscriber to a communications systems to a second client associated with a second subscriber to the communications systems, comprising instructions for:
connecting from the first client to a communications system host;
sending, through the communications system host, a request to the second client to establish a direct connection to the second client;
when the second client accepts the request, establishing a direct connection to the second client that bypasses the communications system host; and
transferring a file over the direct connection.
32 . The method of claim 31 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a disc.
33 . The method of claim 31 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a client device.
34 . The method of claim 31 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a host device.
35 . The method of claim 31 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a propagated signal.
36 . A computer program, stored on a computer readable medium for transferring a file from a first client associated with a first subscriber to a communications system to a second client associated with a second subscriber to the communications system, comprising instructions for:
connecting from the second client to a communications system host;
receiving, through the communications system host, a request from the first client to establish a direct connection;
accepting the request from the first client;
establishing a direct connection to the first client that bypasses the communications system host; and
receiving a file over the direct connection.
37 . The method of claim 37 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a disc.
38 . The method of claim 37 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a client device.
39 . The method of claim 37 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a host device.
40 . The method of claim 37 wherein the computer readable medium is a propagated signal.
41 . A method of communicating between a first client associated with a first subscriber to a communications system and second client associated with a second subscriber to the communications system, the method comprising:
connecting from the second client to a communications system host;
establishing a direct connection to the client that bypasses the communications system host;
receiving an indication that the first subscriber using the first client is composing a message; and
receiving the message composed by the first subscriber form the first client.
42 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the indication comprises a text message.
43 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the indication comprises an icon.
44 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the communication system host comprises an instant messaging host.