TRANSFERRING FILES
Systems and techniques for transferring one or more files by connecting to a communications system host; sending, to a client connected to the communications system host, a request to transfer one or more files; when a client permits access to the one or more files, establishing a direct socket connection from the client and bypassing the communications system host; and initiating the transfer of the one or more files from the client over the direct socket connection.
1 . A method of transferring one or more files comprising:
connecting to a communications system host;
sending, to a client connected to the communications system host, a request to transfer one or more files;
when the client permits access to the one or more files, establishing a direct socket connection from the client and bypassing the communications system host; and
initiating the transfer of the one or more files from the client over the direct socket connection.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transferring the one or more files from the client transparently to a subscriber using the client.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from the client, a list of files available for transfer; and
selecting one or more files from the list of available files.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from the client, information pertaining to one or more files; and
instructing the client to completely or partially transfer one or more files based on the information.
5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
wherein the client permits access according to set transfer preferences.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the set transfer preferences designate a directory from which one or more files may be transferred.
7 . The method of claim 5 wherein the set transfer preferences designate which subscribers to the communications system host are permitted to transfer files.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the communications system host is an instant messaging host.
9 . A method of transferring one or more files comprising:
connecting to a communications system host;
receiving from a client connected to the communications system host, a request to transfer one or more files;
when the client is permitted to access one or more files, establishing a direct socket connection to the client and bypassing the communications system host; and
initiating the transfer of the one or more files from the client over the direct socket connection.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising transferring the one or more files to the client without subscriber intervention.
11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
sending to the client, a list of files available for transfer; and
receiving, from the client, a selection of one or more files from the list of available files.
12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
sending to the client, information pertaining to one or more files; and
receiving instructions, from the client, to completely or partially transfer one or more files based on the information.
13 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:
wherein the client is permitted to access the one or more files according to set transfer preferences.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the set transfer preferences designate a directory from which one or more files may be transferred.
15 . The method of claim 13 wherein the set transfer preferences designate which subscribers to the communications system host are permitted to transfer files.
16 . The method of claim 13 wherein the communications system host is an instant messaging host.
17 . An apparatus for transferring one or more files, the apparatus comprising a client configured to:
connect to a communications system host;
send, to a client connected to the communications system host, a request to transfer one or more files;
when the client permits access to the one or more files, establish a direct socket connection from the client and bypassing the communications system host; and
initiate the transfer of the one or more files from the client over the direct socket connection.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the communications system host is an instant messaging system.
19 . An apparatus for transferring one or more files, the apparatus comprising a client configured to:
connect to a communications system host;
receive from a client connected to the communications system host, a request to transfer one or more files;
when the client is permitted access one or more files, establishing a direct socket connection from the client and bypassing the communications system host; and
initiating the transfer of the one or more files from the client over the direct socket connection.
20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the communications system host is an instant messaging system.