METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DOWNLOADING A FILE
Example embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods for downloading a file allow downloads to occur from any URL path in the domain. When a web guest (or user) accesses a website, the application layer reads the URL entered by the web guest. Based on the URL, the application layer checks for a URL string. If a URL string is found, the application layer determines if the URL string contains a file designation. If a file designation is found within the URL string, the application layer processes the request, which may include one or more of the following functions: verifies file, verifies type, determines access rights, determines storage location, determines requirements, allows download, restricts download, displays error message, and logs transaction.
1 . A web server for downloading a file comprising:
a processing device;
memory storing a file download module which has instructions that are executed by the processing device, the instructions including the following logics:
open an internet browser that receives a URL;
determine whether a query string is present in the URL;
responsive to determining that the query string is present in the URL, determine whether a file name is present in the URL;
responsive to determining that the file name is present in the URL, query a data source for a file having a file name that matches the file name present in the URL; and
responsive to determining that the file at the data source matches the file name present in the URL, initiate protocol for downloading the file at the data source.
2 . The web server of claim 1 , wherein the file download module is implemented at an application layer of a website.
3 . The web server of claim 2 , wherein the determining whether a query string is present in the URL comprises initiating an HTTP GET request at the application layer of the website.
4 . The web server of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include the following logics:
determine whether the file at the data source that matches the file name present in the URL is designated as a public file; and
responsive to determining that the file at the data source that matches the file name present in the URL is designated as a public file, initiate protocol for downloading the file at the data source.
5 . The web server of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include the following logics:
determine whether the file at the data source that matches the file name present in the URL is designated as a non-public file; and
responsive to determining that the file at the data source that matches the file name present in the URL is designated as a non-public file, determine whether the file at the data source is designated as at least one of the following: special, internal, non-disclosure agreement, registered, and delete.
6 . The web server of claim 5 , wherein the instructions further include the following logic:
responsive to determining that the file at the data source is designated as special, internal, non-disclosure agreement, registered, and/or delete, initiate protocol for determining whether a user has access to the file based on the designation of the file.
7 . A non-transient computer readable medium comprising software with instructions for:
receiving a query;
determining whether a file name is present in the query;
responsive to determining that the file name is present in the query, querying a data source for a file having a file name that matches the file name present in the query; and
responsive to determining that the file at the data source matches the file name present in the query, initiate protocol for downloading the file at the data source.
8 . The computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the query is received through a URL entry.
9 . The computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the instructions are implemented at an application layer of a website.
10 . The computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the determining whether a query string is present in the URL comprises initiating an HTTP GET request at the application layer of the website.
11 . The computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the instructions further include:
determining whether the file at the data source that matches the file name present in the query is designated as a public file; and
responsive to determining that the file at the data source that matches the file name present in the query is designated as a public file, initiating protocol for downloading the file at the data source.
12 . The computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the instructions further include:
determining whether the file at the data source that matches the file name present in the query is designated as a non-public file; and
responsive to determining that the file at the data source that matches the file name present in the query is designated as a non-public file, determine whether the file at the data source is designated as at least one of the following: special, internal, non-disclosure agreement, registered, and delete.
13 . The computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the instructions further include:
responsive to determining that the file at the data source is designated as special, internal, non-disclosure agreement, registered, and/or delete, initiating protocol for determining whether a user has access to the file based on the designation of the file.
14 . A method comprising:
receiving a query;
determining whether a file name is present in the query;
responsive to determining that the file name is present in the query, querying a data source for a file having a file name that matches the file name present in the query; and
responsive to determining that the file at the data source matches the file name present in the query, initiate protocol for downloading the file at the data source.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the query is received through a URL entry.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the instructions are implemented at an application layer of a website.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the determining whether a query string is present in the URL comprises initiating an HTTP GET request at the application layer of the website.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further include:
determining whether the file at the data source that matches the file name present in the query is designated as a public file; and
responsive to determining that the file at the data source that matches the file name present in the query is designated as a public file, initiating protocol for downloading the file at the data source.
19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further include:
determining whether the file at the data source that matches the file name present in the query is designated as a non-public file; and
responsive to determining that the file at the data source that matches the file name present in the query is designated as a non-public file, determine whether the file at the data source is designated as at least one of the following: special, internal, non-disclosure agreement, registered, and delete.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the instructions further include:
responsive to determining that the file at the data source is designated as special, internal, non-disclosure agreement, registered, and/or delete, initiating protocol for determining whether a user has access to the file based on the designation of the file.