System and devices facilitating dynamic network link acceleration
A peer to peer dynamic network acceleration method and apparatus provide enhanced communications directly between two or more enhanced devices, such as enhanced clients. The enhanced clients may comprise a front-end, a back-end, or both. In general, the front-end and back-end of the enhanced clients work in concert to translate data into an enhanced protocol for communication between the enhanced clients. The enhanced protocol may provide acceleration, security, error correction, and other benefits. Data from various applications may be seamlessly translated between a first protocol and the enhanced protocol, such that the applications need not be modified to use the enhanced protocol. The enhanced clients may automatically detect one another to establish an enhanced communications channel automatically.
1. A method for dynamically accelerating network links between a client computing device and a back-end server comprising the steps of:
receiving a request from said client computing device to connect to a local area network, said request comprising packets of a first type transmitted in accordance with a first communication protocol;
transmitting from said back-end server to said client computing device, via a first network comprising said local area network, machine readable code which is executable by a processor of said client computing device to implement a front-end mechanism at said client computing device, said front-end mechanism configured to encode data packets of said first type generated by said client computing device into encoded packets of a second type, said machine-readable code including routing rules defining which of said data packets of said first type are to be encoded into packets of said second type for transmission over an enhanced communication link between said client computing device and said back-end server;
establishing an enhanced communication link over said first network between said client computing device and said back-end server;
receiving one or more encoded packets of said second type comprising data traffic from the client computing device which was intercepted by said front-end mechanism and transmitted through the enhanced communication link based upon said routing rules;
decoding the one or more encoded packets comprising data traffic from the client computing device at the back-end server to restore the data traffic from the client computing device for use by the back-end server; and
receiving quality of service information about the enhanced communication link from the client computing device at the back-end server.
2. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising generating a prompt at said client computing device before transmitting said machine readable code to said client device, wherein if a user of said client computing device provides a required input in response to said prompt, then transmitting said machine readable code to said client computing device.
3. The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said prompt comprises a request displayed to said user via a display device of said client computing device.
4. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising terminating communications with said back-end server if said user does not provide said required input.
5. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said machine-readable code comprises one or more executable files.
6. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said front-end mechanism is configured to intercept and encode packets of said first type intended for transmission to said back-end server but not intercept packets of said first type intended for transmission to other destinations.
7. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said machine readable code which is executable by a processor of said client computing device is further configured to decode packets of said second type into data packets of said first type.
8. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said routing rules are associated with individual files.
9. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said data packets of said first type are TCP/IP packets and said packets of said second type are not TCP/IP packets.
10. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said enhanced communication link is temporary.
11. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said back-end server transmits data packets of said second type over said enhanced communication link to said client computing device at a rate dependent upon said quality of service information.
12. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said enhanced communication link is established through a dongle connected to said client computing device.