Abstract:
A method is disclosed of data transfer between a source computer and multiple target computers. The method includes: receiving a user data and format request from one or more target computers; transmitting a multi-media formatted transmission from the source computer over a first network to a server configured to receive the multi-media formatted transmission; extracting a data stream from the multi-media formatted transmission; transmitting the data stream in an Internet format over a second network to the target computers, the target computers each configured to receive the data stream in a finite set of protocols over the second network, the finite set of protocols including Internet protocols but excluding multi-media protocols; and extracting data from the data stream and reformatting the extracted data into a multi-media format at each target computer, wherein each target computer is able to reformat the extracted data into different multi-media formats.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/871,203, filed on Aug. 30, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/367,643, filed on Feb. 14, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,788,390, which is a continuation application of the PCT International Patent Application, serial number PCT/NZ01/00162, filed on Aug. 10, 2001, which claims priority to New Zealand Patent Application, serial number NZ 506411, filed on Aug. 17, 2000, the subject matter of which are incorporated herewith by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates to a data transfer system and method. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    It is becoming increasingly common to use a firewall where client workstations in an organization are connected to the Internet. Firewalls generally operate by shielding an organization&#39;s network from certain data transmissions which have the potential to be harmful or disruptive to the organization&#39;s activities. 
         [0004]    Most firewalls achieve this task by accepting data in one of a finite set of protocols and rejecting data in any other protocol. It would be very useful for an organization to expand the number of allowable protocols within an organization network without compromising the safety or performance of that organization&#39;s network. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Briefly, and in general terms, a method is disclosed of data transfer between a source computer and multiple target computers. The method includes: receiving a user data and format request from one or more target computers; transmitting a multi-media formatted transmission from the source computer over a first network to a server configured to receive the multi-media formatted transmission; extracting a data stream from the multi-media formatted transmission; transmitting the data stream in an Internet format over a second network to the target computers, the target computers each configured to receive the data stream in a finite set of protocols over the second network, the finite set of protocols including Internet protocols but excluding multi-media protocols; and extracting data from the data stream and reformatting the extracted data into a multi-media format at each target computer, wherein each target computer is able to reformat the extracted data into different multi-media formats. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, a data transfer system is disclosed that includes a server connected to a first network, a streaming converter, multiple target computers connected to a second network, and a client converter. The server is configured to receive a user data and format request from one or more target computers and also configured to receive a multi-media formatted transmission in a first protocol from a source computer. The streaming converter is configured to extract a data stream from the multi-media formatted transmission. The target computers are configured to receive the data stream in a finite set of protocols over the second network. The finite set of protocols includes Internet protocols, but excluding multi-media protocols. The client converter is installed on the target computers and enables extraction of data from the data stream. Each target computer is able to reformat the extracted data into different multi-media formats. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0007]    Preferred forms of the data transfer system and method will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of an Internet-based system in which the invention may be implemented; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows a flow chart of processing performed by one preferred form of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a flow chart of processing performed by a user client when used with the invention; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows the preferred system architecture on which the present invention may be implemented. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of the preferred Internet-based system  10  in which the present invention may be implemented. The system includes one or more clients  20 , for example clients  20 A,  20 B and  20 C, which may each comprise a personal computer or workstation operating under the control of suitable software which will be described below. Each client  20  is interfaced to the Internet  22 . Each client  20  could be connected directly to the Internet with a suitable dial-up connection or could be connected through a local area network or LAN. Clients  20 A and  20 B are connected to a network  24 , such as a local area network or LAN. The network  24  could be connected to a suitable network server  26  and communicate with the Internet  22  as shown. 
         [0013]    The LAN  24  could be interfaced to the Internet  22  through a suitable firewall  28 . The preferred firewall  28  provides data transfer for data in a format compatible with an Internet protocol such as hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP), file transfer protocol (FTP), simple mail text protocol (SMTP) or post office protocol (POP). Firewall  28  is generally arranged to prevent data transfer of data in protocol formats other than HTTP, FTP, SMTP or POP. 
         [0014]    Client  20 C, for example, could be connected to the Internet  22  with a dial up connection or wireless application protocol (WAP) connection. Client  20 C could be connected to a suitable WAP gateway  30  and firewall  32  arranged to transfer data in a wireless application protocol (WAP) between client  20 C and Internet  22 , and to reject or block data in any other protocol. 
         [0015]    The system  10  also includes one or more multi-media clients  40 , for example multi-media clients  40 A and  40 B. Each multi-media client  40  is connected to the Internet  22  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Each multi-media client  40  preferably comprises a personal computer or workstation operating under the control of suitable software. Each multi-media client  40  is arranged to transmit and receive data in one or more multi-media protocols other than HTTP, FTP, SMTP or POP suitable for the transfer of data, audio and data, audio and video, or a combination of audio, video and data. These multi-media protocols could include T.120, or H.323 for example. It is envisaged that the multi-media protocols could also include extensions of these protocols or could include other protocols which are based on these protocols, for example G.71 1, G.722, and G.728, which are all based on protocol H.320. 
         [0016]    The system further comprises a server  50  which is configured to transmit data to clients  20  in one of a number of Internet protocols, for example HTTP, FTP, SMTP, POP or WAP as described above. The server  50  is similarly arranged to receive data including data requests and format requests from the clients  20  in one of the Internet protocols. The server  50  is further arranged to receive data in one or more multi-media protocols from multi-media clients  40  and to transmit data, for example user requests, to the multi-media clients in a suitable multi-media format. 
         [0017]    The server  50  is preferably arranged to receive the multi-media transmissions from multi-media clients  40  and to convert the data to a suitable Internet protocol for transmission to clients  20 . In this way the server receives a multi-media transmission from a source computer in the form of a multi-media client  40  over a first network, for example the Internet  22 . The data is converted to a suitable Internet protocol ready for transmission to a target computer in the form of client  20  over a second network, for example LAN  24 . The invention is also preferably arranged to convert the user requests in an Internet protocol format from a client  20  to a multi-media format for transmission to a multi-media client  40 . 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the server  50  preferably includes a streaming converter  52  and either includes or at least functions as one or more format servers  54 , for example HTTP or web server  54 A, POP server  54 B, FTP server  54 C, WAP server  54 D and/or SMTP server  54 E. 
         [0019]    As described above, a user request is transmitted from a client  20  through firewall  28  or  32  over the Internet  22  to the server  50 . Each user request includes a format request which specifies the data format required by the user, called the user format. This user format could include HTTP, HP, SMTP, POP and WAP. The user request is directed to the appropriate server  54  to process the request and the user request is then passed to streaming converter  52 . 
         [0020]    The streaming converter  52  which in one form could comprise a software module installed and operating on the server  50 , translates the user request in an Internet protocol format to a multi-media format for transmitting to a multi-media client  40 . The user request is then processed by a multi-media client  40  and the requested data is transmitted to the server  50 . 
         [0021]    The streaming converter  52  receives the transmitted data from each multi-media client  40  in a multi-media format. The streaming converter  52  extracts the data from the multi-media transmission and transfers the data to the appropriate server  54  as specified in the user format request. The data stream is reformatted to the required user format by the appropriate web server  54  and transmitted over the Internet, through firewall  28  or  32  to user client  20 . 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a client  20  could be provided with a client converter which in one form could comprise a client software plug-in  60 , for example  60 A or  60 B. The client plug-in  60  extracts the data from the Internet transmission and reformats the extracted data stream into an appropriate multi-media format. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates the processing performed by a preferred form of the server  50 . As indicated at  100 , a user commences a user session on a client  20 . In one preferred form of the invention, the server  50  could be provided as a website having a series of links to multi-media clients  40 , for example web-enabled radio stations. A user could initiate a user session by accessing such a website. It is envisaged that the user may be provided with appropriate authentication software. 
         [0024]    The server  50  as shown at  102  receives a series of user data requests and user format requests. These requests typically specify the multi-media client from which the data is to be retrieved and the format of the data required by the user. 
         [0025]    As shown at  104 , the server  50  transmits the user request to a multi-media client and receives the resulting multi-media transmission from the multi-media client. The multi-media transmission is typically in a multi-media format and as shown at  106 , the invention extracts a data stream from this multi-media transmission. The data stream is then reformatted into a user format, as indicated at  108 , and then the reformatted data stream is transmitted to a user, as indicated at  110 , as an Internet transmission. 
         [0026]    As shown at  112 , the server  50  continues to receive user data and format requests until the user session has been terminated. The user session could be terminated, for example, by a user closing the web browsing program used to access the invention or by logging out of a user-authorized connection. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates the preferred processing performed on a client  20 . As shown at  200 , the user commences a user session, for example by accessing a website provided by the server  50 . As described above, the client  20  could be provided with appropriate user authentication. 
         [0028]    As shown at  202 , the client  20  transmits user data requests and format requests in an Internet protocol format to the server  50  through firewall  28  or  32  and Internet  22 . The server  50  transmits data in an Internet transmission format and referring to  204 , the client  20  receives the Internet transmission in a user format from the server. 
         [0029]    As shown at  206 , the client  20  extracts the data stream from the Internet transmission and as shown at  208 , reformats the data stream into a multi-media format. It will be appreciated that steps  206  and  208  could be performed by a client software plug-in  60 . 
         [0030]    As shown at  210 , the client  20  continues to transmit user data and format requests to the server until the user session is terminated, for example by closing the current web browsing program or by logging out of a user-authorized connection. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  shows the preferred system architecture of a client  20 , server  54 , the streaming converter  52  and/or multi-media client  40 . The computer system  300  typically comprises a central processor  302 , a main memory  304 , an input/output controller  306 , a keyboard  308 , a pointing device  310 , for example a mouse, a display or screen device  312 , a mass storage  314 , for example a hard disk, floppy disk or optical disc, and an output device  316 , for example a printer. The computer system  300  could also include a network interface card or controller  318  and/or a modem  320 . The individual components of system  300  could communicate through a system bus  322 . 
         [0032]    The invention enables an organization to expand the number of protocols acceptable to an organization, for example by permitting users to enjoy the benefits of multi-media protocols, without comprising the safety or performance of the organization&#39;s network. The invention enables an organization to use a conventional firewall product thereby saving the organization the cost of developing a specific firewall, or modifying an existing firewall. 
         [0033]    The foregoing describes the invention including preferred forms thereof. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope hereof, as defined by the accompanying claims.