EP1190346A2 - Systeme de livraison de colis electroniques - Google Patents

Systeme de livraison de colis electroniques

Info

Publication number
EP1190346A2
EP1190346A2 EP00911938A EP00911938A EP1190346A2 EP 1190346 A2 EP1190346 A2 EP 1190346A2 EP 00911938 A EP00911938 A EP 00911938A EP 00911938 A EP00911938 A EP 00911938A EP 1190346 A2 EP1190346 A2 EP 1190346A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
digital information
server system
server
receiving
sending
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00911938A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Hiroshi Kobata
Robert Gagne
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Atabok Inc
Original Assignee
Atabok Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Atabok Inc filed Critical Atabok Inc
Publication of EP1190346A2 publication Critical patent/EP1190346A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F21/10—Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material ; Digital rights management [DRM]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Definitions

  • the invention relates generally to the transfer of digital information from a sending system to a receiving system over a network. More specifically, the invention relates to an electronic document delivery system.
  • Web World Wide Web
  • Web sites a graphics and sound-oriented technology used by computer systems to access a vast variety of digital information, e. g., files, documents, images, and sounds, stored on other computer systems, called "Web sites" (or "Web servers”).
  • Web sites consists of electronic pages or documents called "Web pages.”
  • Computer system users can view digital information at Web sites through a graphical user interface produced by executing client software called a "browser.” Examples of commercially available Web browsers include Netscape NavigatorTM and Microsoft Internet ExplorerTM.
  • Web browsers use a variety of standardized methods (i. e., protocols) for addressing and communicating with Web servers.
  • a common protocol for publishing and viewing linked text documents is HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
  • HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol
  • a computer system user To access a Web page at a Web server, a computer system user enters the address of the Web page, called an Uniform Resource Locator (URL), in an address box provided by the Web browser.
  • the UIU can specify the location of a Web server or a file on a Web server.
  • An accessed Web page can include any combination of text, graphics, audio, and video information (e. g., images, motion pictures, animation, etc.). Often, the accessed Web page has links, called hyperlinks, to documents at other Web pages on the Web. Also, an accessed Web page can invoke execution of an application program.
  • the development of the Web has enabled computer users to exchange messages and documents both locally and across the world.
  • One popular form of network, communication among Web users is electronic mail (e-mail).
  • e-mail communication between users are short messages.
  • an e-mail message may have an attachment, which is a file that is transmitted with the message.
  • This file can be one of many formats, e. g., text, graphics, executable software, etc.
  • E-mail systems typically limit the size of e-mail messages. Attachments beyond this size limit need to be broken into smaller files and reconstructed by the recipient, an inconvenience and task beyond the ken of many e-mail users. Consequently, e-mail may not be a practical medium for transmitting formatted documents because of the typically large size of such documents.
  • Other protocols such as HTTP and FTP (file- transfer protocol), are able to transfer large files, but interruptions on the network can require repeated transfer attempts to successfully transfer a complete file.
  • This delivery system includes a server interposed between sending and receiving computers.
  • the sending system transmits the document to the server, and the server transmits a notification to the receiving system after receiving the full document.
  • This notification includes a direct reference to the forwarded and stored document on the server.
  • the receiving system uses the direct reference to locate and download the document from the server.
  • notification occurs after completely transferring the document.
  • the server must receive the entire document before sending a notification to the intended recipient.
  • network failure at one of multiple points in the delivery system can prevent the notification from reaching the receiving system.
  • the server may never receive the entire document and, therefore, never issue a notification to the receiving system.
  • the connection between the server and the receiving system may fail, and the receiving system may not receive the notification issued by the server.
  • the receiving system remains unaware that the sending system is attempting to send a document.
  • the server may have successfully received the document, but the receiving system, without a notification, neither knows to retrieve the document nor where to find it.
  • the invention features an electronic parcel delivery system for delivering digital information between computer systems over a network.
  • the system includes a server system connected to the network.
  • the server system stores digital information received over the network.
  • the digital information can represent a parcel, a document, an image, executable software, an audio file, etc.
  • a sending system connected to the network transmits a notification to the receiving system.
  • the notification signifies that the sending system is transmitting the digital information to the server system over the network and that the digital information may be accessible by the receiving system.
  • the receiving system can receive the notification from the sending system or through a second server system connected to the network.
  • the server system can receive the digital information from the sending system or through a second server system connected to the network.
  • the-server system can include a page that provides a path by which the receiving system can access the stored digital information.
  • the notification can include a resource locator.
  • the resource locator of the notification addresses the page on the server system.
  • the page can request valid authentication of the receiving system before granting access to the digital information.
  • the invention in another aspect, relates to a method for delivering a document from a sending system to a receiving system over a network.
  • Digital information is transmitted from the sending system to a server system.
  • the transmitted digital information is stored at a storage device.
  • a notification is transmitted from the sending system to the receiving system.
  • the notification signifies to the receiving system that the sending system is transmitting the digital information to the server system.
  • a page can be maintained on the server system for accessing parcels managed by the server system. The page can be accessed when accessing the server system to obtain the digital information.
  • the sending system concurrently transmits the notification and digital information.
  • a user of the receiving system can be authenticated at the server system before granting access to the digital information by the user.
  • Delivery of the digital information can be canceled by the sending system after the sending system transmits the digital information to the server system. The delivery of the digital information can be canceled until the receiving system uses the digital information.
  • Fig. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of a electronic parcel delivery system according to the principles of the invention, the delivery system including a sending system in communication with a receiving system via a server system;
  • Fig. 2 is a diagram of an embodiment of the delivery system wherein the sending system transmits a parcel to the server system and a notification to the receiving system in accordance with the principles of the invention
  • Fig. 3 is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of graphical windows presented to the receiving system when accessing the parcel stored on the server system;
  • Fig. 4 is a diagram of an embodiment of the delivery system wherein the sending system communicates with a Web server, using a Web browser, to send the notification to the receiving system
  • Fig. 5 is a diagram of an embodiment of the delivery system wherein the sending system communicates with a Web server, using a web browser, to send the notification to the receiving system and the parcel to the server system;
  • Fig. 6 is a diagram of an embodiment of the delivery system wherein the sending system communicates with a Web server using client software to send the notification to the receiving system, and the receiving system communicates with the server system using client software to obtain the parcel;
  • Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an electronic parcel delivery system 10 for electronically delivering any size and type of file (e. g., binary digital information, text, documents, parcels, multimedia content, video, audio, digital images, software, source code, folders, etc.) over a network 30 according to the principles of the invention.
  • the parcel delivery system 10 includes a sending computer system 14, a receiving computer system 18, and server systems 22 and 26 connected to the network 30. It is to be understood that more than one sending system and receiving system may be connected to the network 30.
  • the network 30 can be, for example, a local-area network (LAN), an Intranet, or a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet or the World Wide Web.
  • LAN local-area network
  • WAN wide area network
  • Each of the sending, receiving, and server systems can be connected to the network 30 through a variety of connections including standard telephone lines, LAN or WAN links (e. g., Tl, T3, 56kb, X. 25), broadband connections (ISDN, Frame Relay, ATM), and wireless connections.
  • the connections can be established using a variety of communication protocols (e. g., HTTP, TCP/IP, IPX, SPX, NetBIOS, Ethernet, RS232, and direct asynchronous connections).
  • the sending and receiving systems 14, 18 can be any personal computer (e. g.,
  • Windows-oriented platforms supported by the sending and receiving systems 14, 18 can include Windows 3. x, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0, Windows CE, Windows CE for Windows Based Terminals, Macintosh, Java, and Unix.
  • the sending and receiving systems 14, 18 can include a display screen 34,34', a keyboard 38,38', memory 42,42', a processor 46,46', and a mouse 50,50', respectively.
  • Each server system 22,26 can be any computing system able to operate as a Web server, communicate according to the HTTP protocol, maintain Web pages, process URLs, and control access to other portions of the network 30 (e. g., workstations, storage systems, printers) or to other networks.
  • the server system 22 can also operate as an e-mail server for exchanging e-mail messages between the sending and receiving systems 14, 18.
  • the server system 26 includes a storage device 54 for storing digital information received from sending systems and destined for subsequent transmission to receiving systems.
  • the storage device 54 can be persistent storage, such as a hard-drive device, or volatile storage, such as dynamic RAM.
  • the server system 26 can include a group of server computer systems logically acting as a single server system and organized in a scaleable architecture (see Fig. 8).
  • the server system 26 and the Web server 22 provide the above-described electronic parcel delivery service between sending and receiving systems according to the principles of the invention.
  • Application software installed on the sending system 14 (hereafter client software) and on the server system 26 perform the parcel delivery service functions.
  • the client software can be installed on receiving system 18, although this is not necessary for the receiving system to receive parcels.
  • the parcel delivery service of the invention provides senders and receivers a variety of services.
  • the services, described below, include data streaming, transmission interruptibility, data encryption and compression, parcel tracking, and parcel canceling.
  • the client-side software When launched, the client-side software communicates with the server-side software.
  • the client-side software provides the functionality for sending and receiving parcels. Consequently, the roles of the sending and receiving systems 14, 18 can reverse; senders may become receivers and receivers, senders.
  • the server system 26 operates as a warehouse for received, but undelivered parcels.
  • the sending and receiving systems 14, 18 can employ at least two techniques or accessing the parcel delivery service: (l)by executing the client software; and (2) by executing a web browser, e. g., Netscape NavigatorTM or Microsoft Internet ExplorerTM.
  • Executing the client software brings the senders and receivers into communication with the server-side software executing on the server system 26; executing the browser brings the senders and receivers to a common-entry web page (e. g., a home page)on the server system 26.
  • a common-entry web page e. g., a home page
  • the senders and receivers are presented a variety of graphical windows through which the senders and receivers perform the desired parcel sending and receiving operations. These windows are described below in connection with Fig. 3.
  • senders and receivers can operate in a non-graphical environment, entering command-line operations according to protocols such as the file transfer protocol to send parcels to and obtain file directories from the server system 26.
  • protocols such as the file transfer protocol to send parcels to and obtain file directories from the server system 26.
  • the senders and receivers can double-click with a mouse on a graphical, desktop icon representing the client software.
  • An alternative method for sending a parcel is to drag-and-drop a graphical representation of that parcel onto the icon.
  • users of the sending and receiving systems 14, 18 can double-click on a graphical, desktop icon representing the browser and navigate to the URL associated with the common-entry web page.
  • the receiver of a parcel notification can click on a hyperlink embedded in the notification. This hyperlink causes the browser to launch and navigate to the common-entry web page.
  • Fig. 2 shows general operation of the parcel delivery system 10 of the invention.
  • the sending system 14 transmits digital information 58, here referred to as a parcel, to the server system 26 and a notification 62 to the receiving system 18.
  • the transmission of the parcel 58 and notification 62 can occur concurrently.
  • the sending system 14 can issue the notification 62 before transmitting the parcel 58 or after successfully transmitting the complete parcel 58 to the server system 26.
  • the notification 62 can be automatically or manually generated, whether before, after, or concurrently with transmission of the parcel 58.
  • the notification 62 signifies to the receiving system 18 that the sending system 14 has transmitted a parcel to the server system 26 intended for the receiving system 18.
  • An e-mail message for example, can serve as the notification 62.
  • An advantage to using e-mail for notifications is that the sending system 14 can be assured of the online availability of the receiving system 18.
  • Typical e-mail services can report to senders that particular receivers have received the e-mail message.
  • Some e-mail services can also inform senders that the particular receiver has read that e-mail message.
  • the notification 62 can be a brief message, such as "You have a parcel.” If the user is familiar with the parcel delivery system 10 and knows the location of the common-entry page 66 (or, for example, has recorded the location as a bookmark in the Web browser), this notification indicating that the sending system 14 has sent the parcel, without more, may be sufficient.
  • the notification 62 can also include a resource locator (e. g., an URL) addressing the common-entry page 66 on the server system 26.
  • This resource locator can operate as a hyperlink that launches the web browser and navigates to the common-entry page 66 with a click of the mouse.
  • the receiving system 18 can manually launch the browser and enter the URL corresponding to the common entry page 66.
  • the server system 26 can store the parcel 58 in the storage system 54.
  • the receiving system 18 can access the server system 26 (e. g., at the common-entry page 66)and request 70 the parcel 58.
  • This request 70 can be automatically generated by software installed on the receiving system 18 or deliberately initiated as described above.
  • the server system 26 can then download the parcel 58 to the receiving system 18.
  • the receiving system 18 can access from the server system 26 (e. g., via the common-entry page 66) and then traverse a sequence of graphical windows as shown in Fig. 3.
  • the windows produce a graphical user interface that can lead receiver the access the parcel 58.
  • the page 66 can be manually or automatically visited. Downloading the page 66 to the receiving system 18 can cause execution of a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) script.
  • the script can require log-on authentication of the receiving system user and prompt the user for log- on information 72, such as a user-name and a password.
  • CGI Common Gateway Interface
  • a second window 78 presents the user with a status of parcels received (" inbox")and sent (“ outbox")by that user.
  • inbox a status of parcels received
  • outbox a status of parcels received
  • the user can obtain a list of parcels, previously and presently received, and information about those parcels.
  • the information can include the size of each parcel and a status whether the user has opened that parcel.
  • the user can select one of the listed parcels by double clicking on the desired parcel identifier.
  • the window 78 indicates that the user has three parcels.
  • the next displayed window is a cover sheet 82 that provides information about attributes of the selected parcel, such as the identity of the sending system, the name of the parcel, the time sent, and the parcel size.
  • the cover sheet 82 gives the receiving system user an opportunity to accept or reject delivery of the parcel.
  • the receiving system user can view the attribute information, decide to refuse delivery, and consequently reject the parcel. This feature enables the user to avoid downloading oversized files, unwanted information, suspicious files, or transmissions from unknown or unwanted senders.
  • the cover sheet 82 can also include a resource locator, here "file,” for obtaining the selected parcel.
  • the resource locator can include parameters that indirectly reference the storage location of the digital information representing the selected parcel. One such parameter is an unique identifier associated with the selected parcel.
  • the server system 26 maintains a data structure (e. g., a database or a table)that maps parcel identifiers to the storage locations.
  • a CGI script processes the parameters and accesses the data structure to identify the storage location of the selected parcel, obtain the stored parcel, and start streaming the digital information to the receiving system 18.
  • Data Streaming :
  • Data streaming involves uploading the parcel 58 to the server system 26 while downloading the parcel 58 to the receiving system 18. This process can reduce by almost half the amount of time for full delivery of the parcel 58. The time reduction occurs because the process of downloading the parcel to the receiving system 18 does not wait until the entire parcel arrives at the server system 26 from the sending system 14; the server system 26 can start transmitting upon receiving the digital information. Data streaming can occur automatically, provided the receiving system 18 is on-line. For embodiments in which the receiving system user can reject the parcel, the receiving system 18 can request the parcel 58 from the server system 26 before the server system 26 completely receives the parcel 58 to take advantage of data streaming.
  • the transmission can continue until the entire parcel 58 is uploaded to the server system 26.
  • the server system 26 then waits until the receiving system 18 comes on-line and requests the parcel 58 before downloading to the receiving system 18.
  • the server system 26 deletes the digital information from the storage system 54 after successfully transmission to the receiving system 18.
  • the receiving system 18 can return acknowledgments to the server system 26 upon receiving the digital information.
  • the server system 26 can make efficient use of available storage and reduce the amount of storage needed for parcels awaiting delivery to receiving systems.
  • Interruptibilty In the event of an interruption in the transmission of the parcel 58 from the server system 26 to the receiving system 18, the server system 26 can resume transmission of the parcel 58, from the point of interruption after reestablishing the connection.
  • the receiving system 18 determines that point from the size of the parcel and the time of interruption.
  • the server system 26 When the server system 26 initially sends the parcel 58 to the receiving system 18, the parcel includes a unique identifier that indicates the size of the parcel 58 to the receiving system 18. After the connection is reestablished, the receiving system 18 uses the parcel size and the time of interruption to request from the server system 26 only those portions of the parcel 58 not previously transmitted. Security:
  • the delivery system 10 of the invention provides security at various levels.
  • the server system 26 can authenticate the user identities of the sending and receiving systems 14, 18. This authentication can include uniquely identifying the installations of the client software on the sending and receiving systems 14, 18.
  • the delivery system 10 authenticates each delivery transaction.
  • the client software compresses and encrypts the digital information in real time.
  • the receiving system user can reject parcel deliveries rather than download from the server system 26.
  • Tracking information can include when the sending system 14 started transmitting the parcel 5 58 to the server system 26, the progress of uploading the parcel 58 to the server system 26 (or intermediate web server as described below), the status of the receiving system 18 (e. g., unregistered, off-line, on-line, etc.), the progress of downloading the parcel 58 to the receiving system, and
  • the server system 26 can verify that the receiving system 18 has received the parcel 58 using a signature uniquely identifying the receiving system 18 user and, when the receiving system 18 executes client software to access the server system 26, a unique identifier associated with that client software.
  • the signature and unique identifier can accompany a returned acknowledgment from the receiving system 18 to securely signify that the receiving system 18 has received from the server system 26 the last bit of digital information pertaining to the parcel 58.
  • the server system 26 can record the progression of the transmission for the parcel 58 in a database, along with the signature and client software identification.
  • the database can provide an audit trail for the sending and receiving systems 14, 18 to view. Accordingly, tracking provides the sending system 14 a mechanism for confirming receipt and subsequent use of parcel 58, a capability generally lacking in the trans-Internet communications.
  • the sending system 14 can cancel delivery of the parcel anytime during the transmission of the parcel to the receiving system 18.
  • the sending system 14 signals the server system 26 to stop the delivery. If the server system 26 has not started transmitting the parcel to the receiving system 18, then the server system 26 can forego forwarding the parcel or delete the parcel from the storage system 54. If the server system 26 has transmitted the parcel to the receiving system 18, then the server system 26 can forward the cancel signal to the receiving system 18.
  • the client software on the receiving system 18 deletes the parcel upon receiving the cancel signal from the server system 26, provided the parcel 58 is incompletely received or is completely received, but still unopened. Conceivably, a completely delivered and opened parcel may be canceled, although permission by the receiving system user may be necessary to do so.
  • the server system 26 can recover any canceled deliveries, provided the digital information is still available (i. e., has not been overwritten).
  • Fig. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment of the electronic parcel delivery system 10 of the invention, including the sending system 14, the receiving system 18, the server system 26, and a Web server 22.
  • the sending and receiving systems 14, 18 are in communication with the Web server 22 and the server system 26, and the Web server 22 is in communication with the server system 26.
  • Parcel 58 passes directly from the sending system 14 to the server system 26, and the server system 26 stores the parcel 58 in the storage system 54.
  • the sending system 14 sends the notification 62 to the Web server 22, and the Web server 22 provides the notification 62 to the receiving system 18.
  • the notification 62 operates similarly to the notification 62 described in the embodiment of Fig. 2.
  • the sending and receiving systems 14, 18 run the Web browsers 90, 94 to access the common-entry page 66 on the server system 26.
  • the Web server 22 transmits the graphical user interfaces between the sending and receiving systems 14, 18, and the server system 26. Tracking requests and reports between the sending and server systems 14,26 also pass through the Web server 22.
  • Fig. 5 shows another exemplary embodiment of the parcel delivery system 10 of the invention similar to the embodiment shown in Fig. 4.
  • a difference from the Fig. 4 embodiment is that the sending system 14 transmits the parcel 58 to the Web server
  • the Web server 22 instead of directly to the server system 26.
  • the Web server 22 then forwards the parcel 58 to the server system 26.
  • Fig. 6 shows another exemplary embodiment of the parcel delivery system 10 wherein the sending and receiving systems 14, 18 each execute the client software to access the server-side software executing on the server system 26.
  • the sending system 14 transmits the parcel 58 directly to the server system 26 and the notification 62 to the Web server 22.
  • the Web server 22 notifies the receiving system 18 of the parcel, and the receiving system 18, in response, obtains the parcel 58 from the server system 26.
  • the user interfaces, tracking requests, and tracking reports pass directly between the sending system 14 (or receiving system 18)and the server system 26, rather than through the Web server 22.
  • the sending system 14 can execute the Web browser 90, while the receiving system 18 executes the client software; or conversely, the sending system 14 can execute the client software while the receiving system executes the Web browser 94.
  • the client software communicates directly with the server system 26 to exchange information, such as the user interface and the tracking information, and the Web browser communicates indirectly with the server system 26 through the Web server 22.
  • Fig. 7 shows still another embodiment of the parcel delivery system 10 wherein the sending system 14 delivers the parcel 58 to the server system 26 without any notification mechanism to alert the receiving system 18 that the sending system 14 has sent the parcel 58.
  • the sending system 14 can transmit the parcel 58 to the server system 26 directly or through the Web server 22.
  • the sending system 14 executes the client software
  • the user interface and the parcel 58 are communicated directly to the server system 26.
  • the sending system 14 executes the Web browser 90 the parcel and user interface are communicated through the Web server 22.
  • an URL is presented to the user in a graphical user interface by which the receiving system user can obtain the parcel.
  • the receiving system 18 can periodically poll the server system 26 to determine if any new parcel deliveries have occurred.
  • Fig. 8 shows one embodiment of an exemplary group of servers acting logically as the server system 26.
  • the group of servers includes a root server 100, one or more user servers 102, 104, and one or more data servers 106.
  • the root server 100 tracks each user server 102, 104 and data server 106 in the group.
  • the root server 100 can also maintain information about other remote server systems or groups of server systems that can provide the electronic parcel service in conjunction with the server system 26.
  • the user of the sending system 14 and user of the receiving system 18 are each assigned to a user server when the users first register with the server system 26.
  • the root server 100 selects the user server to which each user is assigned. For example, the root server 100 can assign the sending system user to user server 102 and the receiving system user to user system 104.
  • the sending system 14 When the sending system 14 subsequently contacts the server system 26 to initiate delivery of a parcel, the sending system 14 obtains the identity of the assigned user server 102 from the root server 100 (arrow 108). The sending system 14 sends parcel information, including the name of the intended receiver, to the user server 102 (arrow 110). In response to the communication from the sending system 14, the user server
  • the assigned user server 102 provides, via link 114, each other user server 104 in the group (and remote user servers) with the identity of the intended receiver of the parcel.
  • the receiving system 18 Upon logging on to the server system 26, the receiving system 18 obtains from the root server 100 the identity of the user server 104 assigned to the receiving system 18 (arrow 116). The receiving system 18 subsequently communicates with the user system 104 to determine that the new parcel is available on the data server 106 (arrow 118). The user system 104 was able to communicate this information to the receiving system 18 because the user system 102 had previously communicated the information to the user system 104. The user server 104 gives the receiver a session key with which the receiving system 18 contacts the data server 106 and retrieves the parcel (arrow 120). The data server 106 captures the transaction information as described above, which can be useful in preparing billing information. While the invention has been shown and described with reference tospecific preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de livraison d'informations électroniques entre des systèmes informatiques à travers un réseau. Le système de livraison de colis comprend un système de serveur interposé entre un système d'expédition et un système de réception. Le système de serveur stocke les informations numériques reçues à travers le réseau. Ces informations numériques peuvent se présenter comme des colis, des documents, des images, des logiciels exécutables, des fichiers audio, etc. Le système d'expédition transmet au système de réception une notification. La notification sert à signaler que le système d'expédition transmet des informations numériques au système de serveur à travers le réseau et que les informations numériques sont accessibles au système de réception. Le système de réception peut recevoir la notification directement du système d'expédition ou à travers un deuxième système de serveur connecté au réseau. Le système de serveur peut recevoir les informations numériques directement depuis le système d'expédition ou à travers un deuxième système de serveur connecté au réseau. Le système de serveur peut comprendre une page Web auquel le système de réception peut accéder pour obtenir les informations numériques stockées. La notification peut comprendre un localisateur de ressources qui s'adresse à la page Web sur le système de serveur. La page Web peut demander une authentification valable du système de réception avant d'autoriser l'accès aux informations numériques. La livraison des informations numériques peut être annulée par le système d'expédition une fois que celui-ci a transmis les informations numériques au système de serveur, jusqu'à ce que le système de réception utilise les informations numériques.
EP00911938A 1999-02-26 2000-02-24 Systeme de livraison de colis electroniques Withdrawn EP1190346A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US25860999A 1999-02-26 1999-02-26
US258609 1999-02-26
PCT/US2000/004648 WO2000051030A2 (fr) 1999-02-26 2000-02-24 Systeme de livraison de colis electroniques

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1190346A2 true EP1190346A2 (fr) 2002-03-27

Family

ID=22981340

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00911938A Withdrawn EP1190346A2 (fr) 1999-02-26 2000-02-24 Systeme de livraison de colis electroniques

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1190346A2 (fr)
JP (1) JP2002538524A (fr)
AU (1) AU3375100A (fr)
WO (1) WO2000051030A2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2152830A1 (fr) * 2007-05-23 2010-02-17 Henkel AG & Co. KGaA Composition adhésive anticorrosion

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU3006000A (en) * 1999-02-26 2000-09-14 Atabok Inc. Method and apparatus for delivering electronic data through a proxy server
GB0103736D0 (en) * 2001-02-15 2001-04-04 Hewlett Packard Co Transmission controls on data communication such as E-mail

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5675507A (en) * 1995-04-28 1997-10-07 Bobo, Ii; Charles R. Message storage and delivery system
EP0798899A1 (fr) * 1996-03-25 1997-10-01 Koninklijke KPN N.V. Méthode pour la notification de la présence des objets dans un serveur
TW406508B (en) * 1996-06-07 2000-09-21 Murata Machinery Ltd Communication method and customer premise equipment (CPE)
US5790790A (en) * 1996-10-24 1998-08-04 Tumbleweed Software Corporation Electronic document delivery system in which notification of said electronic document is sent to a recipient thereof
JPH1127414A (ja) * 1997-06-27 1999-01-29 Murata Mach Ltd 電子メール機能付通信端末装置

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0051030A3 *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2152830A1 (fr) * 2007-05-23 2010-02-17 Henkel AG & Co. KGaA Composition adhésive anticorrosion
EP2152830A4 (fr) * 2007-05-23 2014-05-14 Henkel Ag & Co Kgaa Composition adhésive anticorrosion

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3375100A (en) 2000-09-14
JP2002538524A (ja) 2002-11-12
WO2000051030A3 (fr) 2002-01-24
WO2000051030A2 (fr) 2000-08-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7051003B1 (en) Method and apparatus for delivering electronic data through a proxy server
US20030023695A1 (en) Modifying an electronic mail system to produce a secure delivery system
US9876844B2 (en) Transferring files
US7516496B2 (en) Identifying unauthorized communication systems based on their memory contents
US6912564B1 (en) System for instant messaging the sender and recipients of an e-mail message
US6487189B1 (en) Mobile e-mail document transaction service
US7774857B2 (en) Method and system for protection of electronic digital content
EP0838774A2 (fr) Système de distribution de documents électroniques
US20040117456A1 (en) System and method for transmitting a file associated with an e-mail
US20070220008A1 (en) System and method for single client remote access
US20020026517A1 (en) Enabling communications of electronic data between an information requestor and a geographically proximate service provider
US6672775B1 (en) Cross-machine web page download and storage
CN101072163A (zh) 一种网络文件自动转存方法及系统
US8122363B1 (en) Presence status indicator
US7543038B2 (en) Arrangement and method for impermanent connectivity
WO2000051030A2 (fr) Systeme de livraison de colis electroniques
US20030135618A1 (en) Computer network for providing services and a method of providing services with a computer network
EP1137234A1 (fr) Dispositif d'access à l'internet
AU3006000A (en) Method and apparatus for delivering electronic data through a proxy server
KR20010081731A (ko) 전자우편 전용 프로그램을 이용하여 웹기반전자우편서비스 서버로부터 전자우편을 읽을 수 있는장치와 그 방법
EP1293071A2 (fr) Systeme et procede permettant de mettre en place un reseau de membres
EP1410584A2 (fr) Systeme hybride de courrier electronique et de distribution de colis electronique
EP1386443A2 (fr) Modification d'un systeme de courrier electronique visant a rendre l'acheminement sur

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20010806

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT SE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20040901