GB2339034A - Providing browser access to an information database stored remote from an Internet Service Provider - Google Patents

Providing browser access to an information database stored remote from an Internet Service Provider Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2339034A
GB2339034A GB9806165A GB9806165A GB2339034A GB 2339034 A GB2339034 A GB 2339034A GB 9806165 A GB9806165 A GB 9806165A GB 9806165 A GB9806165 A GB 9806165A GB 2339034 A GB2339034 A GB 2339034A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
information database
isp
transmission system
data transmission
control point
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB9806165A
Other versions
GB2339034B (en
GB9806165D0 (en
Inventor
John Tilbrook
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.)
SYMICRON Ltd
Original Assignee
SYMICRON Ltd
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 SYMICRON Ltd filed Critical SYMICRON Ltd
Priority to GB9806165A priority Critical patent/GB2339034B/en
Publication of GB9806165D0 publication Critical patent/GB9806165D0/en
Publication of GB2339034A publication Critical patent/GB2339034A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2339034B publication Critical patent/GB2339034B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F16/00Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
    • G06F16/90Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
    • G06F16/95Retrieval from the web
    • G06F16/958Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
    • G06F16/972Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/01Protocols
    • H04L67/02Protocols based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L69/00Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
    • H04L69/30Definitions, standards or architectural aspects of layered protocol stacks
    • H04L69/32Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
    • H04L69/322Intralayer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions
    • H04L69/329Intralayer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer And Data Communications (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)

Description

2339034 - I -
DATA TRANSMISSION SYST 5 DESCRIPTION
Technical Field
This invention relates to data transmission systems of the kind in which an Internet Service Provider (ISP) provides access to an information database via the Internet from browser means whereby the information can be downloaded to the browser means.
The browser means may be located anywhere in the world having access to a local I5P through a communications line or network, which is usually but not necessarily the public telephone network. The local ISP in turn is able to access the ISP requested by the browser means through the Internet. The sought for information database is commonly organised as a website and is accessed from the browser means using the World Wide Web (WWW) protocol.
The provider of the information database has a number of options as to where his database is located. The simplest option is to lease space on a server machine provided by the ISP at the site of the ISP. However this limits the amount of information that can be provided. In many cases the ISP will make available a small amount of storage space at its server machine, for example up to 1OMb of data storage facilities, at no cost. Greater amounts of storage space may attract charges or else will require the information provider to use a dedicated server machine at the ISP site. This will increase the cost of information provision but allow more information to be stored. In both cases it will be costly and cumbersome to update the information database since it is held at a location remote from the information provider. Another solution, which overcomes this problem, is to locate the information database on the premises of the information provider. In this case however a dedicated and costly communications link needs to be put in place between the site of the ISP and the site of the information database.
It is an object of the invention to provide a transmission system of the kind described in which the information database can be located wherever the information provider wishes but which nevertheless is less costly than existing solutions.
Summary of the Invention
Accordingly the invention comprises a data transmission system of the kind in which an Internet Service Provider (ISP) provides access to an information database via the Internet to browser means, wherein a further information database is held at a location remote from the ISP, and there is provided means for establishing an initial communications link from the browser means to a control point through accessing the ISP, means for extending said link from the control point to the further information database, and means for then establishing a data transfer connection from the further information database to the control point and coupling said data transfer connection to the browser means to enable download of information from the further information database to the browser means.
In carrying out the invention the information that is provided is split into two information databases. A smaller part is held at the ISP provider, where the cost of storage is nil or low while a larger part, which constitutes the further information database, can be held at a remote site which can conveniently be the premises of the information provider and where it can readily be updated.
Preferably the information database held at the ISP is in the form of a website accessible through the Internet by means of the World Wide Web protocol and the website incorporates a hyperlink to access the control point.
In embodiments of the invention the control point may include means for verifying that the browser means is entitled to access the further information database. The verifying means is operated prior to extending the communications link from the control point to the further information database. The control point may be situated at any convenient location, for example at the premises of the information provider.
The data transfer connection from the further information database to the control point is preferably established through the public ISDN network.
Brief Descri;)tion of the Drawing In order that the invention may be more fully understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing which illustrates in diagrammatic form an embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description of Example(s) of the Invention
Referring to the drawing, there is shown therein a web browser means 1 which may be situated anywhere in the world. Browser means 1 may be provided at a remote office or work station used for frequent access to the Internet 2 and may be located on a PC communicating directly with the public ISDN network through an ISDN card connected to the PC. Alternatively browser means 1 may be located on a PC used for more infrequent access to the Internet, which it does through a modem connected to the public telephone network. In either case a caller at the remote office who wishes to access a website through Internet 2 activates browser means 1 and establishes an initial connection to a local Point of Presence constituted by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 3 to which the caller subscribes.
An information provider having a large information database which it wants to make available to browsers through the Internet and wishing to utilise this invention organises his information into two parts, namely a thin website 4 and a thick website 5. Thin website 4 is the smaller part and is intended to be accessed first. It is located at the information provider's chosen ISP and is conveniently up to 10Mb in size. Thick website 5, which will normally be much larger, may be conveniently held on the provider's premises.
Thin website 4 comprises a home page incorporating a hyperlink to a portal page 6 held at a control point or Offsite controller 7. Offsite Controller 7 may be at any convenient location, for example at the ISP 4 or else at or close to the information provider's own premises. Offsite Controller 7 includes means, which may be an ISDN card 8, for making a connection through the ISDN network 9 to thick website 5. Likewise at or connected to thick website 5 there is an Internet Access Server (IAS) 10 capable of connecting thick website 5 to Offsite Controller 7 through ISDN network 9.
operation of the data transmission system illustrated in Fig. 1 is initiated when a caller at a remote station activates his web browser 1 and establishes contact with his local ISP 3. The contact, will where access to a particular website is requested, include the website address or URL (Universal Resource Locator) in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) form of the sought for information. This address information travels through Internet 2 and arrives at the requested provider's thin website 4. The requested information in the form of a web 'home' page is then transmitted back to browser 1 and displayed on the caller's PC. The caller may seek further information and if this is held at thin website 4 it can be provided in like manner to the 'home' page. However if further data, not held at thin website 4, is requested then the caller will be required to select a portal page 6 held at offsite controller 7. The URL of the portal page can be coded in Java language so that access to the portal page is possible only after the caller has provided certain particulars. At portal page 6 provision can be made for verifying that browser 1 is entitled to access thick website 5. Such verification can include providing a prearranged password.
After satisfactory verification, a connection is made from Off site Controller 7 to thick website 5 utilising ISDN card 8. At thick website 5 the call is recognised as a request for connection and thereupon a callback is immediately initiated from IAS 10 to controller 7 via ISDN network 9 and the Internet 2. In other words, once the IAS 10 is stimulated to call back into the Internet 2 (via the ISDN network 9) and it reaches the Point of Presence (PoP) associated with controller 7, a further connection is then made over the Internet 2 to the offsite controller 7. The purpose of this call is to announce its IP address to controller 7. Once this address is known, then the browser 1 can be advised to use this IP address for further browsing of the thick website 5. At this stage the call back from IAS 10 is coupled or 'stitched, to the existing connection from calling browser 1. Once a data transfer connection is completed from thick website 5 through IAS 10, ISDN network 9, offsite controller 7 and internet 2 to the caller's local ISP 3, then download of data from thick website 5 to browser 1 can take place.
The benefits of calling back through the PoP associated with controller 7 - rather than directly to the controller 7 - reside in capacity and physical location. As to capacity, this is kept small because the "stitched" controller 7 is no longer in the data path. As to location, since the controller 7 can be anywhere in the country, the callback in, via the PoP, is always a local call, at local call cost. If the controller 7 were directly connected, a long distance call (and call rate) would typically be involved.
Furthermore, since the connection from the information provider's thick website 5 as far as the offsite controller 7 is set up by the information provider, its cost can be on an "as-used" basis and will therefore be much cheaper than a dedicated line between controller 7 and thick website 5.
The short delay, amounting to about one second, while the connection is set up will barely, if at.all, be noticed by a caller to whom the whole arrangement, including the information split between thin website 4 and thick website 5, will be transparent.
other modifications and embodiments of the invention, which will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art, are to be deemed within the ambit and scope of the invention, and the particular embodiment (s) hereinbef ore described may be varied in construction and detail, without departing from the scope of the patent monopoly hereby sought.

Claims (9)

1 A data transmission system of the kind in which an Internet Service Provider (ISP) provides access to an information database via the Internet to browser means, wherein a further information database is held at a location remote from the ISP, and there is provided means for establishing an initial communications link from the browser means to a control point through accessing the ISP, means for extending said link from the control point to the further information database, and means for then establishing a data transfer connection from the further information database to the control point and coupling said data transfer connection to the browser means to enable download of information from the further information database to the browser means.
2. A data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the information to be provided is derived in two parts from respectively two information databases, a smaller part being held at the ISP provider, while a larger part is from the further information database at said location remote from the ISP.
3. A data transmission system according to claim I or claim 2, wherein said location remote from the ISP is at the premises of the information provider.
4. A data transmission system according to any preceding claim, wherein the information database held at the ISP is in the form of a website accessible through the Internet by means of the World Wide Web protocol and the website incorporates a hyperlink to access the control point.
5. A data transmission system according to any preceding claim, wherein the control point includes means for verifvinq that the browser means is entitled to access the further information database.
6. A data transmission system according to claim 5, wherein the verifying means is operable prior to extension of the communications link from the control point to the further information database.
7. A data transmission system according to any preceding 10 claim, wherein the control point is situated at the premises of the information provider.
8. A data transmission system according to any preceding claim, wherein the data transfer connection from the is further information database to the control point is established through the public ISDN network.
9. A data transmission system of the said kind and substantially as herein described with reference to and/or 20 as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
I I
GB9806165A 1998-03-24 1998-03-24 Data transmission system Expired - Fee Related GB2339034B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9806165A GB2339034B (en) 1998-03-24 1998-03-24 Data transmission system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9806165A GB2339034B (en) 1998-03-24 1998-03-24 Data transmission system

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9806165D0 GB9806165D0 (en) 1998-05-20
GB2339034A true GB2339034A (en) 2000-01-12
GB2339034B GB2339034B (en) 2002-08-07

Family

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Family Applications (1)

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GB9806165A Expired - Fee Related GB2339034B (en) 1998-03-24 1998-03-24 Data transmission system

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1313921C (en) * 2002-02-09 2007-05-02 台湾积体电路制造股份有限公司 Remote mask layout inspecting method via network
GB2455589A (en) * 2007-12-14 2009-06-17 Evermore Technology Inc Generating a web page used to share records

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1313921C (en) * 2002-02-09 2007-05-02 台湾积体电路制造股份有限公司 Remote mask layout inspecting method via network
GB2455589A (en) * 2007-12-14 2009-06-17 Evermore Technology Inc Generating a web page used to share records
GB2455589B (en) * 2007-12-14 2010-04-21 Evermore Technology Inc System and method for generating web page used to share records

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2339034B (en) 2002-08-07
GB9806165D0 (en) 1998-05-20

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Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20030324