DE10059931B4 - Method and device for data transmission and remote generation of output data - Google Patents

Abstract

method for data transmission and remote generation of output data, wherein on a first computer system (3) stored data from a user via a to a first data transmission path (2) connected communication means (1) requested, the requested Data about a second data link (4) transferred to a second computer system (5), evaluated there and the results of this evaluation over a third data link (6) transmitted to the communication means (1) of the user and output there be characterized in that the evaluation of the transmitted Data on the second computer system (5) is such that the by the format of the transmitted Data specified application started and the transmitted data without previous Modification, in particular without prior conversion or format conversion, be read by this application and evaluated and the output in the form generated by the application.

Description

The The invention relates to a method and apparatus for data transmission and remote generation of output data, which can be used in particular is to make the platform independent and transparent to users without download via web browser application-independent Viewing application-specific file formats using Universal Viewer to enable.

In particular, the invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a method is known from EP 0965914 A2 known.

At the Working on the internet is often faced with the situation that you are on a webpage finds the offer to download a file. Here are two problems: on the one hand it can be a trade very large amount of data, and downloading costs a lot of time and money; for another, it can be a file in one special, less widely used format whose execution program not present on the client machine, which causes the file can not be considered.

So far the user clicks on the file he wants to view. is the browser on the client machine the file format known, the file is then downloaded and in the browser displayed. That only the files for which the Browser has a corresponding detection or installed. Of the Browser has inherent recognition for the most common graphics formats. After extra user initiated plugin installation for special format e.g. pdf files, can these are also displayed.

at all other file types, the user is asked to choose whether he the Execute file from this location "or" The file wants to save ".

If the user clicks that he he wants to save the file select a directory of his NetDevice and then the file becomes stored there.

Should the user "... of click on this place "will be the File also downloaded and once this is done, will the corresponding Program started. For example, He clicks on a * .zip file and clicks to "... from Run this location "will download the file and then WinZip started or in graphic files, the browser does not know, the appropriately installed graphics program.

The is called, that each File, even if it should only be viewed, always to the user must be downloaded.

to Illustrative are briefly the orders of magnitude of the downloads be clarified: with a modem at 33.6 Kbit / s you need to download a file of 500 Kb between two and three minutes; with an ISDN connection (64 Kbit / s) the procedure lasts about a minute. However, if the file has a size of 10 Mb, then It takes 40-45 to download using a modem Minutes, with the use of ISDN still about 25 minutes.

At the orders of magnitude you realize that it sometimes a lot of patience and money costs to transfer a 7 Mb file then to determine that the Content for the user is uninteresting.

One another not negligible problem is that the User to comfortably work on his NetDevice up to 10 viewers, Plugins and additional programs must have installed. (Winzip, Adobe pdf viewer, ps viewer, Winrar, Office, gs-View, ...)

This means for the user, that he buy these add-on programs, viewers and plugins as well and update must like a "normal" program.

Of the User can look at documents from the web only if this completely on his local NetDevice have been downloaded. Only after that will the corresponding program is automatically started on the device, to view this document.

• – einer starken Abhängigkeit von der Übertragungsrate der zur Verfügung stehenden Internetanbindung,
• – der notwendigen Verfügbarkeit zahlreicher Viewer, Pugins und Zusatzprogramme, die durch das Vorhandensein der diversen Formate nötig sind,
• – dem durch diese Zusatzprogramme belegten Speicherplatz, welcher für andere Anwendungen verloren ist,
• – der Notwendigkeit, diese Zusatzprogramme regelmäßig zu updaten,
• – den Kosten, die für die lizenzierte Nutzung dieser Zusatzprogramme anfallen und
• – einem mangelnden wirksamen Schutz gegen Viren, Trojaner und Hacker.

The disadvantages of the previous procedure are thus in

• - a strong dependence on the transmission rate of the available Internet connection,
• - The necessary availability of numerous viewers, Pugins and additional programs, which are necessary due to the presence of various formats,
• - the space occupied by these add-on programs, which is lost for other applications,
• - the need to regularly update these additional programs,
• The costs of the licensed use of these additional programs and
• - a lack of effective protection against viruses, Trojans and hackers.

Of the The invention therefore has for its object to develop a method which the mentioned Overcomes disadvantages and especially the application independent Viewing application-specific file formats using Universal Viewer allows. At the same time by the invention, the transmission times for documents and at the same time achieving a reduction in transmission costs become.

These The object is achieved by the features in the characterizing part of claims 1 and 9 in cooperation with the features in the preamble. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are in the subclaims contain.

A particular advantage of the invention is that of a user via a to a first data transmission path 2 connected communication means 1 requested on a first computer system 3 stored data over a second data link 4 on a second computer system 5 transferred there, started the applications associated with the data transmitted, read in the transmitted data from these applications and evaluated, then the results of this evaluation over a third data transmission link 6 to the means of communication 1 transmitted by the user and played there.

The method according to the invention is advantageously used on a device which consists of a communication medium 1 , two computer systems 3 . 5 and a computer program, the communication means 1 and the computer systems 3 . 5 are interconnected by means for data transmission, the first computer system 3 with a data-containing memory and the second computer system 5 is equipped with a lot of applications and the computer program serves, according to the instructions of the communication means 1 the transmission of data from the first to the second computer system, the evaluation of this data by on the second computer system 5 Applications and the transmission of the results of this evaluation to the means of communication 1 to control.

The Procedure offers opposite usual solutions through a direct connection the backbone and the transmission of only the graphics information to the user / client a significant Reduction of transfer rates and times. By using the invention, a user is no more forced for each data format to install the appropriate application software. That in turn leads to a reduction of storage requirements and to a simplification the update processes. There through the process no longer the individual files, but only still render the graphics information does it's the transmission of viruses impossible.

One Another advantage of the invention is that by their use also equipment for the Display of documents that can not be used so far could be used, such. B. Entertainment Consoles.

The Invention will be described below with reference to an at least partially Embodiment illustrated in the figures.

It demonstrate:

1 the schematic sequence of the procedure,

2 System structure of the online viewer,

3 Test of the file type.

• 1. ein Client fordert eine html-Seite bei einem Server an;
• 2. der Client fordert dann einen Link auf ein anwendungsspezifisches Dokument von dieser html-Seite an;
• 3. der Link führt zu einem Server eines Content Providers mit eingebetteter URL des anzuzeigenden Dokumentes, z.B. http://www.mydomain.de/bild.pdf;
• 4. von einem Programm (Java-Script) wird veranlaßt, daß die Datei bild.pdf auf den Applikationsserver eines Dienstleistungsanbieters kopiert wird;
• 5. auf dem Applikationsserver wird das Dokument temporär geladen und ein Viewer für das anzuzeigende Dokument gestartet;
• 6. die Anzeige-Daten des Viewers werden über ein spezielles Protokoll an den Client gesendet;
• 7. auf dem Client wird der Universalviewer, das ist ein Terminal-Client, initialisiert und zeigt die Daten des Anbieter-Servers an.

The sequence in which the steps of the method according to the invention follow one another can be broken down as follows (cf. 1 ):

• 1. a client requests an html page from a server;
• 2. the client then requests a link to an application-specific document from this html page;
• 3. The link leads to a server of a content provider with an embedded URL of the document to be displayed, eg http://www.mydomain.de/bild.pdf;
• 4. a program (Java script) causes the image.pdf file to be copied to the application server of a service provider;
• 5. the document is temporarily loaded on the application server and a viewer for the document to be displayed is started;
• 6. the display data of the viewer is sent to the client via a special protocol;
• 7. The universal viewer, which is a terminal client, is initialized on the client and displays the data of the provider server.

The Java script, which one make sure that requested document not downloaded to the client's NetDevice and is displayed there, but sent to the application server can be used by both the client and the content provider be implemented.

• Textformate: pdf, ps, eps, ps.z, gs; Microsoft Office: doc, dot, rtf, xls, xlt, ppt; Helpdateien: hlp; Programmquellen: bas, c, cc, ... Faxdateien: fax, fg3, fg4, ... Sonstige: txt, inf, bak, fon ...
• Bildformate: bmp, dib, rle, jpg, jpeg, jpe, gif, pcd, pcx, tif, tiff, img, ...
• Grafiken: cdr, cch, cmx, cpt, ...
• Kompressionsformate: zip, arj, arc, gz, tar, ...

In the method, by shifting the complexity of the application programs from the user to the service provider, the system implemented on the provider server now accesses the corresponding viewers, who can display a wide range of document formats. Formats that the provider server should always provide, for example, are:

• Text formats: pdf, ps, eps, ps.z, gs; Microsoft Office: doc, dot, rtf, xls, xlt, ppt; Help files: hlp; Program sources: bas, c, cc, ... Fax files: fax, fg3, fg4, ... Other: txt, inf, bak, fon ...
• Image formats: bmp, dib, rle, jpg, jpeg, jpe, gif, pcd, pcx, tif, tiff, img, ...
• Graphics: cdr, cch, cmx, cpt, ...
• Compression formats: zip, arj, arc, gz, tar, ...

there become the programs needed to display the different formats running on an application server of the provider. On this application server Thus takes place the output generation, by which in a application-specific file format present document in the output data is converted. The output data generated in this way are used by the user only through a terminal client, the so-called Universalviewer, displayed on the user's computer no complete applications need to be started.

Around To bring the data to be displayed on the client becomes a common terminal software used.

The heart of the online viewer is the preprocessor 7 (see. 2 ). It is used to analyze the command string passed by the client 8th and to generate the document to be displayed, as well as to select a suitable viewer. The preprocessor 7 prepares the client data 8th so that a special application with defined data can be started. Three subcomponents are used for this: the validator 9 , the loader 10 and the analyzer 11 ,

Purpose of the preprocessor 7 arise from the fact that the strings passed 8th and resulting documents do not necessarily contain valid data and therefore a preparation for the subsequent program steps is necessary. In these, the application to be loaded and the document to be displayed must be known.

The preprocessor first passes the transfer parameters to the validator 9 , The validator 9 checks the passed string 8th on syntactic correctness, the loader 10 loads the document to be displayed and the analyzer 11 checks the document type.

• – es handelt sich um eine gültige, RFC-konforme URL
• – die URL beschreibt ein http- oder ftp-Dokument
• – die URL weist auf eine erreichbare IP-Adresse und Domain
• – die URL ist nicht lokal innerhalb der Anbieter-Domain.

The validator 9 checks the passed string 8th on syntactic correctness. The validator 9 takes the transfer ring 8th and check it for validity:

• - It is a valid, RFC compliant URL
• - The URL describes an http or ftp document
• - The URL points to an accessible IP address and domain
• - The URL is not local within the provider domain.

The case of the preprocessor 7 to the validator 9 data passed consists of the URL indicating the location of the document to be loaded; from the validator 9 gets to the preprocessor 7 returns information indicating the URL syntax, the protocol used, the location of the document, and any errors that may have occurred.

The loader 10 The task is to temporarily load the document with the given URL. After the first 4k of the document (or less if the document is shorter), it continues the load operation in the background and returns to the path of the fragment loaded so far. Further communication takes place via a socket. After expiration of the timeout or other error condition during loading, the success flag will be returned FALSE, otherwise TRUE.

The case of the preprocessor 7 to the loader 10 transferred data consists of the URL indicating the location of the document to be loaded and an address of a socket, which is used for further communication; from the validator 9 gets to the preprocessor 7 or a socket returns information indicating the validity of the specified path and any errors that occurred while loading the document.

For the document he creates his own, distinct directory below Temp. Therefore must on The place designated Temp has enough free space for the one to create Be documents.

The analyzer 11 then tries to determine the unique document type <DType> of the transferred document.

• 1. Test: Mit den ersten 4k der Datei wird mittels Betriebssystemtools (z.B. file) per Magic Number Test und einer Konfigurationsdatei nach Möglichkeit der Dokumententyp <DTyp> ermittelt, mindestens jedoch die Dokumententypklasse <DTypklasse>. Dabei versteht man unter Dokumententyp beispielsweise: WinWord-Datei, Excel-datei, Adobe pdf-Datei, ...; Der Dokumenttyp <DTyp> wird mit vereinheitlichten Bezeichnungen festgestellt, die nach Möglichkeit dem hauptsächlich verwendeten Suffix entsprechen (doc, exc, pdf, ...). Die Dokumenttypklasse <DTypklasse> beschreibt übergeordnete Typen, die mehrere Dokumenttypen zusammenfassen: z. B. faßt msoffice doc-, exc-, ppt-, ... -Dokumente zusammen.
• 2. Test: Sofern ein Dateisystemtyp in der URL übermittelt wurde, wird mittels diesem aus einer weiteren Datei, der Analyzer-Konfigurationsdatei der <DTyp> ermittelt.
• 3. Test: Mittels Dokumentenendung wird der <DTyp> aus der Analyzer-Konfigurationsdatei ermittelt.

This is done by a triple test ( 3 ):

• 1st Test: With the first 4k of the file using operating system tools (eg file) per Magic Number Test and a configuration file if possible document type <DType> determined, but at least the document type class <DTyp class>. For example, document type refers to: WinWord file, Excel file, Adobe PDF file, ...; The document type <DType> is identified with unified designations which, if possible, correspond to the main suffix used (doc, exc, pdf, ...). The document class <DType class> describes parent types that summarize multiple types of documents: B. summarizes msoffice doc, exc, ppt, ... documents.
• 2. Test: If a file system type was transmitted in the URL, this is used to determine the <DType> from another file, the analyzer configuration file.
• 3. Test: The <DType> from the analyzer configuration file is determined by means of a document transmission.

provides Test one only a <DType class> and contradict Test one and two, or test one and three, will be the failure confirmed and the returned <DType> is invalid.

During these steps, an acceptance test is performed. The test conditions result from the "Acceptance Test Information" of the subcomponent Validator 9 , Loader 10 , Analyzer 11 , Every error condition there must return an error status to the client.

The session manager 16 initializes the viewer session via the data transfer software. The application with the document to be displayed is mapped onto the thus generated display. Closing the client application ends the session. The session manager 16 then deletes the document file.

The session manager 16 The called application must run under an unprivileged UID. The entire application also runs in a chroot environment in the temporary directory of the document to be displayed.

The loader editor 14 is used to create and manage the Loader configuration file. This configuration file can, for. B. created and managed by operating system tools. A normal text editor is sufficient for this.

The analyzer editor 15 is used to create and manage the analyzer configuration file. This configuration file can, for. B. created and managed by operating system tools. Again, a normal text editor is sufficient.

Everyone Step that does not lead to success, returns a return parameter back, the error message with an error message application to the Client sends and ends the session.

If all subcomponents were successful, the preprocessor continues 7 a loading string for the session manager 16 together:
First, the preprocessor determines 7 via the analyzer configuration file 13 which application is suitable for the display of the type of dome. Thereafter, depending on the type of document variable% <DV>, proceed as follows:
if the document variable points to a URL, the URL and the detected application are sent to the Session Manager 16 pass and the loader 10 will be terminated. References the document variable to a fragment, e.g. As a path to a document, the determined application and the path to the Session Manager 16 to hand over. In case the document variable designates a file, the parser waits for the loader to terminate 10 until the timeout and, in the event of success, pass on the application with parameters and path to the session manager.

These Differentiation is necessary because some applications files directly as URL can load and some applications can already display files when they are not complete yet are loaded.

When Hardware platform for the procedure is dependent From the expected number of hits a server farm smaller to medium level required. The actual requirements are from a detailed Benchmarking dependent.

By the use of products, standard software and standard procedures a high maintainability is achieved.

The individual sessions should be in a secure environment from special UID and chroot environment expire. More precise specifications will emerge from the benchmarking and are dependent from the software environment used.

A explicit extensibility refers almost exclusively to additional usable Viewer backend. By using simple and logical interfaces and Configuration files here is an optimal expandability reached. This is also done through the use of standard software ensured. It also ensures compatibility with future product versions. This results in high investment protection and security to be able to participate in new developments.

One The advantage of the online viewer is the simple, intuitive usability. A training effort is not necessary. Likewise, the customer needs no further documents to use the system to read.

Of the Online Viewer does not provide the user with any further PC experience. After loading the browser plugin from the referring site the application is like any PC application to use. The session can be terminated at any time without any disadvantages.

The Work and the work steps are going through the process for the User does not change. He will, as before, click on a file he wants to see. thereupon but the file is not downloaded to his NetDevice and displayed there, but the file becomes a central server and from there a viewer is started. This one is in the Location, all common File types (about 100) to recognize and represent.

Of the Server then transfers the pure image information to the requesting client.

This interprets the image information and puts it on his Display.

• 1. der User muß nicht alle Viewer, Plugins und Zusatzprogramme installiert haben
• 2. der User braucht sich nicht mehr um neue Versionen, Updates und Patches zu bemühen
• 3. der User muß die Datei oder dessen Inhalt (bei gepackten Dateien), die er betrachten nicht mehr herunterladen und erzielt dadurch einen enormen Geschwindigkeitsvorteil.
• 4. der User kann neben den bisher nutzbaren internetfähigen Anzeigegeräten nun auch Geräte für die Anzeige von Dokumenten nutzen, die bisher dafür nicht eingesetzt werden konnten, wie z. B. Entertainment-Conslen.

This gives the user the following advantages:

• 1. The user does not have to have all the viewers, plugins and additional programs installed
• 2. The user no longer needs to worry about new versions, updates and patches
• 3. The user no longer has to download the file or its content (in case of packed files), which he is looking at, and thus achieves a tremendous speed advantage.
• 4. The user can now also use devices for the display of documents that could previously not be used for this, in addition to the previously usable internet-enabled display devices such. B. Entertainment Conslen.

The Invention is not limited to the embodiments shown here. Rather, it is possible by combination and modification of said means and features further variants to realize without departing from the scope of the invention.

1

NetDevice (Users)

2

clicking on file; Requesting a document,

which a special application on the user

computer requires

3

computer system z. A content provider,

of the Contains webpages with file links

4

backbone for transmission the file to the provider

server

5

Computer system on which the start of the

transmitted File belonging Viewers, the store

and Representing the document is done

6

transmission the view of the document to the

User computer

7

preprocessor

8th

http client string

9

Validator

10

Loader

11

Analyzer

12

Loader configuration file

13

Analyzer configuration file

14

Loader Editor

15

Analyzer Editor

16

session Manager

Claims (15)

Method for data transmission and remote generation of output data, wherein on a first computer system ( 3 stored data from a user via a to a first data transmission link ( 2 ) connected communication means ( 1 ) request the requested data over a second data link ( 4 ) to a second computer system ( 5 ), evaluated there and the results of this evaluation via a third data transmission path ( 6 ) to the means of communication ( 1 ) of the user and are output there, characterized in that the evaluation of the transmitted data on the second computer system ( 5 ) such that the application specified by the format of the transmitted data is started and the transmitted data is read in and evaluated by said application without prior modification, in particular without prior conversion or format conversion, and the output is in the form generated by the application. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that the Users the data over request a link from an internet site and / or from an ftp server. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, thereby characterized in that the Data transmission links - Cable networks and or - Wireless networks are. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second data transmission link ( 4 ) is designed as a backbone with a high transmission rate. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the communication means ( 1 ) is a stationary and / or mobile communication means. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized, that the stationary means of communication - one Computer and / or - one Telephone and / or - one Set top box and / or - one Entertainment console and / or - a multimedia console is. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized, that the mobile communication tools - a computer and / or - a radiotelephone and or - one Palmtop and / or - one handheld is. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the reproduction on the means of communication ( 1 ) of the user takes place visually and / or audiel. Device for carrying out the method for data transmission and remote generation of output data according to any one of claims 1 to 8th. Device according to claim 9, characterized, that the Data transmission links - Cable networks and or - Wireless networks are. Device according to one of Claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the second data transmission link ( 4 ) is designed as a backbone with a high transmission rate. Device according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the communication means ( 1 ) is a stationary and / or mobile communication means. Device according to one of claims 9 to 12, thereby characterized in that the stationary means of communication - one Computer and / or - one Telephone and / or - one Set top box and / or - one Entertainment console and / or - a multimedia console is. Device according to one of claims 9 to 12, thereby characterized in that the mobile communication tools - a computer and / or - a radiotelephone and or - one Palmtop and / or - one handheld is. Device according to one of Claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the first computer system ( 3 ) and / or the second computer system ( 5 ) consist of one and / or more computers.