Transferring files

Abstract

Systems and techniques for transferring one or more files by connecting to a communications system host; sending, to a client connected to the communications system host, a request to transfer one or more files; when a client permits access to the one or more files, establishing a direct socket connection from the client and bypassing the communications system host; and initiating the transfer of the one or more files from the client over the direct socket connection.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of transferring one or more files comprising:
 connecting to a communications system host;   sending, to a client connected to the communications system host, a request to transfer one or more files;   when the client permits access to the one or more files, establishing a direct socket connection from the client and bypassing the communications system host; and   initiating the transfer of the one or more files from the client over the direct socket connection.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transferring the one or more files from the client transparently to a subscriber using the client. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the client, a list of files available for transfer; and   selecting one or more files from the list of available files.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the client, information pertaining to one or more files; and   instructing the client to completely or partially transfer one or more files based on the information.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 wherein the client permits access according to set transfer preferences. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the set transfer preferences designate a directory from which one or more files may be transferred. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the set transfer preferences designate which subscribers to the communications system host are permitted to transfer files. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the communications system host is an instant messaging host. 
     
     
         9 . A method of transferring one or more files comprising:
 connecting to a communications system host;   receiving from a client connected to the communications system host, a request to transfer one or more files;   when the client is permitted to access one or more files, establishing a direct socket connection to the client and bypassing the communications system host; and   initiating the transfer of the one or more files from the client over the direct socket connection.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising transferring the one or more files to the client without subscriber intervention. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 sending to the client, a list of files available for transfer; and   receiving, from the client, a selection of one or more files from the list of available files.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 sending to the client, information pertaining to one or more files; and   receiving instructions, from the client, to completely or partially transfer one or more files based on the information.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 wherein the client is permitted to access the one or more files according to set transfer preferences. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the set transfer preferences designate a directory from which one or more files may be transferred. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the set transfer preferences designate which subscribers to the communications system host are permitted to transfer files. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the communications system host is an instant messaging host. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for transferring one or more files, the apparatus comprising a client configured to:
 connect to a communications system host;   send, to a client connected to the communications system host, a request to transfer one or more files;   when the client permits access to the one or more files, establish a direct socket connection from the client and bypassing the communications system host; and   initiate the transfer of the one or more files from the client over the direct socket connection.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the communications system host is an instant messaging system. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for transferring one or more files, the apparatus comprising a client configured to:
 connect to a communications system host;   receive from a client connected to the communications system host, a request to transfer one or more files;   when the client is permitted access one or more files, establishing a direct socket connection from the client and bypassing the communications system host; and   initiating the transfer of the one or more files from the client over the direct socket connection.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the communications system host is an instant messaging system.