Single-Port XML File Transfer Protocol for Secure Data Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing file transfer technologies like FTP require multiple ports, are incompatible with modern XML standards, and lack security features, making them inefficient and insecure for modern computing environments.

Innovation Solution

A file transfer protocol (XFTP) using a single port, compatible with XML-based technology, incorporating SOAP binding for reliable messaging, SAML/ws-federation for authentication, and SSL/TLS for encryption, enabling secure and fault-tolerant file transfers suitable for Service-Oriented Architectures and cloud environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional file transfer technologies like FTP are used, then file transfer capability is provided, but multiple ports are required and compatibility with modern XML standards is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with XML standardsVSAvoidnumber of ports required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary encoding mechanism that converts binary file data into XML-compatible text format (using Base64 or custom encoding schemes). This intermediary layer allows traditional file transfer functionality to operate over XML-based protocols like SOAP, which traditionally only handled text data, thereby achieving compatibility with modern XML standards without requiring multiple specialized ports.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical port-based architecture of traditional FTP with a software-based encoding/decoding system. Instead of requiring multiple network ports for different functions (control, data, passive mode), the invention substitutes this with a single port using XML message encoding, transitioning from a hardware/network-configuration-dependent system to a software-processing-dependent system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If traditional file transfer protocols are used, then file transfer is enabled, but security features and fault tolerance are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault tolerance and securityVSAvoidcompatibility with modern authentication standards

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal file transfer protocol that can operate within Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) environments and support multiple authentication mechanisms (Basic Auth, Digest Auth, Certificate-based authentication). This multi-functional approach allows the same protocol to work across different security infrastructures and provide both security and fault tolerance, making it adaptable to modern enterprise environments while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates fault tolerance mechanisms including message acknowledgments, retry logic, and checksum verification that are built into the protocol beforehand. These cushioning measures ensure that if network failures or security issues occur during transfer, the system can recover without data loss, providing inherent reliability and security against common failure modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Productivity

If binary data is transmitted directly, then transfer efficiency is high, but compatibility with XML-based protocols is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransfer efficiencyVSAvoidcompatibility with XML protocols

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of data representation from binary format to encoded text format (XML-compatible). By applying encoding schemes like Base64 or custom binary-to-text transformations, the data maintains its information content while changing its physical representation to be compatible with XML protocols. This parameter change enables XML protocol compatibility while preserving the ability to efficiently transmit the underlying binary information through standardized text-based channels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2842052B1File transfer using XML

Publication Date: 2021.06.23 ENT SERVICES DEV CORP LP

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AI summary

A tangible, machine readable storage medium stores instructions and implements a method when the instructions are executed by a processor. A source file is received by a gateway engine. The source file is a binary file. The source file is portioned into multiple parts by a breakdown engine. The multiple parts are transferred by a reliable transfer engine using a single port according to a messaging protocol to transfer messages reliably between nodes in the presence of any of software failures, component failures, system failures, or network failures. The multiple parts are reassembled into a copy of the source file by a reassembly engine.