METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING ELECTRONIC DATA THROUGH A PROXY SERVER

摘要

An electronic parcel delivery system for delivering digital information between computer systems over a network is described. The parcel delivery system includes a server system interposed between a sending system and a receiving system. The server system stores digital information received over the network. The digital information can represent a parcel, document, image, executable software, audio file, etc. The sending system 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 directly from the sending system or through a second server system connected to the network. The server system can receive the digital information directly from the sending system or through a second server system connected to the network. The server system can include a web page that the receiving syystem can access to obtain the stored digital information. The notification can include a resource locator that addresses the Web page on the server system. The Web page can request valid authentication of the receiving system before granting access to the digital information. Delivery of the digital information can be canceled by the sending system after the sending system transmits the digital information to the server system until the receiving system uses the digital information.