Redirecting file access through a http web server

Abstract

The present invention provides for a system configured to redirect file access through a web server through the use of a symbolic link file. This symbolic link file is modified to include connection and authentication information of a file stored on a remote file system but is accessible through a web server. When the modified symbolic link file is accessed on a computer which is remote to the remote file system, the computer recognizes that the symbolic link requires an internet connection to the linked file. The computer establishes an internet connection to the web server using the connection and authentication connection information in the modified symbolic link file. The file is then accessed and downloaded from the web server. The computer accordingly is able to seamlessly access and open the modified symbolic link file as if it was an unmodified symbolic link file.

1 . A system for enabling file access redirection through a web server, comprising:
 a web server accessible via an authenticated internet connection;   a file system hosting a file, wherein the file system is accessible by the web server;   a computing system containing a symbolic link to the file, the symbolic link being modified to include connection information and authentication information for accessing the file through the web server, wherein the computing system is remote to the file system hosting the file, wherein the symbolic link is recognized with a driver on the computing system as containing a link to a file accessible via a web server, and wherein the computing system is connected and authenticated to the web server to enable access of the file responsive to establishing the authenticated internet connection with the connection information and authentication information contained within the symbolic link.