Method and device for the transfer of electronic data volumes

• US 20030145234A1
• Filed: 10/21/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Webpay International AG
• Original Assignee: Webpay International AG
• Inventors: Stangl, Norbert
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/335 for accessing specific resources, e.g. using Kerberos tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/41 where a single sign-on provides access to a plurality of computers

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of transmitting an electronic data set between a provider server (2) and a user computer (1) as well as an apparatus for use with the method. The electronic data set is retrieved from the provider server (2) with the aid of a server means (3) and is analyzed and processed electronically in the server means (3). The processed electronic data set is transmitted by the server means (3) to the user computer (1). In spite of the fact that the electronic data set is requested by means of the user computer (1) from the provider server (2), transmission to the user computer (1) always is effected with involvement of the server means (3). In this manner retrieval of the electronic data set with cost can be controlled and logged for accounting purposes with the assistence of the server means. (FIG. 1)

Claims

1. A method of transmitting an electronic data slat between a provider server (2) and a user computer (1), the electronic data set in the provider server (2) being included in an electronic directory and being stored in said directory under a designation, and a communication address in a network, which comprises the provider server (2) and a server means (3), being assigned to the electronic directory so that the electronic data set is electronically identifiable in the network by means of a data set address which comprises the communication address and the designation, said method comprising the following steps:

(a) electronically recording a user request generated by a user by means of a browser in the user computer (1) for retrieval of the electronic data set from the electronic directory in the provider server (2) by way of the server means (3);

(b) automatically requesting and recording user data for authentication of the user by way of the, server means (3) and the user computer (3);

(c) electronically processing the user data recorded and the information about the electronically recorded user request in the server means (3) for authorizing the user such that it is checked automatically by means of release information stored in the server means (3) whether any information about a current release for the electronic directory is electronically stored in the server means (3) for the user authenticated by the user data recorded; and

(d) at least partly transmitting the electronic data set of the electronic directory from the provider server (2) to the server means (3) and from the server means (3) to the user computer (1) if it is determined by the automatic checking according to method step (d) that the authenticated user is authorized.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a temporary communication address for the directory is generated automatically in the server means (3) and assigned to the electronic data set prior to transmission or the electronic data Set from the server means (3) to the user computer (1) so that the electronic data set is transmitted to the user computer (1) together with an electronically rewritten data set address which includes the temporary communication address.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the temporary communication address includes a temporary parameter electronically assigned to the current release.

4. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic memorization of the current release is limited to a predetermined period of time.

5. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the following further steps:

automatically requesting a user input for electronically recording a readiness to pay by way of the server means (3) and the user computer (1) if it is determined in the electronic processing of the user data recorded and the information about the electronically recorded user request according to method step (d) that no information about the current release for the electronic directory is electronically stored in the server means (3) for the user authenticated by means of the user data recorded; and

electronically recording and processing the requested user input such that an electronic account balance assigned to the user is adjusted automatically and the information about the current release for the electronic directory is stored in the server means (1).

6. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a temporary identification file is generated electronically by the server means (3) upon authentication of the user according to method step (b) and is stored in a memory means of the user computer (1) after having been transmitted to the user computer (1), and in that the temporary identification file is analyzed electronically for renewed user authentication which does not require requesting nor recording of the user data, after another user request for retrieval of the electronic data set or another electronic data set from the electronic directory in the provider server (2) was generated by the user by means of the browser in the user computer (1).

7. The method as claimed in claims 4 and 6, characterized in that, after renewed authentication and subsequent renewed authorization by the server means (3) carried out according to method step (d), a remaining period of time of the current release is determined automatically and information about the remaining period of time is generated electronically and transmitted to the user computer (1) for output.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the temporary identification file is erased automatically from the memory means upon closing of the browser in the user computer (1).

9. The method an claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the following further steps:

syntactically analyzing the electronic data set by way of the server means (3) for electronically recording hyperlink elements which are included in the electronic data set and each comprise a different data set address pointing to an associated data set in the network, especially in the provider server (2);

electronically rewriting the data set address of one of said hyperlink elements prior to transmission of a part of the electronic data set which includes the hyperlink element from the server means (3) to the user computer (1) according to method step (d) if it is determined in the electronic checking of the one hyperlink element that the data set address of the one hyperlink element lies within the electronic directory, the electronic rewriting being carried out such that a rewritten data set address or the one hyperlink element is generated which address points to the server means (3); and

storing an electronic allocation between the data set address of the one hyperlink element and the rewritten data set address of the one hyperlink element by way of the server means (3) so that, upon a user request for retrieval of the data set belonging to the data set address of the one hyperlink element, transmission of the associated data set with involvement of the server means (3) is guaranteed.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the syntactic analyzing is carried out on the fly while the electronic data set is transmitted at least in part from the provider server (2) to the server means (3).

11. A server means (3) which can be connected to a provider server (2) and a user computer (1) for transmitting an electronic data met in a network, the electronic data set in the provider server (2) being included in an electronic directory and being stored in said directory under a designation, and a communication address in the network being assigned to the electronic directory so that the electronic data set is electronically identifiable in the network by means of a data set address which comprises the communication address and the designation, the server means comprising:

a recording means for recording information transmitted from the provider server (2) to the server means (3) about a user request generated by means of the user computer (1) for retrieval of the electronic data set from the provider server (2);

an authentication means for automatically enabling authentication of a user of the user computer (1) in response to the recording of the user request;

a checking means for electronically checking a user authorization by means of stored release information which is stored electronically in a memory means;

a retrieving means for retrieval of the electronic data set from the provider server (2) in response to the checking of the user authorization;

a rewriting means for electronically generating a temporary communication address and for electronically rewriting the data set address belong to the electronic data met such that the data set address will include the temporary communication address; and

a transmitting means for transmitting to the user computer (1) the electronic data set rewritten as regards the data set address and retrieved from the provider server (2).

12. The server means (3) as claimed in claim 11, characterized by a generating means for generating a temporary identification file.

13. The server means (3) as claimed in claim 11 or 12, characterized by a plurality of parsing means for syntactically analyzing the electronic data met to automatically record hyperlink elements.

14. The server means (3) as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the plurality of parsing means are parsing means which operate according to the on the fly principle.

15. The server means (3) as claimed in claims 13 or 14, characterized by another rewriting means for electronically generating a further temporary communication address and for electronically rewriting the communication address which belongs to one of the hyperlink elements by means of the further temporary communication address.

16. The server means (3) as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized by a sorting means for sorting the automatically recorded hyperlink elements.