Method and apparatus for providing access controls to communication services
First Claim
1. A method for controlling communication at a client device, the method comprising:
- sending identification information for a user from a client device to a communication control web server using a network;
at the client device, receiving access control information for the user from the communication control web server using the network, the access control information selected based on the identification information, wherein the access control information comprises a communication control parameter, an access setting, and an approved sender list for one or more communication type, the approved sender list including an approved sender identifier for each approved sender on the approved sender list;
at the client device, intercepting a received communication sent to the user, wherein the received communication includes a sender identifier and a communication type identifier;
at the client device, comparing the communication control parameter of each of the one or more communication types to the communication type identifier of the received communication;
at the client device, selecting the access setting and the approved sender list of the one or more communication type that matches the communication type identifier of the received communication;
at the client device, if the selected access setting allows the user to receive the communication, comparing the approved sender identifier for each approved sender on the selected approved sender list to the sender identifier of the received communication; and
at the client device, if the sender identifier is found on the selected approved sender list, sending the received communication to a client device networking layer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method, device, and control application are provided for controlling communication at a client device. A control application executing at the client device or on a network may be configured to send identification information for a user to a communication control web server; to receive access control information for the user from the communication control web server; to intercept a received communication sent to the user and/or to intercept a sent communication sent by the user; to determine if the received communication or the sent communication should be forwarded based on the access control information and a sender of the received communication or a recipient of the sent communication; and if the sender/recipient is found on an approved communication list, to send the communication to a client device networking layer. Other embodiments of the system include a client-portal architecture.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for controlling communication at a client device, the method comprising:
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sending identification information for a user from a client device to a communication control web server using a network;
at the client device, receiving access control information for the user from the communication control web server using the network, the access control information selected based on the identification information, wherein the access control information comprises a communication control parameter, an access setting, and an approved sender list for one or more communication type, the approved sender list including an approved sender identifier for each approved sender on the approved sender list;
at the client device, intercepting a received communication sent to the user, wherein the received communication includes a sender identifier and a communication type identifier;
at the client device, comparing the communication control parameter of each of the one or more communication types to the communication type identifier of the received communication;
at the client device, selecting the access setting and the approved sender list of the one or more communication type that matches the communication type identifier of the received communication;
at the client device, if the selected access setting allows the user to receive the communication, comparing the approved sender identifier for each approved sender on the selected approved sender list to the sender identifier of the received communication; and
at the client device, if the sender identifier is found on the selected approved sender list, sending the received communication to a client device networking layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer program product for controlling communication at a client device, the computer program product comprising:
computer code configured to;
send identification information for a user to a communication control web server using a network;
receive access control information for the user from the communication control web server using the network and based on the identification information, wherein the access control information comprises a communication control parameter, an access setting, and an approved sender list for one or more communication type, the approved sender list including an approved sender identifier for each approved sender on the approved sender list;
intercept a received communication sent to the user, wherein the received communication includes a sender identifier and a communication type identifier;
compare the communication control parameter of each of the one or more communication types to the communication type identifier of the received communication;
select the access setting and the approved sender list of the one or more communication type that matches the communication type identifier of the received communication;
if the selected access setting allows the user to receive the communication, compare the approved sender identifier for each approved sender on the selected approved sender list to the sender identifier of the received communication; and
if the sender identifier is found on the selected approved sender list, send the received communication to a client device networking layer.
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13. A client device having controlled communication with other devices on a network, the client device comprising:
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a communication interface, the communication interface configured to;
send identification information for a user to a communication control web server; and
receive access control information for the user from the communication control web server based on the identification information, wherein the access control information comprises a communication control parameter, an access setting, and an approved sender list for one or more communication types, the approved sender list including an approved sender identifier for each approved sender on the approved sender list;
a control application, the control application comprising computer code configured to;
intercept a received communication sent to the user, wherein the received communication includes a sender identifier and a communication type identifier;
compare the communication control parameter of each of the one or more communication types to the communication type identifier of the received communication;
select the access setting and the approved sender list of the one or more communication type that matches the communication type identifier of the received communication;
if the selected access setting allows the user to receive the communication, compare the approved sender identifier for each approved sender on the selected approved sender list to the sender identifier of the received communication; and
if the sender identifier is found on the selected approved sender list, send the received communication to a client device networking layer;
a memory, the memory configured to store the control application; and
a processor, the processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the control application.
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14. A system for controlling communication at a client device, the system comprising:
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a communication control web server in communication with a network; and
a client device, the client device comprising;
a communication interface, the communication interface capable of communication with the network and configured to;
send identification information for a user to a communication control web server; and
receive access control information for the user from the communication control web server based on the identification information, wherein the access control information comprises a communication control parameter, an access setting, and an approved sender list for one or more communication types, the approved sender list including an approved sender identifier for each approved sender on the approved sender list;
a control application, the control application comprising computer code configured to;
intercept a received communication sent to the user, wherein the received communication includes a sender identifier and a communication type identifier;
compare the communication control parameter of each of the one or more communication types to the communication type identifier of the received communication;
select the access setting and the approved sender list of the one or more communication type that matches the communication type identifier of the received communication;
if the selected access setting allows the user to receive the communication, compare the approved sender identifier for each approved sender on the selected approved sender list to the sender identifier of the received communication; and
if the sender identifier is found on the selected approved sender list, send the received communication to a client device networking layer;
a memory, the memory configured to store the control application; and
a processor, the processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the control application.
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15. A method for controlling communication at a client device, the method comprising:
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sending identification information for a user from a client device to a communication control web server using a network;
receiving access control information for the user from the communication control web server at the client device based on the identification information and using the network, wherein the access control information comprises a communication control parameter and an access setting for one or more communication types;
at the client device, intercepting an Internet access request initiated by an application used at the client device by the user, wherein the Internet access request includes a uniform resource locator (URL);
sending the URL to the communication control web server from the client device;
at the client device, receiving a URL category of content from the communication control web server;
at the client device, comparing the URL category of content to the communication control parameter of the one or more communication types;
at the client device, selecting the access setting for the communication control parameter that matches the URL category of content; and
at the client device, if the selected access setting allows access to the URL, sending the Internet access request to a client device networking layer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer program product for controlling communication at a client device, the computer program product comprising:
computer code configured to;
send identification information for a user to a communication control web server using a network;
receive access control information for the user from the communication control web server based on the identification information and using the network, wherein the access control information comprises a communication control parameter and an access setting for one or more communication types;
intercept an Internet access request initiated by an application used at the client device by the user, wherein the Internet access request includes a uniform resource locator (URL);
send the URL to the communication control web server;
receive a URL category of content from the communication control web server;
compare the URL category of content to the communication control parameter of the one or more communication types;
select the access setting for the communication control parameter that matches the URL category of content; and
if the selected access setting allows access to the URL, send the Internet access request to a client device networking layer.
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21. A client device having controlled communication with other devices on a network, the client device comprising:
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a communication interface, the communication interface configured to;
send identification information for a user to a communication control web server;
receive access control information for the user from the communication control web server based on the identification information, wherein the access control information comprises a communication control parameter and an access setting for one or more communication types;
send a uniform resource locator (URL) to the communication control web server; and
receive a URL category of content from the communication control web server;
a control application, the control application comprising computer code configured to;
intercept an Internet access request initiated by an application used at the client device by the user, wherein the Internet access request includes the URL;
compare the URL category of content to the communication control parameter of the one or more communication types;
select the access setting for the communication control parameter that matches the URL category of content; and
if the selected access setting allows access to the URL, send the Internet access request to a client device networking layer;
a memory, the memory configured to store the control application; and
a processor, the processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the control application.
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22. A system for controlling communication at a client device, the system comprising:
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a communication control web server in communication with a network; and
a client device, the client device comprising;
a communication interface, the communication interface capable of communication with the network and configured to;
send identification information for a user to the communication control web server;
receive access control information for the user from the communication control web server based on the identification information, wherein the access control information comprises a communication control parameter and an access setting for one or more communication types;
send a uniform resource locator (URL) to the communication control web server; and
receive a URL category of content from the communication control web server;
a control application, the control application comprising computer code configured to;
intercept an Internet access request initiated by an application used at the client device by the user, wherein the Internet access request includes the URL;
compare the URL category of content to the communication control parameter of the one or more communication types;
select the access setting for the communication control parameter that matches the URL category of content; and
if the selected access setting allows access to the URL, send the Internet access request to a client device networking layer;
a memory, the memory configured to store the control application; and
a processor, the processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the control application.
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23. A method for controlling communication through a portal based communication service, the method comprising:
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authenticating a user of a client device at a portal accessible using a network;
if the user is authenticated, retrieving an access setting for a communication application from a database accessible by the portal, wherein the access setting indicates if the user may use the communication application;
if the user may use the communication application, receiving a communication from a sender at the communication application, wherein the communication application comprises an approved communication list maintained by an administrator;
searching the approved communication list for the sender of the received communication; and
if the sender is found in the approved communication list, presenting the received communication to the user with the communication application. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A computer program product for controlling communication through a portal based communication service, the computer program product comprising:
computer code configured to;
provide a user interface for a communication application after authentication of a user at a portal and after a determination that the user may access the communication application, wherein the determination is made using an access setting for the user stored at the portal;
maintain an approved communication list accessible by an administrator;
receive a communication to the user from a sender;
search the approved communication list for the sender; and
if the sender is found in the approved communication list, present the received communication to the user in the user interface.
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35. A portal having controlled communication with other devices on a network, the portal comprising:
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a communication interface, the communication interface configured to;
receive information from a client device using a network; and
receive a communication to a user of the portal from a sender using the network;
a communication application, the communication application comprising computer code configured to;
provide a user interface at the client device after authentication of the user using the information and after a determination that the user may access the communication application, wherein the determination is made using an access setting for the user;
maintain an approved communication list accessible by an administrator;
search the approved communication list for the sender of the received communication; and
if the sender is found in the approved communication list, present the received communication to the user in the user interface;
a memory, the memory configured to store the communication application; and
a processor, the processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the communication application.
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36. A system for controlling communication through a portal based communication service, the system comprising:
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a client device in communication with a network; and
a portal, the portal comprising;
a communication interface, the communication interface capable of communication with the network and configured to;
receive information from a client device; and
receive a communication to a user from a sender;
a communication application, the communication application comprising computer code configured to;
provide a user interface at the client device after authentication of the user using the information and after a determination that the user may access the communication application, wherein the determination is made using an access setting for the user;
maintain an approved communication list accessible by an administrator;
search the approved communication list for the sender of the received communication; and
if the sender is found in the approved communication list, present the received communication to the user in the user interface;
a memory, the memory configured to store the communication application; and
a processor, the processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the communication application.
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Specification