Apparatus, system, and method for network authentication and content distribution

• US 20070169205A1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Sansone, Christopher, Davison, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,230,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for network authentication and content distribution. The apparatus includes an authentication module configured to receive redirected network requests over a communications network from a firewall module and configured to present a user license agreement and not require user-identifiable information, and a content distribution module configured to synchronize over the communications network with a client module and transmit content to the client module. The system includes a firewall module connected with a global communications network, a network connected with the firewall module, a computing device configured to couple with the network, and the apparatus. The method includes receiving redirected network requests over a communications network from a firewall module, presenting a user license agreement and not requiring user-identifiable information, and synchronizing over the communications network with a client module and transmitting content to the client module.

Claims

1. An apparatus for network authentication and content distribution, the apparatus comprising:

an authentication module configured to receive redirected network requests over a communications network from a firewall module;

the authentication module configured to present a user license agreement and not require user-identifiable information; and

a content distribution module configured to synchronize over the communications network with a client module and transmit content to the client module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the content distribution module is further configured to redirect network requests to the firewall module upon losing sync with the client module.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the authentication module is further configured to allow network requests upon acceptance of the user license agreement and deny network requests upon non-acceptance of the user license agreement.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communications network further comprises a wireless access point configured to wirelessly couple with a computing device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the computing device comprises a browser configured to access a plurality of network resources.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the client module is configured to operate within the browser.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the authentication module is configured to terminate network access upon the termination of the client module.

8. A system for network authentication and content distribution, the system comprising:

a firewall module connected with a global communications network;

a network connected with the firewall module, the network further comprising a wireless access point;

a computing device configured to couple with the network;

a client module configured to operate within the computing device;

an authentication module configured to receive redirected network requests over a communications network from the firewall module;

the authentication module configured to present a user license agreement and not require user-identifiable information; and

a content distribution module configured to synchronize over the communications network with a client module and transmit content to the client module.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the content distribution module is further configured to redirect network requests to the firewall module upon losing sync with the client module.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the authentication module is further configured to allow network requests upon acceptance of the user license agreement and deny network requests upon non-acceptance of the user license agreement.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the communications network further comprises a wireless access point configured to wirelessly couple with a computing device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the computing device comprises a browser configured to access a plurality of network resources.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the client module is configured to operate within the browser.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the authentication module is configured to terminate network access upon the termination of the client module.

15. A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform an operation for network authentication and content distribution, the operation comprising:

receiving redirected network requests over a communications network from a firewall module;

presenting a user license agreement and not requiring user-identifiable information; and

synchronizing over the communications network with a client module and transmitting content to the client module.

16. The signal bearing medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to redirect network requests to the firewall module upon losing sync with the client module.

17. The signal bearing medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to allow network requests upon acceptance of the user license agreement and deny network requests upon non-acceptance of the user license agreement.

18. The signal bearing medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to wirelessly couple with a computing device.

19. The signal bearing medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to access a plurality of network resources.

20. The signal bearing medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to terminate network access upon the termination of the client module.