PROXY SERVER

• US 20090249467A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Network Box Corporation Limited
• Original Assignee: Network Box Corporation Limited
• Inventors: Webb-Johnson, Mark Crispin
• Granted Patent: US 8,365,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

A proxy server for downloading a data file for a client, such as an email client or web browser, including: a external proxy for downloading the data file for the client from an external server over a network, based on profile data associated with the client stored on the proxy server; a memory module for storing the data file; and an internal proxy for transferring the data file to the client when requested by the client. The external proxy operates asynchronously to the internal proxy, and the proxy server operates transparently with respect to the client.

Claims

1. A proxy server for downloading a data file for a client, including:

a download module for downloading the data file for the client from an external server over a network, based on profile data associated with said client and stored on the proxy server;

a memory module for storing said profile data and said data file; and

a transfer module for transferring the data file to said client when requested by said client.

2. A proxy server as claimed in claim 1, wherein the download module operates asynchronously to the transfer module.

3. A proxy server as claimed in claim 2, wherein a connection between the proxy server and the client has a higher data rate than a connection between the proxy server and the external server.

4. A proxy server as claimed in claim 1, wherein the download module scans the data file to detect unauthorized content in the data file.

5. A proxy server as claimed in claim 4, wherein when unauthorized content is detected in the data file, the file is deleted, quarantined, or the unauthorized content is removed from the data file.

6. A proxy server as claimed in claim 4, wherein said unauthorized content includes computer viruses and spam messages.

7. A proxy server as claimed claim 1, wherein the data file is a content file, such as an email, RSS feed document or web page.

8. A proxy server as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proxy server obtains the profile data from the client, and validates the profile data by communication with the external server.

9. A proxy server as claimed in claim 8, wherein the profile data includes an Internet protocol address and authentication data associated with said client.

10. A proxy server as claimed in claim 9, wherein said authentication data includes a username and a password of a user of the client.

11. A proxy server as claimed in claim 9, wherein said client comprises an MUA and the profile data is obtained using the Post Office Protocol (POP).

12. A proxy server as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proxy server communicates with the external server and with the client using the Post Office Protocol (POP).

13. A proxy server as claimed in claim 1, wherein said download module includes an external proxy, said memory module includes an intermediate data store for said data file and an authentication data store for said profile data, and said transfer module includes an internal proxy.

14. A proxy server as claimed in claim 13, wherein the internal proxy uses Post Office Protocol (POP) commands in the Authorization State to validate authentication data and stores the validated data in the authentication data store.

15. A proxy server as claimed in claim 14, wherein the external proxy uses POP commands to obtain data files from the external server and stores said data files in the intermediate data store, and the internal proxy uses POP commands in the Update state to mark data files in said intermediate data store for deletion by the external proxy.

16. A proxy server as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proxy server operates transparently with respect to the client.

17. A proxy process, including:

storing profile data associated with a client;

downloading a data file for the client from an external server over a network, using the stored profile data;

storing said data file; and

transferring the data file to said client when requested by said client.

18. A proxy process as claimed in claim 17, wherein said downloading is performed asynchronously to said transferring.

19. A proxy process as claimed in claim 18, wherein a transfer connection to the client has a higher data rate than a download connection to the external server.

20. A proxy process as claimed in claim 17, including scanning the data file to detect unauthorized content in the data file.

21. A proxy process as claimed in claim 20, wherein when unauthorized content is detected in the data file, the file is deleted, quarantined, or the unauthorized content is removed from the data file.

22. A proxy process as claimed in claim 20, wherein said unauthorized content includes computer viruses and spam messages.

23. A proxy process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the data file is a content file, such as an email, RSS feed document or web page.

24. A proxy process as claimed in claim 17, including obtaining the profile data from the client, and validating the profile data by communication with the external server.

25. A proxy process as claimed in claim 24, wherein the profile data includes an Internet protocol address and authentication data associated with said client.

26. A proxy process as claimed in claim 25, wherein said authentication data includes a username and a password of a user of the client.

27. A proxy process as claimed in claim 25, wherein said client comprises an MUA and the profile data is obtained using the Post Office Protocol (POP).

28. A proxy process as claimed in claim 17, including communicating with the external server and with the client using the Post Office Protocol (POP).

29. A proxy process as claimed in claim 17, including storing said data file in an intermediate data store and storing said client profile data in an authentication data store.

30. A proxy process as claimed in claim 29, including validating authentication data using Post Office Protocol (POP) commands in the Authorization State and storing the validated data in the authentication data store.

31. A proxy process as claimed in claim 30, including obtaining data files from the external server uses POP commands and storing said data files in the intermediate data store, and marking data files in said intermediate data store for deletion using POP commands in the Update State.

32. A proxy process as claimed in claim 17, wherein said process operates transparently with respect to the client.

33. A computer-readable medium including contents that cause a computing device to implement a process comprising:

storing profile data associated with a client;

downloading a data file for the client from an external server over a network, using the stored profile data;

storing said data file; and

transferring the data file to said client when requested by said client.

34. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 33, wherein the process includes obtaining the profile data from the client, and validating the profile data by communication with the external server.

35. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 34, wherein the profile data includes an Internet protocol address and authentication data associated with said client.

36. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 35, wherein said client comprises an MUA and the profile data is obtained using the Post Office Protocol (POP).

37. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 33, including communicating with the external server and with the client using the Post Office Protocol (POP).

38. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 33, including storing said data file in an intermediate data store and storing said client profile data in an authentication data store.

39. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 38, wherein the process includes validating authentication data using Post Office Protocol (POP) commands in the Authorization State and storing the validated data in the authentication data store.

40. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 39, wherein the process includes obtaining data files from the external server uses POP commands and storing said data files in the intermediate data store, and marking data files in said intermediate data store for deletion using POP commands in the Update State.