Systems and methods for requesting and delivering network content

• US 20120179787A1
• Filed: 01/10/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Walsh, David Joseph, Ogrinz, Michael Emil
• Granted Patent: US 8,527,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227

Abstract

A system and method for facilitating content requests while maintaining content restrictions may include a proxy server configured to filter requested content based on specified content restrictions. The proxy server may initially retrieve the requested content from an external site using unrestricted access credentials. Upon receipt of the requested content, the proxy server may filter the content to remove and/or replace portions thereof that do not comply with content restrictions. In some arrangements, filtering parameters may be user and/or device-specific. Additionally or alternatively, the proxy server may subscribe to and/or use information streams or feeds to deliver content from requested sites to a user. By delivering information streams or feeds, the potential for user transmission of data to external sites may be reduced and/or eliminated.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first proxy server, a request for content from a network from a requesting device;

replacing, by the first proxy server, a first identifier of a requestor of the content with a second identifier, wherein the first identifier is associated with restricted network access and the second identifier is associated with unrestricted network access;

requesting, by the first proxy server, the content using the second identifier;

receiving the requested content;

modifying at least one portion the requested content to remove disallowed content items; and

transmitting the requested content with the modified at least one portion to the requesting device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the at least one portion of the requested content includes removing a form element from a webpage, wherein the form element is configured to receive user input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein requesting the content using the second identifier includes transmitting the request for the content after the first identifier has been replaced with the second identifier to a second proxy server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the at least one portion includes:

replacing a first link in the requested content with a second link, wherein invoking the first link causes a further content request to be sent without first passing through the first proxy server and wherein invoking the second link causes the further content request to pass through the first proxy server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the at least one portion includes:

determining a manner in which to modify the at least one portion based on an identity of at least one of;

a requesting user and the requesting device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying one or more information feeds provided in the requested content; and

subscribing to the one or more information feeds for a user requesting the requested content.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein subscribing to the one or more information feeds includes:

subscribing to the one or more information feeds using the second identifier; and

storing an association between the subscription to the one or more information feeds and the first identifier.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, at a proxy server, a request for content available through a network, wherein the request includes a first requestor identifier corresponding to at least one of a requesting device and a requesting user;

requesting, by the proxy server, the content using a second requestor identifier different from the first requestor identifier;

receiving the requested content;

identifying one or more information feeds available from the requested content; and

subscribing to the one or more information feeds using the second requestor identifier.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

storing an association between the subscription to the one or more information feeds and the first requestor identifier.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting new content available from the one or more information feeds;

obtaining the new content;

determining one or more requestor identifiers associated with the subscription; and

transmitting the new content to a device associated with the determined one or more requestor identifiers.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the requested content includes a web page and wherein the one or more information feeds includes a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising replacing the first requestor identifier in the content request with the second requestor identifier.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first requestor identifier corresponds to a restriction against the requested content and wherein the second requestor identifier is not restricted from the requested content.

14. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor and storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to;

receive a request for content from a network from a requesting device;

replace a first identifier of a requestor of the content with a second identifier, wherein the first identifier is associated with restricted network access and the second identifier is associated with unrestricted network access;

request the content using the second identifier;

receive the requested content;

modify at least one portion the requested content to remove disallowed content items; and

transmit the requested content with the modified at least one portion to the requesting device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein modifying the at least one portion of the requested content includes removing a form element from a webpage, wherein the form element is configured to receive user input.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein requesting the content using the second identifier includes transmitting the request for the content after the first identifier has been replaced with the second identifier to a proxy server different from the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein modifying the at least one portion includes:

replacing a first link in the requested content with a second link, wherein invoking the first link causes a further content request to be sent without first passing through the apparatus and wherein invoking the second link causes the further content request to pass through the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein modifying the at least one portion includes:

determining a manner in which to modify the at least one portion based on an identity of at least one of;

a requesting user and the requesting device.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to:

identify one or more information feeds provided in the requested content; and

subscribe to the one or more information feeds for a user requesting the requested content.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein subscribing to the one or more information feeds includes:

subscribing to the one or more information feeds using the second identifier; and

storing an association between the subscription to the one or more information feeds and the first identifier.