Apparatus for bleaching a de-activated link in a web page of any distinguishing color or feature representing an active link

• US 5,937,404 A
• Filed: 04/23/1997
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bonus Com
• Original Assignee: Appaloosa Interactive Corporation
• Inventors: Csaszar, Andras, Friedman, Stephen, Ligeti, Gabor
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RONES, CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/842,029
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/9, 707/10, 370/465, 395/187.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

A system for organizing access to a database that is distributed over an electronic network includes a system site on a dedicated server. A list of addresses to approved database sites on an electronic network stored on the system site is accessed by a user with a browser application. Reference cards permit the user to search and review the list of approved sites. In a first preferred embodiment, a request for access to a database site is made to the dedicated server. Access is denied for a non-approved site. An approved database is retrieved by the dedicated server. Each database link to an approved site is modified from direct to indirect to require all future access to be directed through the dedicated server. Links not in the list of approved sites will have their access denied. In a second, equally preferred embodiment, code defining a database location is removed at the dedicated server to de-activate links to non-approved database sites. The words representing the de-activated links are bleached of any indicia that represent the previous electronic network link. In a third embodiment of the invention, a framed screen display overrides the browser application display to prevent a user from defining a location for independent access to the electronic network. The only access to the electronic network is provided through the dedicated server and the user is thereby restricted to accessing the approved sites.

Claims

1. A system for organizing access to a database that is distributed over an electronic network, said system including a dedicated server having a system site thereon, said system site comprising:

a list storage module for storing a list of approved databases;

a frame module for producing a screen display that restricts the user from directly accessing said electronic network;

a search module for searching said list;

a request module for selecting a database from said list

a download module for retrieving said selected database from said electronic network;

a bleach module for de-activating and bleaching a link in said selected database to a database not included in said stored list; and

a distribution module for transmitting said selected contents to said user.

2. A system for controlling access to a database that is distributed over an electronic network, comprising:

a client having restricted access to said network;

a dedicated server in communication with said client and said network for restricting client access to said network;

a system site on said dedicated server having a list of at least one address of at least one approved database site on said network stored thereon;

said dedicated server accessing a database site in said list in response to a request from said server, and transmitting contents of said database site to said server;

a module for modifying a link in said database site to a second database site to require access to said second database site to be accessed via said dedicated server;

a module for modifying a link to a second database site included in said list to require access to said second database site to be accessed via said dedicated server;

a module that de-activates a link to a third database site not in said list to restrict access to said third database site; and

means for bleaching said de-activated link of any distinguishing color representing an active link.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a framed screen display to replace a standard user interface.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said framed screen display overrides at least a portion of said browser application display to restrict said user from directly accessing said electronic network.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said search engine comprises reference cards.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein said electronic network is one of an Internet or an intranet system.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein said database site is one of a World Wide Web page, Newsgroup postings, Internet Relay Chat channel, or electronic mail storage.

8. The system of claim 2, further including at least one search engine for searching and reviewing said list.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein said user accesses said system site with a browser application.

10. A system for organizing access to a database that is distributed over an electronic network, comprising:

a dedicated server in communication with said electronic network;

a system site on said dedicated server and having a list of at least one address of at least one approved database site on said electronic network stored thereon, wherein said system site may be accessed by a user with a browser application;

at least one search engine for searching and reviewing said list;

means for accessing said database site with said dedicated server in response to a request from said user;

means for downloading any contents of said accessed database site to said dedicated server;

means for modifying a link in said contents of said database to a second database site to require said second database site to be accessed via said dedicated server;

means for transmitting said downloaded contents from said dedicated server to said user;

means for de-activating a link in said contents of said database to a database site not included in said stored list; and

means for bleaching said de-activated link of any distinguishing feature representing an active link.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a framed screen display to organize said user access to said approved database site.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said framed screen display overrides at least a portion of said browser application display to restrict said user from directly accessing said electronic network.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said electronic network is one of an Internet or an intranet system.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said database site is one of a World Wide Web page, Newsgroup postings, Internet Relay Chat channel, or electronic mail storage.