Resource retrieval over a source network determined by checking a header of the requested resource for access restrictions

• US 6,343,323 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1998
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: More Magic Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: More Magic Software Mms Oy
• Inventors: Nieminen, Mika P., Rinkinen, Jorma, Kalpio, Karri
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): EL HADY, NABIL M
• Application Number:
  US09/213,753
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202, 709/224, 709/225, 709/217, 709/229, 705/34, 705/40, 705/44
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

A method of downloading resources to a client (1) from a content server (3) over a data network. A resource request message is sent from the client (1) and is intercepted at a proxy (2) located in the data network between the client (1) and the content server (3). A header request is sent from the proxy (2) to the content server (3), requesting the content server (3) to transmit a header, associated with the requested resource, to the proxy (2). The header is received at the proxy (2) which determines whether or not the header contains billing and/or access restrictions. In the event that the header does contain billing and/or access restrictions, the client'"'"'s right to receive the requested resource is authenticated and, providing the client is authenticated, the resource request message is delivered from the proxy (2) to the content server (3) and subsequently the resource is downloaded from the content server (3) to the client (1).

Claims

1. A method of downloading resources to a client from a content server over a data network, the method comprising the steps of:

sending a resource request message from the client;

intercepting the sent resource request message at a proxy located in the data network between the client and the content server;

sending a header request from the proxy to the content server requesting the content server to transmit a header, associated with the requested resource, to the proxy;

receiving the header at the proxy and determining whether or not the header contains billing and/or access restrictions;

in the event that the header does contain billing and/or access restrictions, authenticating the client'"'"'s right to receive the requested resource; and

providing the client is authenticated, delivering the resource request message from the proxy to the content server and subsequently downloading the resource from the content server to the client.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of authenticating the client'"'"'s right to receive the requested resource comprises conducting an authentication dialogue with an Internet Service Broker (ISB).

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the ISB is a software server platform which centralizes the logistic services on behalf of other content services.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the authentication step additionally comprises a dialogue between the ISB and the client following the setting up of the dialogue between the proxy and the ISB.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the proxy caches previously requested resources to minimize loading time of commonly requested resources, the method comprising determining whether or not a requested resource is present in the cache and, if present, whether or not the cached resource is valid based upon data contained in the received header, wherein if the resource is present and valid the resource is sent from the proxy to the client whilst said resource request message is not delivered from the proxy to the content server.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the proxy is a program running on a separate computer device placed in front of the computer device on which the content server is running.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the proxy is a program running on the same computer as the content server program.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the proxy conducts a confirmation dialogue with the client on the basis of instructions originating from an Internet Service Broker.

9. A proxy for controlling billing and access in a data network, the proxy comprising;

means for intercepting a resource request message sent from a client and intended for a content server;

means for sending a header request to the content server requesting the content server to transmit a header, associated with the requested resource, to the proxy;

means for receiving the transmitted header and for determining whether or not the header contains billing and/or access restrictions;

means for authenticating the client'"'"'s right to receive the requested resource in the event that the header does contain billing and/or access restrictions; and

means for delivering the resource request message to the content server in the event that the client is authenticated.

10. A computer memory encoded with executable instructions representing a computer program for causing a computer system connected to a data network to operate as a proxy, the proxy operating to:

intercept a resource request message sent from a client and intended for a content server;

send a header request to the content server requesting the content server to transmit a header, associated with the requested resource, to the proxy;

receive the transmitted header and for determining whether or not the header contains billing and/or access restrictions;

authenticate the client'"'"'s right to receive the requested resource in the event that the header does contain billing and/or access restrictions; and

deliver the resource request message to the content server in the event that the client is authenticated.