System and method for maintaining state information between a web proxy server and its clients

• US 6,401,125 B1
• Filed: 08/05/1999
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NextPage, Inc. (Proofpoint Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: NextPage, Inc. (Proofpoint Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fitzwilson, Robert C., Makarios, Selene K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, CHUONG T
• Application Number:
  US09/369,489
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202, 709/219, 709/205, 709/229, 709/225, 710/36, 370/85, 370/329, 380/25, 380/49, 713/200, 713/201
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066

Abstract

A distributed network communication system implements a series of token exchange transactions similar to those used when passing browser cookies between an Internet server and a browser client. Rather than instigating a cookie exchange transaction from the Internet server to store information relevant to the server, according to this aspect of the present invention the proxy cookie is stored on the client side at the behest of the web proxy. To the browser client, the proxy cookie appears to be identical to any regular browser cookie; however, whenever the browser client presents a request for information to the proxy which is to be passed on to the Internet server, the proxy strips the proxy cookie from the request and uses it to identify the originator of the request. Based on this, the proxy can customize and personalize the client'"'"'s information request as appropriate and pass it on to the Internet server.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first information request directed to a first recipient and determining whether the first request includes a first given type of state information;

when the first request lacks the first given type of state information,

redirecting an issuer of the first request to issue a second information request to a second recipient,

receiving a second information request directed to the second recipient and determining whether the second request includes a second given type of state information, and

when the second request lacks the second given type of state information,

causing the issuer to provide information uniquely identifying the issuer;

receiving the unique information and redirecting the issuer to the first recipient;

receiving a third information request directed to the first recipient and including the information uniquely identifying the issuer; and

causing the issuer to store the information uniquely identifying the issuer and associate it with the first recipient and redirecting the issuer to issue a fourth information request to the first recipient along with the information uniquely identifying the issuer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first given type of state information is state information identifying the issuer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first given type of state information is a cookie.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second given type of state information is state information identifying the issuer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second given type of state information is a cookie.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second recipient is non-existent.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the issuer to provide information uniquely identifying the user comprises obtaining a unique identifier chosen by the issuer.

8. A system comprising:

means for receiving a first information request directed to a first recipient and determining whether the first request includes a first given type of state information;

means for, when the first request lacks the first given type of state information, redirecting an issuer of the first request to issue a second information request to a second recipient,

means for, after the issuer has been redirected to issue the second information request, receiving a second information request directed to the second recipient and determining whether the second request includes a second given type of state information, and

means for, when the second request lacks the second given type of state information, causing the issuer to provide information uniquely identifying the issuer;

means for receiving the unique information and redirecting the issuer to the first recipient;

means for, after the issuer has been redirected to the first recipient, receiving a third information request directed to the first recipient and including the information uniquely identifying the issuer; and

means for, after receipt of the third information request, causing the issuer to store the information uniquely identifying the issuer and associate it with the first recipient and redirecting the issuer to issue a fourth information request to the first recipient along with the information uniquely identifying the issuer.