Browser-plugin based method for advanced HTTPS data processing

• US 7,634,572 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: SlipStream Data Incorporated (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Singh, Ajit, Ahmed, Salmaan, Sze, David, Nanduri, Akshay
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn; Nathan J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Keefer; Michael E
• Application Number:
  US11/313,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20060155869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/227, 709/246, 709/247
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/166 at the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC

Abstract

Methods for custom processing of HTTPS data transmitted between a web browser and a web server are described. The methods comprise creating a custom request header by intercepting and modifying a HTTPS header. The modification indicates support for preselected customized processing operations. The method further comprises sending the custom request header with a HTTP request to a web server. The methods further comprise receiving processed payload data from the web server and a HTTP response header. The processed payload data is created by processing original payload data based on preselected customized processing operations. The web browser modifies the response header to create a modified response header, and the processed payload data using one or more of the customized processing operations. The modified payload data is provided to the web browser for use. The methods ensure that the web browser implements and executes the underlying channel set up and encryption operations.

Claims

1. A method for custom processing of HTTPS data, comprising the steps of:

a) creating a HTTPS request at a customized web browser, wherein the customized web browser supports one or more preselected customized processing operations and has an end user interface for accessing and rendering content on the World-Wide Web, and the HTTPS request comprises one or more request headers to be transmitted to a web server;

b) intercepting the HTTPS request at the customized web browser, before the HTTPS request is encrypted, and modifying the HTTPS request to add a custom request header indicating that the customized web browser supports the one or more preselected customized processing operations;

c) encrypting and sending the custom request header and the HTTPS request to the web server;

d) receiving and decrypting the HTTPS request and the custom request header at the web server;

e) creating a HTTPS response comprising processed payload data and one or more HTTPS response headers correlatable therewith, wherein the processed payload data is created based on the HTTPS request by processing original payload data using the one or more preselected customized processing operations indicated in the custom request header to be supported by the customized web browser; and

f) encrypting and sending the HTTPS response from the web server to the customized web browser.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of modifying a URL of an object to be fetched by the customized web browser.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the object is a web site address for a content server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the HTTPS request is transmitted over the secure communication channel which is a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) connection or Transport Layer Security (TLS) connection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the customized web browser is a preinstalled web browser enhanced by a web browser plug-in to support the one or more preselected customized processing operations.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the preselected customized processing operations comprise, or are selected from the group comprising:

a compression operation, a decompression operation, an encryption operation, and a decryption operation.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

g) receiving and decrypting the HTTPS response from the web server at the customized web browser;

h) modifying the processed payload data utilizing the one or more preselected customized processing operations indicated in the one or more HTTPS response headers to create modified payload data indicative of the original payload data;

i) modifying the HTTPS response to form a modified response, wherein the one or more HTTPS response headers are modified in the modified response to form one or more modified response headers corresponding to the original payload data; and

j) providing the modified response and the modified payload data to the customized web browser for further processing.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the customized web browser is enhanced prior to installation to support the one or more preselected customized processing operations.

9. A computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code stored therein, the computer readable program code adapted to cause a customized web browser to perform the steps of:

a) creating a HTTPS request at a customized web browser, wherein the customized web browser supports one or more preselected customized processing operations and has an end user interface for accessing and rendering content on the World-Wide Web, and the HTTPS request comprises one or more request headers to be transmitted to a web server;

b) intercepting the HTTPS request at the customized web browser, before the HTTPS request is encrypted, and modifying the HTTPS request to add a custom request header indicating that the customized web browser supports the one or more preselected customized processing operations;

c) encrypting and sending the custom request header with the HTTPS request to a web server;

d) receiving from the web server and decrypting a HTTPS response comprising processed payload data and one or more HTTPS response headers correlatable therewith, wherein the processed payload data is created by the web server based on the HTTPS request by processing original payload data using the one or more preselected customized processing operations indicated in the custom request header to be supported by the customized web browser;

e) modifying the processed payload data utilizing the one or more preselected customized processing operations indicated in the one or more HTTPS response headers to create modified payload data indicative of the original payload data to be used for further processing;

f) modifying the HTTPS response to form a modified response, wherein the one or more HTTPS response headers are modified in the modified response to form one or more modified response headers corresponding to the original payload data; and

g) providing the modified response and the modified payload data to the customized web browser for further processing.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising the step of modifying a URL of an object to be fetched by the customized web browser over a secure communication channel.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the HTTPS request is transmitted over a secure communication channel which is a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) connection or a Transport Layer Security (TLS) connection.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the preselected customized processing operations comprise, or are selected from the group comprising:

a compression operation, a decompression operation, an encryption operation, and a decryption operation.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the computer readable program code comprises a web browser plug-in.

14. A client-server system for custom processing of HTTPS data, comprising:

a client computing device for executing a customized web browser, wherein the customized web browser supports one or more preselected customized processing operations and has an end user interface for accessing and rendering content on the World-Wide Web, and the customized web browser is operable to;

a) create a HTTPS request, wherein the HTTPS request comprises one or more request headers to be transmitted to a web server

b) intercept the HTTPS request, before the HTTPS request is encrypted, and modify the HTTPS request to add a custom request header indicating that the customized web browser supports the one or more preselected customized processing operations;

c) encrypt and send the custom request header with the HTTPS request to a web server;

d) receive from the web server and decrypt a HTTPS response comprising processed payload data and one or more HTTPS response headers correlatable therewith, wherein the processed payload data is created based on the HTTPS request by processing original payload data using the one or more preselected customized processing operations indicated in the custom request header to be supported by the customized web browser;

e) modify the processed payload data utilizing the one or more preselected customized processing operations indicated in the one or more HTTPS response headers to create modified payload data indicative of the original payload data to be used for further processing;

f) modify the HTTPS response to form a modified response, wherein the one or more HTTPS response headers are modified in the modified response to form one or more modified response headers corresponding to the original payload data;

g) perform further processing on the modified response and the modified payload data; and

a server computer for executing a web server operable to;

A) receive and decrypt the HTTPS request and the custom request;

B) create the HTTPS response comprising the processed payload data and the one or more HTTPS response headers correlatable therewith; and

C) encrypt and send the HTTPS response to the customized web browser.