System, method and apparatus for use in monitoring or controlling internet access
First Claim
1. A method for controlling or monitoring Internet access by categorizing Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), comprising the steps of:
- receiving a URL request denoting a specified URL;
generating a categorization request message to request categorization of the specified URL, wherein generating the request comprises generating a unique value to distinguish the categorization request message for the specified URL from other categorization request messages;
receiving a reply message denoting a category of the specified URI amongst a predetermined set of categories;
wherein;
the categorization request message comprises a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packet having a payload that includes the unique value, a timestamp, and a data section representing the specified URL; and
the reply message comprises a UDP packet having a payload that includes the unique value and the timestamp corresponding to the categorization request message, and a data section identifying a category of the specified URL amongst the predetermined set of categories;
calculating a timeout with reference to the timestamp;
resending the categorization request message upon expiry of the timeout; and
resending the categorization request message a predetermined number of times, and increasing the timeout between each resend;
wherein the predetermined number of times is reconfigurable during use.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system method and apparatus are provided for use in monitoring or controlling internet access at a client device 12. A request message 500 is generated to request categorization of a specified URL, and a reply message 600 is returned denoting a category of the specified URL amongst a predetermined set of categories. The request message 500 comprises a UDP package including a sequence number, a time stamp, and a data section carrying the specified URL. The reply message 600 comprises a UDP packet and includes the sequence number and the time stamp from the request message 500, and a data section identifying the category. The request message 500 and the reply message 600 are economical and provide efficient communication across a local area network or the Internet 20.
-
Citations
39 Claims
-
1. A method for controlling or monitoring Internet access by categorizing Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), comprising the steps of:
-
receiving a URL request denoting a specified URL; generating a categorization request message to request categorization of the specified URL, wherein generating the request comprises generating a unique value to distinguish the categorization request message for the specified URL from other categorization request messages; receiving a reply message denoting a category of the specified URI amongst a predetermined set of categories; wherein; the categorization request message comprises a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packet having a payload that includes the unique value, a timestamp, and a data section representing the specified URL; and the reply message comprises a UDP packet having a payload that includes the unique value and the timestamp corresponding to the categorization request message, and a data section identifying a category of the specified URL amongst the predetermined set of categories; calculating a timeout with reference to the timestamp;
resending the categorization request message upon expiry of the timeout; and
resending the categorization request message a predetermined number of times, and increasing the timeout between each resend;
wherein the predetermined number of times is reconfigurable during use.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 34, 37, 38)
-
-
17. A method for use in controlling or monitoring of Internet access at a client device by categorizing Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), comprising the steps of:
-
generating a categorization request message to request categorization of a specified URL, wherein the categorization request message comprises a request message header section including a sequence number field and a timestamp field, and a data section representing the specified URL, wherein the header section and the data section are the payload of a UDP packet and wherein generating the categorization request message header comprises generating the sequence number field as an incremental numerical value to distinguish the categorization request message for the specified URL from other categorization request messages; sending the categorization request message to a categorization server which determines a category of the specified URL amongst a predetermined set of categories, and in reply receiving a reply message comprising a request message header section including a sequence number field and a timestamp field each having contents corresponding to those of the respective fields of the categorization request message, and a data section identifying a category of the specified URL amongst the predetermined set of categories, wherein the header section and the data section are the payload of a UDP packet; calculating a timeout period with reference to the timestamp; resending the categorization request message one or more times upon expiry of the or each successive timeout period; and resending the categorization request message a predetermined number of times, and increasing the timeout between each resend; wherein the predetermined number of times is reconfigurable during use. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 35)
-
-
23. A method for use at a categorization server to assist in controlling or monitoring of Internet access at a client device by categorizing Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), comprising the steps of:
-
receiving a categorization request message which requests categorization of a specified URL, wherein the categorization request message comprises a request message header section including a sequence number field and a timestamp field, and a data section representing the specified URL, wherein the header section and the data section are the payload of a UDP packet and wherein the sequence number field comprises an incremental numerical value that distinguishes the categorization request message for the specified URL from other categorization request messages; and determining a category of the specified URL amongst a predetermined set of categories at the categorization server, and generating a reply message comprising a reply message header including a sequence number field and a timestamp field each having contents corresponding to those of the respective fields of the received categorization request message, and a data section identifying a category of the specified URL amongst the predetermined set of categories, wherein the header section and the data section are the payload of a UDP packet; sending the reply message from the categorization server for receipt by the client device; calculating a timeout with reference to the timestamp; resending the reply message upon expiry of the timeout; and resending the reply message a predetermined number of times, and increasing the timeout between each resend; wherein the predetermined number of times is reconfigurable during use. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 36)
-
-
29. A system for use in controlling or monitoring of Internet access by categorizing Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), comprising:
-
a client device comprising a processor controlled device configured to monitor or control Internet access according to a category of a specified URL, including generating a categorization request message to request categorization of the specified URL, wherein the categorization request message comprises a request message header section including a sequence number field and a timestamp field, and a data section representing the specified URL, wherein the header section and the data section are the payload of a UDP packet wherein the client device is configured to generate the sequence number field as an incremental numerical value to distinguish the categorization request message for the specified URL from other categorization request messages; and a categorization server comprising a processor controlled device configured to communicate with the client device and arranged to receive the categorization request message and determine a category of the specified URL, including generating a reply message comprising a request message header section including a sequence number field and a timestamp field each having contents corresponding to those of the respective fields of the received categorization request message, and a data section identifying a category of the specified URL amongst the predetermined set of categories, wherein the header section and the data section are the payload of a UDP packet; wherein the client device is further configured to; calculate a timeout with reference to the timestamp;
resend the categorization request message upon expiry of the timeout; andresend the categorization request message a predetermined number of times, and increase the timeout between each resend; wherein the predetermined number of times is reconfigurable during use. - View Dependent Claims (39)
-
-
30. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed provide:
-
an interface module arranged to present a URL categorization function, wherein the interface module is passed a specified URL from a client software and returns a categorization code; an encryption module which encrypts and decrypts data; a protocol module which marshals and unmarshals incoming and outgoing data and makes encryption/decryption calls to the encryption module; and a communication module arranged to send an outgoing categorization request message to a remote categorization server and to receive and buffer incoming data including a corresponding reply message, wherein; the categorization request message comprises a header section including a sequence number field and a timestamp field, and an encrypted data section representing the specified URL, wherein the header section and the data section are the payload of a UDP packet and wherein the sequence number field comprises an incremental numerical value that distinguishes the categorization request message for the specified URL from other categorization request messages; and the reply message comprises a header section including the sequence number field and the timestamp field having contents corresponding to those of the respective fields of the categorization request message, and an encrypted data section identifying a category of the specified URL amongst the predetermined set of categories as determined by the categorization server, wherein the header section and the data section are the payload of a UDP packet;
wherein the communication module is further arranged to;calculate a timeout with reference to the timestamp; resend the categorization request message upon expiry of the timeout; and resend the categorization request message a predetermined number of times, and increase the timeout between each resend; wherein the predetermined number of times is reconfigurable during use. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
-
-
33. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed provide:
-
a main module arranged to determine a category of a specified URL amongst a set of predetermined categories by comparing the specified URL against stored URLs in a categorization database; an encryption unit arranged to encrypt and decrypt data; a protocol module arranged to unmarshal incoming data into a comprehensible command format and marshal outgoing data into a transmittable format, and make encryption/decryption calls to the encryption unit; and a communication module arranged to receive and buffer incoming and outgoing data and respond to an incoming categorization request message including generation of an corresponding outgoing reply message, wherein; the categorization request message comprises a header section including a sequence number field and a timestamp field, and an encrypted data section representing the specified URL, wherein the header section and the data section are the payload of a UDP packet and wherein the sequence number field comprises an incremental numerical value that distinguishes the categorization request message for the specified URL from other categorization request messages; and the reply message comprises a header section including the sequence number field contents and the timestamp field contents from the categorization request message, and an encrypted data section identifying a category of the specified URL amongst the predetermined set of categories as determined by the main module, wherein the header section and the data section are the payload of a UDP packet; wherein the communication module is further arranged to; calculate a timeout with reference to the timestamp; resend the categorization request message upon expiry of the timeout; and resend the categorization request message a predetermined number of times, and increase the timeout between each resend;
wherein the predetermined number of times is reconfigurable during use.
-
Specification