Apparatus, system, and method for network authentication and content distribution
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling Internet access, the apparatus comprising:
- a firewall module comprising at least one of hardware and non-transitory computer readable storage media, the firewall module operating as part of a local area network (LAN) and situated between a computing device and the Internet, the computing device connected to the LAN behind the firewall module, wherein the firewall module;
intercepts a request from the computing device to access the Internet, the request not reaching the Internet;
requires the client module to be installed on the computing device, the client module originating at the LAN, the client module being required for the computing device to access the Internet;
authenticates the computing device in response to the computing device executing the client module;
causes one or more advertisements to be displayed to the user by the client module during an Internet session conducted through the firewall module; and
terminates the Internet session in response to the client module being terminated such that the one or more advertisements are not presented to the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for network authentication and content distribution. The apparatus includes an authentication module configured to receive redirected network requests over a communications network from a firewall module and configured to present a user license agreement and not require user-identifiable information, and a content distribution module configured to synchronize over the communications network with a client module and transmit content to the client module. The system includes a firewall module connected with a global communications network, a network connected with the firewall module, a computing device configured to couple with the network, and the apparatus. The method includes receiving redirected network requests over a communications network from a firewall module, presenting a user license agreement and not requiring user-identifiable information, and synchronizing over the communications network with a client module and transmitting content to the client module.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling Internet access, the apparatus comprising:
a firewall module comprising at least one of hardware and non-transitory computer readable storage media, the firewall module operating as part of a local area network (LAN) and situated between a computing device and the Internet, the computing device connected to the LAN behind the firewall module, wherein the firewall module; intercepts a request from the computing device to access the Internet, the request not reaching the Internet; requires the client module to be installed on the computing device, the client module originating at the LAN, the client module being required for the computing device to access the Internet; authenticates the computing device in response to the computing device executing the client module; causes one or more advertisements to be displayed to the user by the client module during an Internet session conducted through the firewall module; and terminates the Internet session in response to the client module being terminated such that the one or more advertisements are not presented to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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a firewall module situated between a computing device and the Internet, the firewall module communicating with the Internet and a local area network (LAN), the computing device connected to the LAN behind the firewall module; an authentication module configured to intercept a request from the computing device to access the Internet, the request not reaching the Internet, and require a client module to be installed on the computing device, the client module originating at the LAN, the client module being required for the computing device to access the Internet, the authentication module authenticating the computing device based on the computing device executing the client module; a content distribution module that transmits one or more advertisements to the client module, the client module displaying one or more advertisements to the user of the computing device during an Internet session conducted through the firewall module, the authentication module further terminating the Internet session in response to the client module being terminated such that the one or more advertisements are no longer presented to the user. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for:
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intercepting a request from a computing device to access the Internet, the request not reaching the Internet; requiring a client module to be installed on the computing device, the client module originating at the LAN, the client module being required for the computing device to access the Internet; authenticating the computing device based on the computing device executing the client module; sending one or more advertisements to the client module during an Internet session conducted on the computing device, wherein the client module displays the one or more advertisements to the user during the Internet session; and terminating the Internet session in response to the client module being terminated on the computing device such that the client module no longer displays the one or more advertisements to the user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification