System and method for improved notifications

• US 9,166,938 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Mody, Nirmal, Avirneni, Srini, Van Lieu, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): DONAGHUE, LARRY D
• Application Number:
  US14/265,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20140324996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers

Abstract

Systems and methods for sending/receiving improved in-browser notification messages are provided. The notification messages are overlaid on HTTP traffic on port 80 for IP addresses provisioned to receive the notification messages from various sources, including weather, emergency broadcast, and police stations. A load balancer within the end-to-end system allows HTTP traffic on port 80 to be forked from non HTTP traffic on port 80 to selectively insert notification messages. The notifications are inserted by an internet content adoption protocol (ICAP) server in communication with other devices within the system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first set of data packets marked with an indicator that indicates that an internet protocol (IP) address associated with a source of the first set of data packets should receive a notification;

transmitting the first set of data packets to a server;

receiving a second set of data packets responsive to the first set of data packets from the server;

inserting the notification into the second set of data packets; and

transmitting the second set of data packets to a user device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a notification platform, the notification to be inserted into the second set of data packets; and

caching the notification.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information indicating that the IP address is to receive the notification; and

setting a policy to transmit the notification to the IP address.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the policy is received from a business policy engine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the source of the first set of data packets is the user device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of data packets are marked using differentiated services code point markings.

7. A method comprising:

receiving a first set of data packets;

marking the first set of data packets with an indicator that indicates that a network address, from a plurality of network addresses, associated with a source of the first set of data packets should receive a notification;

receiving a second set of data packets from a server responsive to the first set of data packets being transmitted to the server;

inserting the notification into the second set of data packets; and

transmitting the second set of data packets to a user device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving data indicating that traffic from the plurality of network addresses is to be marked with the indicator.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data is received from a policy server.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the indicator is a differentiated services code point marking.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the indicator marking the first set of data packets is based upon a port number from which the first set of data packets is received.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the first set of data packets and the second set of data packets comprise Hyper Text Transfer Protocol traffic.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the network address is an IP address.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a first set of data packets;

determining that the first set of data packets can be adapted by insertion of a notification into the first set of data packets;

receiving a second set of data packets responsive to the first set of data packets being transmitted to a server;

inserting the notification into the second set of data packets; and

transmitting the second set of data packets to a user device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

reassembling the second set of data packets such that original content of the second set of data packets is unaltered.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving data indicating that a user has received the notification transmitted in the second set of data packets.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first set of data packets comprises preview data packets and a portion of the second set of data packets comprises the preview data packets.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the determination that the first set of data packets can be adapted is based on an internet protocol address and a port number from which the first set of data packets is received.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the notification is received from a policy server.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein a source of the first set of data packets is the user device.