Portability and privacy with data communications network browsing

• US 20030084302A1
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: de Jong, Eduard K., Levy, Moshe, Leung, Albert Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/014,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20030084302A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes

Abstract

A method for browsing a data communications network includes requesting user data from a user-controlled secure device if a network site that requires the user data is accessed. The request is performed prior to requesting the user data from another device. The method also includes sending the user data to a network server associated with the network site if the user data is received from the user-controlled secure device. According to another aspect, a method for servicing data communications network information units includes receiving user data associated with a network site, using the user data if the user data includes static user data and reconstructing the user data before using the user data if the user data includes dynamic user data.

Claims

1. A method for browsing a data communications network, the method comprising:

requesting user data from a user-controlled secure device if a network site that requires said user data is accessed, said requesting occurring prior to requesting said user data from another device; and

sending said user data to a network server associated with said network site if said user data is received from said user-controlled secure device.

2. A method for browsing a data communications network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for user data;

returning said user data if said user data is found and if returning user data for said request is enabled and if said user data comprises static user data;

reconfiguring said user data if said user data is found and if returning user data for said request is enabled and if said user data comprises dynamic user data; and

returning said reconfigured user data.

3. A method for servicing data communications network information units, the method comprising:

receiving user data associated with a network site;

using said user data if said user data comprises static user data; and

reconstructing said user data before using said user data if said user data comprises dynamic user data;

4. A method for browsing a data communications network, the method comprising:

requesting a cookie from a user-controlled secure device if a network site that requires said cookie is accessed, said requesting occurring prior to requesting said cookie from another device; and

sending said cookie to a network server associated with said network site if said cookie is received from said user-controlled secure device.

5. A method for browsing a data communications network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a cookie;

returning said cookie if said cookie is found and if returning cookies for said request is enabled and if said cookie comprises a static cookie;

reconfiguring said cookie if said cookie is found and if returning cookies for said request is enabled and if said cookie comprises a dynamic cookie; and

returning said reconfigured cookie.

6. A method for servicing data communications network information units, the method comprising:

receiving a cookie associated with a network site;

using said cookie if said cookie is a static cookie; and

reconstructing said cookie before using said cookie if said cookie is a dynamic cookie.

7. A program storage device readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for browsing a data communications network, the method comprising:

requesting user data from a user-controlled secure device if a network site that requires said user data is accessed, said requesting occurring prior to requesting said user data from another device; and

sending said user data to a network server associated with said network site if said user data is received from said user-controlled secure device.

8. A program storage device readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for browsing a data communications network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for user data;

returning said user data if said user data is found and if returning user data for said request is enabled and if said user data comprises static user data;

reconfiguring said user data if said user data is found and if returning user data for said request is enabled and if said user data comprises dynamic user data; and

returning said reconfigured user data.

9. A program storage device readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for servicing data communications network information units, the method comprising:

receiving user data associated with a network site;

using said user data if said user data comprises static user data; and

reconstructing said user data before using said user data if said user data comprises dynamic user data;

10. A program storage device readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for browsing a data communications network, the method comprising:

requesting a cookie from a user-controlled secure device if a network site that requires said cookie is accessed, said requesting occurring prior to requesting said cookie from another device; and

sending said cookie to a network server associated with said network site if said cookie is received from said user-controlled secure device.

11. A program storage device readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for browsing a data communications network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a cookie;

returning said cookie if said cookie is found and if returning cookies for said request is enabled and if said cookie comprises a static cookie;

reconfiguring said cookie if said cookie is found and if returning cookies for said request is enabled and if said cookie comprises a dynamic cookie; and

returning said reconfigured cookie.

12. A program storage device readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for servicing data communications network information units, the method comprising:

receiving a cookie associated with a network site;

using said cookie if said cookie is a static cookie; and

reconstructing said cookie before using said cookie if said cookie is a dynamic cookie.

13. An apparatus for browsing a data communications network, the apparatus comprising:

means for requesting user data from a user-controlled secure device if a network site that requires said user data is accessed, said requesting occurring prior to requesting said user data from another device; and

means for sending said user data to a network server associated with said network site if said user data is received from said user-controlled secure device.

14. An apparatus for browsing a data communications network, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a request for user data;

means for returning said user data if said user data is found and if returning user data for said request is enabled and if said user data comprises static user data;

means for reconfiguring said user data if said user data is found and if returning user data for said request is enabled and if said user data comprises dynamic user data; and

means for returning said reconfigured user data.

15. An apparatus for servicing data communications network information units, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving user data associated with a network site;

means for using said user data if said user data comprises static user data; and

means for reconstructing said user data before using said user data if said user data comprises dynamic user data;

16. An apparatus for browsing a data communications network, the apparatus comprising:

means for requesting a cookie from a user-controlled secure device if a network site that requires said cookie is accessed, said requesting occurring prior to requesting said cookie from another device; and

means for sending said cookie to a network server associated with said network site if said cookie is received from said user-controlled secure device.

17. An apparatus for browsing a data communications network, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a request for a cookie;

means for returning said cookie if said cookie is found and if returning cookies for said request is enabled and if said cookie comprises a static cookie;

means for reconfiguring said cookie if said cookie is found and if returning cookies for said request is enabled and if said cookie comprises a dynamic cookie; and

means for returning said reconfigured cookie.

18. An apparatus for servicing data communications network information units, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a cookie associated with a network site;

means for using said cookie if said cookie is a static cookie; and

means for reconstructing said cookie before using said cookie if said cookie is a dynamic cookie.

19. An apparatus for browsing a data communications network, the apparatus comprising:

a network browser configured to request user data from a user-controlled secure device if a network site that requires said user data is accessed, said request occurring prior to requesting said user data from another device, said network browser further configured to send said user data to a network server associated with said network site if said user data is received from said user-controlled secure device.

20. An apparatus for browsing a data communications network, the apparatus comprising:

a smart card configured to receive a request for user data, said smart card further configured to return said user data if said user data is found and if returning user data for said request is enabled and if said user data comprises static user data, said smart card further configured to reconfigure said user data if said user data is found and if returning user data for said request is enabled and if said user data comprises dynamic user data, said smart card further configured to return said reconfigured user data.

21. An apparatus for servicing data communications network information units, the apparatus comprising:

a network server configured to receive user data associated with a network site, said network server further configured to use said user data if said user data comprises static user data, said network server further configured to reconstruct said user data before using said user data if said user data comprises dynamic user data;

22. An apparatus for browsing a data communications network, the apparatus comprising:

a network browser configured to request a cookie from a user-controlled secure device if a network site that requires said cookie is accessed, said requesting occurring prior to requesting said cookie from another device, said network browser further configured to send said cookie to a network server associated with said network site if said cookie is received from said user-controlled secure device.

23. An apparatus for browsing a data communications network, the apparatus comprising:

a smart card configured to receive a request for a cookie, said smart card further configured to return said cookie if said cookie is found and if returning cookies for said request is enabled and if said cookie comprises a static cookie, said smart card further configured to reconfigure said cookie if said cookie is found and if returning cookies for said request is enabled and if said cookie comprises a dynamic cookie, said smart card further configured to return said reconfigured cookie.

24. An apparatus for servicing data communications network information units, the apparatus comprising:

a network server configured to receive a cookie associated with a network site;

said network server further configured to use said cookie if said cookie is a static cookie, said network server further configured to reconstruct said cookie before using said cookie if said cookie is a dynamic cookie.

25. An apparatus for enhanced privacy protection in identification in a data communications network, the apparatus comprising:

a smart card configured to store a randomized ID obtained in response to enrolling for a service on said data communications network, said smart card further configured to release said randomized ID to obtain services on said data communications network.