Multi-user internet access and security system

• US 6,601,173 B1
• Filed: 07/06/1999
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Mohler, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUA, LY
• Application Number:
  US09/348,593
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 713/201, 713/202, 707/10, 707/102, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/245, 709/223, 709/229
• US Class Current: 726/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9562 Bookmark management

Abstract

The multi-user Internet access and security system which automates the management of the favorites category of bookmarks and also provides a password protection capability for all of the bookmarks that are stored by the computer system for each of the users of the computer system. In particular, the favorites category of bookmarks for each user is cache managed with the infrequently used bookmarks being cataloged as “expired” and then migrated to a “former favorites” category where they remain until the user deletes them or the system optionally automatically deletes them after a further predetermined period of inactivity. In this manner, the user can populate the favorites feature of the bookmarks, but does not have to further address the usefulness of these stored bookmarks, since the computer system automatically manages the cleanup of former favorite bookmarks. The present multi-user Internet access and security system also provides password protection of the individual user'"'"'s bookmarks to prevent the other users from accessing the user'"'"'s bookmarks. This is advantageous when the bookmarks are provisioned with login and password data to automate the user'"'"'s access to a particular WEB site. This capability is especially relevant where the login and password script varies for the plurality of bookmarks that are stored for a particular user. The user then does not have to remember the various access scripts, since they are programmed into the computer system. The user, having already been password admitted, simply clicks on the desired bookmark and the computer system automatically access the identified Internet WEB site without the need for further user input.

Claims

1. A bookmark system executing on a computer system, which is connectable to a network, for enabling each of a plurality of users to automatically address destinations that are accessible through said network, comprising:

memory means for storing a plurality of destination addresses, each of which identify a one of said plurality of predetermined destinations, for said plurality of users;

means for mapping said plurality of users to said plurality of destination addresses that are stored in said memory means to identify which of said plurality of users have authorization to access each of said plurality of destination addresses; and

means for enabling each of said plurality of users to access only ones of said destination addresses that are mapped to said each of said plurality of users.

2. The bookmark system of claim 1 wherein said means for mapping comprises:

means for partitioning said memory means into a plurality of domain spaces, each of said domain spaces being accessible by at least one of said plurality of users, not all of said domain spaces being accessible by all of said plurality of users.

3. The bookmark system of claim 2 wherein said means for enabling comprises:

means for requiring each of said plurality of users to input at least one of a login and a password to access said domain space.

4. The bookmark system of claim 2 further comprising:

means for requiring each of said plurality of users to input a login to access said computer system; and

means for requiring each of said plurality of users to input a password to access said domain space.

5. The bookmark system of claim 4 wherein said means for enabling comprises:

means for enabling a set of said plurality of users to access a particular one of said domain spaces via their respective individual passwords that are unique to a combination of said user in said set of users and said domain space.

6. The bookmark system of claim 1 further comprising:

means for storing a plurality of destination addresses for each of said users which are accessible via a favorites access process; and

means for automatically migrating ones of said stored plurality of destination addresses, which are accessible via a favorites access process, to a secondary memory location, accessible via a second favorites access process, as a function of frequency of access by said users.

7. The bookmark system of claim 1 further comprising:

means for storing a plurality of destination addresses for each of said users, which addresses are accessible via a favorites access process; and

means for tagging a one of said bookmarks to remain a favorite independent of the periodicity of access to this one of said bookmarks.

8. A method of operating a bookmark system executing on a computer system, which is connectable to a network, for enabling each of a plurality of users to automatically address destinations that are accessible through said network, comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory a plurality of destination addresses, each of which identify a one of said plurality of predetermined destinations, for said plurality of users;

mapping said plurality of users to said plurality of destination addresses that are stored in said memory to identify which of said plurality of users have authorization to access each of said plurality of destination addresses; and

enabling each of said plurality of users to access only ones of said destination addresses that are mapped to said each of said plurality of users.

9. The method of operating a bookmark system of claim 8 wherein said step of mapping comprises:

partitioning said memory into a plurality of domain spaces, each of said domain spaces being accessible by at least one of said plurality of users, not all of said domain spaces being accessible by all of said plurality of users.

10. The method of operating a bookmark system of claim 9 wherein said step of enabling comprises:

requiring each of said plurality of users to input at least one of a login and a password to access said domain space.

11. The method of operating a bookmark system of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

requiring each of said plurality of users to input a login to access said computer system; and

requiring each of said plurality of users to input a password to access said domain space.

12. The method of operating a bookmark system of claim 11 wherein said step of enabling comprises:

enabling a set of said plurality of users to access a particular one of said domain spaces via their respective individual passwords that are unique to a combination of said user in said set of users and said domain space.

13. The method of operating a bookmark system of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of destination addresses for each of said users which are accessible via a favorites access process; and

automatically migrating ones of said stored plurality of destination addresses, which are accessible via a favorites access process, to a secondary memory location, accessible via a second favorites access process, as a function of frequency of access by said users.

14. The method of operating a bookmark system of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of destination addresses for each of said users, which addresses are accessible via a favorites access process; and

tagging a one of said bookmarks to remain a favorite independent of the periodicity of access to this one of said bookmarks.

15. A bookmark system executing on a computer system, which is connectable to a network, for enabling users to automatically address destinations that are accessible through said network, comprising:

memory means for storing a plurality of destination addresses, each of which identify a one of said plurality of predetermined destinations, for said users;

means for mapping said plurality of destination addresses that are stored in said memory means to a plurality of domain spaces;

means for storing a plurality of destination addresses for said users which are accessible via a favorites access process in a first of said plurality of domain spaces; and

means for automatically migrating ones of said stored plurality of destination addresses, which are accessible via said favorites access process, to a second domain space, accessible via a second favorites access process, as a function of frequency of access by said users.

16. A method of operating a bookmark system executing on a computer system, which is connectable to a network, for enabling users to automatically address destinations that are accessible through said network, comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory a plurality of destination addresses, each of which identify a one of said plurality of predetermined destinations, for said users;

mapping said plurality of destination addresses that are stored in said memory to a plurality of domain spaces;

storing a plurality of destination addresses for said users which are accessible via a favorites access process in a first of said plurality of domain spaces; and

automatically migrating ones of said stored plurality of destination addresses, which are accessible via said favorites access process, to a second domain space, accessible via a second favorites access process, as a function of frequency of access by said users.