System, method and apparatus for use in monitoring or controlling internet access

A method for use at a categorisation server to assist in controlling or monitoring of Internet access at a client device by categorising Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request message which requests categorisation of a specified URL, wherein the 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
• determining a category of the specified URL amongst a predetermined set of categories at the categorisation server, and generating a reply message comprising a request message header including a sequence number field and a timestamp field each corresponding to the received 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;
• and
• sending the reply message from the categorisation server for receipt by the client device.

A client device, comprising:

• an interface module arranged to present a URL categorisation function, wherein the interface module is passed a specified URL from a client software and returns a categorisation 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 request message to a remote categorisation server and to receive and buffer incoming data including a corresponding reply message, wherein:
• the 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
• the reply message comprises a header section including the sequence number field and the timestamp field from the request message, and an encrypted data section identifying a category of the specified URL amongst the predetermined set of categories as determined by the categorisation server, wherein the header section and the data section are the payload of a UDP packet.

A categorisation server, comprising:

• 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 categorisation 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 categorisation request message including generation of an corresponding outgoing reply message, wherein:
• the 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
• the reply message comprises a header section including the sequence number field and the timestamp field from the 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.