Method, apparatus and computer program for controlling access to content in a communications network

Apparatus for controlling access to content in a communications network, the apparatus comprising a processing system arranged to cause the apparatus to:

• analyse a request message received from an application module associated with a user equipment so as to determine an access permission, the request message comprising first data identifying a first server of a plurality of servers and second data indicative of a request for content from a second server of the plurality of servers, wherein the access permission is based on an attribute of the second server satisfying a predetermined criterion with respect to the first server and the first server is associated with the application module, whereby the application module is configured to process executable code using data retrieved from said first server;
• retrieve at least a portion of the requested content from the second server on the basis of the request message;
• and
• selectively include in a response message, an access control parameter in dependence on the determined access permission, the response message comprising said portion of the requested content, wherein said access control parameter provides the application module with permission to access the portion of the retrieved content in the response message.

A non-transitory computer medium configured to store executable program instructions, which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the steps of:

• analysing a request message received from an application module so as to determine an access permission, which application module is configured to process executable code using data retrieved from a first server of a plurality of servers, the request message comprising first data identifying the first server, and second data indicative of a request for content from a second server of the plurality of servers, wherein the access permission is based on an attribute of the second server satisfying a predetermined criterion with respect to the first server;
• retrieving at least a portion of the requested content from the second server on the basis of the request message;
• and
• selectively including in a response message, an access control parameter in dependence on the determined access permission, the response message comprising said portion of the requested content, wherein said access control parameter provides the application module with permission to access the portion of the retrieved content in the response message.

A method for controlling access to content in a communications network, the method comprising configuring a user equipment to:

• transmit, from an application module associated with the user equipment, a request message, the request message comprising first data identifying a first server of a plurality of servers and second data indicative of a request for content from a second server of the plurality of servers, wherein the first server is associated with the application module, whereby the application module is configured to process executable code using data retrieved from said first server;
• receive a response message, the response message comprising at least a portion of the requested content and an access control parameter indicating an access permission, wherein the access permission is based on an attribute of the second server satisfying a predetermined criterion with respect to the first server;
• analyse the response message so as to determine the access permission based on the access control parameter;
• and
• provide the application module with permission to access the portion of the requested content included in the response message in dependence on the determined access permission.

Apparatus for controlling access to content in a communications network, the apparatus comprising:

• an application module configured to process executable code using data retrieved from a first server of a plurality of servers;
• an interface configured to:
• transmit a request message, the request message comprising first data identifying the first server associated with the application module and second data indicative of a request for content from a second server of the plurality of servers;
• and
• receive a response message, the response message comprising at least a portion of the requested content and an access control parameter indicating an access permission, wherein the access permission is based on an attribute of the second server satisfying a predetermined criterion with respect to the first server;
• a processor configured to cause the apparatus to analyse the response message so as to determine the access permission based on the access control parameter,
• wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to provide the application module with permission to access the portion of the requested content included in the response message in dependence on the determined access permission.