US 7,603,356 B2 · System and method for network administration and local administration of privacy protection criteria

Abstract

Cookie files received from cookie file sources (e.g., Internet websites) are screened based upon the recommendations of a service provider which downloads privacy protection criteria in the form of a “watch list” to a subscriber's client machine. A user-friendly interface allows the subscriber to optionally modify the watch list prior to it being used at the subscriber's client machine by assigning known cookie file sources to either a “trustlist” or a “blacklist.” A “composite list” is then generated and used by the client machine to screen cookie files. The subscriber receives updates from the service provider on either a periodic or “as-needed” basis using a “quick update algorithm.” A “privacy scanning algorithm” runs on the client machine and has two different modes of operation. The first is a continuous mode where unwanted cookie files are blocked from being stored at the client machine. The second is a periodic mode where the client machine is “scrubbed” of unwanted cookie files according to the privacy protection criteria.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A method of screening cookie files in a client machine, wherein a cookie file includes a cookie file source, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, at a server, a request from a subscriber to send a list of untrusted cookie file sources to the client machine;
(b) downloading the list of untrusted cookie file sources from the server to the client machine;
(c) using the downloaded list of untrusted cookie file sources to detect cookie files received at the client machine from cookie file sources on the downloaded list by comparing the cookie file source of any received cookie file to the untrusted cookie file sources on the downloaded list;
and
(d) performing at least one of:
(i) removing stored cookie files received at the client machine from cookie file sources on the downloaded list by (A) comparing the cookie file source of stored cookie files to the cookie file sources on the downloaded list, and (B) removing any stored cookie files that have matching cookie file sources, and
(ii) preventing cookie files received at the client machine from cookie file sources on the downloaded list from being stored in the client machine by (A) comparing the cookie file source of received cookie files to the cookie file sources on the downloaded list and, (B) preventing storage of any received cookie files that have matching cookie file sources.

4 more elements

A method of creating a composite list of cookie file sources in a client machine, the method comprising:

(a) creating a first exception list including the identity of cookie file sources that are permitted to store cookie files in the client machine, wherein a cookie file includes a cookie file source;
(b) creating a second exception list including the identity of cookie file sources that are not permitted to store cookie files in the client machine;
(c) receiving at the client machine, from a service provider, a master list of untrusted cookie file sources;
(d) modifying the master list in accordance with the first and second exception lists, wherein the composite list is the modified master list;
and
(e) performing at least one of:
(i) removing stored cookie files received at the client machine from cookie file sources on the composite list by (A) comparing the cookie file source of stored cookie files to the cookie file sources on the composite list, and (B) removing any stored cookie files that have matching cookie file sources, and
(ii) preventing cookie files received at the client machine from cookie file sources on the composite list from being stored in the client machine by (A) comparing the cookie file source of received cookie files to the cookie file sources on the composite list and, (B) preventing storage of any received cookie files that have matching cookie file sources.

5 more elements

A method of creating a composite list of cookie file sources in a client machine, the method comprising:

(a) receiving at the client machine, from a service provider, a master list of untrusted cookie file sources;
(b) deleting cookie file sources from the master list that correspond to one or more trusted cookie file sources listed in the client machine;
(c) adding cookie file sources to the master list that correspond to one or more untrusted cookie file sources listed in the client machine, wherein the composite list is the master list as modified by any additions and deletions of trusted and untrusted cookie file sources;
and
(d) performing at least one of:
(i) removing cookie files stored in the client machine and received from cookie file sources on the composite list by (A) comparing the cookie file source of stored cookie files to the cookie file sources on the composite list, and (B) removing any stored cookie files that have matching cookie file sources, wherein a cookie file includes a cookie file source, and
(ii) preventing cookie files received at the client machine from sources on the composite list from being stored in the client machine by (A) comparing the cookie file source of received cookie files to the cookie file sources on the composite list, and (B) preventing storage of any received cookie files that have matching cookie file sources, wherein a cookie file includes a cookie file source.

4 more elements

An article of manufacture for screening cookie files in a client machine, wherein a cookie file includes a cookie file source, the article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

(a) receiving, at a server, a request from a subscriber to send a list of untrusted cookie file sources to the client machine;
(b) downloading the list of untrusted cookie file sources from the server to the client machine;
(c) using the downloaded list of untrusted cookie file sources to detect cookie files received at the client machine from cookie file sources on the downloaded list by comparing the cookie file source of any received cookie file to the untrusted cookie file sources on the downloaded list;
and
(d) performing at least one of:
(i) removing stored cookie files received at the client machine from cookie file sources on the downloaded list by (A) comparing the cookie file source of stored cookie files to the cookie file sources on the downloaded list, and (B) removing any stored cookie files that have matching cookie file sources, and
(ii) preventing cookie files received at the client machine from cookie file sources on the downloaded list from being stored in the client machine by (A) comparing the cookie file source of received cookie files to the cookie file sources on the downloaded list and, (B) preventing storage of any received cookie files that have matching cookie file sources.

4 more elements

An article of manufacture for creating a composite list of cookie file sources in a client machine, the article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

(a) creating a first exception list including the identity of cookie file sources that are permitted to store cookie files in the client machine, wherein a cookie file includes a cookie file source;
(b) creating a second exception list including the identity of cookie file sources that are not permitted to store cookie files in the client machine;
(c) receiving at the client machine, from a service provider, a master list of untrusted cookie file sources;
(d) modifying the master list in accordance with the first and second exception lists, wherein the composite list is the modified master list;
and
(e) performing at least one of
(i) removing stored cookie files received at the client machine from cookie file sources on the composite list by (A) comparing the cookie file source of stored cookie files to the cookie file sources on the composite list, and (B) removing any stored cookie files that have matching cookie file sources, and
(ii) preventing cookie files received at the client machine from cookie file sources on the composite list from being stored in the client machine by (A) comparing the cookie file source of received cookie files to the cookie file sources on the composite list and, (B) preventing storage of any received cookie files that have matching cookie file sources.

5 more elements

(a) receiving at the client machine, from a service provider, a master list of untrusted cookie file sources;
(b) deleting cookie file sources from the master list that correspond to one or more trusted cookie file sources listed in the client machine;
(c) adding cookie file sources to the master list that correspond to one or more untrusted cookie file sources listed in the client machine, wherein the composite list is the master list as modified by any additions and deletions of trusted and untrusted cookie file sources;
and
(d) performing at least one of:
(i) removing cookie files stored in the client machine and received from cookie file sources on the composite list by (A) comparing the cookie file source of stored cookie files to the cookie file sources on the composite list, and (B) removing any stored cookie files that have matching cookie file sources, wherein a cookie file includes a cookie file source, and
(ii) preventing cookie files received at the client machine from sources on the composite list from being stored in the client machine by (A) comparing the cookie file source of received cookie files to the cookie file sources on the composite list, and (B) preventing storage of any received cookie files that have matching cookie file sources, wherein a cookie file includes a cookie file source.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for network administration and local administration of privacy protection criteria

Life of this patent

System and method for network administration and local administration of privacy protection criteria

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28