Browser-plugin based method for advanced HTTPS data processing

A computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code stored therein, the computer readable program code adapted to cause a customized web browser to perform the steps of:

• a) creating a HTTPS request at a customized web browser, wherein the customized web browser supports one or more preselected customized processing operations and has an end user interface for accessing and rendering content on the World-Wide Web, and the HTTPS request comprises one or more request headers to be transmitted to a web server;
• b) intercepting the HTTPS request at the customized web browser, before the HTTPS request is encrypted, and modifying the HTTPS request to add a custom request header indicating that the customized web browser supports the one or more preselected customized processing operations;
• c) encrypting and sending the custom request header with the HTTPS request to a web server;
• d) receiving from the web server and decrypting a HTTPS response comprising processed payload data and one or more HTTPS response headers correlatable therewith, wherein the processed payload data is created by the web server based on the HTTPS request by processing original payload data using the one or more preselected customized processing operations indicated in the custom request header to be supported by the customized web browser;
• e) modifying the processed payload data utilizing the one or more preselected customized processing operations indicated in the one or more HTTPS response headers to create modified payload data indicative of the original payload data to be used for further processing;
• f) modifying the HTTPS response to form a modified response, wherein the one or more HTTPS response headers are modified in the modified response to form one or more modified response headers corresponding to the original payload data;
• and
• g) providing the modified response and the modified payload data to the customized web browser for further processing.

A client-server system for custom processing of HTTPS data, comprising:

• a client computing device for executing a customized web browser, wherein the customized web browser supports one or more preselected customized processing operations and has an end user interface for accessing and rendering content on the World-Wide Web, and the customized web browser is operable to:
• a) create a HTTPS request, wherein the HTTPS request comprises one or more request headers to be transmitted to a web server
• b) intercept the HTTPS request, before the HTTPS request is encrypted, and modify the HTTPS request to add a custom request header indicating that the customized web browser supports the one or more preselected customized processing operations;
• c) encrypt and send the custom request header with the HTTPS request to a web server;
• d) receive from the web server and decrypt a HTTPS response comprising processed payload data and one or more HTTPS response headers correlatable therewith, wherein the processed payload data is created based on the HTTPS request by processing original payload data using the one or more preselected customized processing operations indicated in the custom request header to be supported by the customized web browser;
• e) modify the processed payload data utilizing the one or more preselected customized processing operations indicated in the one or more HTTPS response headers to create modified payload data indicative of the original payload data to be used for further processing;
• f) modify the HTTPS response to form a modified response, wherein the one or more HTTPS response headers are modified in the modified response to form one or more modified response headers corresponding to the original payload data;
• g) perform further processing on the modified response and the modified payload data;
• and
• a server computer for executing a web server operable to:
• A) receive and decrypt the HTTPS request and the custom request;
• B) create the HTTPS response comprising the processed payload data and the one or more HTTPS response headers correlatable therewith;
• and
• C) encrypt and send the HTTPS response to the customized web browser.