# US 8,751,663 B2 · Method and apparatus for modifying HTTP at a remote data center via tunneling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,751,663 B2 - Document ID: US8751663B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/351,708 - Filed: 2009-01-09 - Published: 2009-08-13 - Granted: 2014-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2008-02-08 - Assignees: Front Porch, Inc. - Applicants: Zachary Edward Britton; Derek Stephen Maxson; Carlos Alberto Vazquez; Thabo Husayn Fletcher - Inventors: Zachary Edward Britton; Derek Stephen Maxson; Carlos Alberto Vazquez; Thabo Husayn Fletcher - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751663B2 ## CPC - H04L 67/563: Data redirection of data network streams - H04L 67/02: based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP] - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Disclosed is a method for targeted web content modification. In the method, a network service provider determines whether a web content request from an internet user station is a first-type request or a second-type request. If the web content request is a first-type request, then the first-type web content request is forwarded to the internet. Otherwise, if the web content request is a second-type request, then the second-type web content request is tunneled to a content modification station. The content modification station selectively responds to the tunneled second-type web content request with a redirection including a modified web content request. The internet user client receives modified web content based on the modified web content request. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for targeted web content modification, comprising: a network service provider determining whether a web content request from an internet user station is a first-type request or a second-type request; if the web content request is a first-type request, then forwarding the first-type web content request to the internet; otherwise, if the web content request is a second-type request, then: tunneling the second-type web content request to a content modification station, wherein a one-directional tunnel is used for tunneling the second-type content request to the content modification station; and if the tunneled second-type web content request meets a criteria for modification, the content modification station responding to the tunneled second-type web content request by forwarding to the internet user station a redirection for causing the internet user station to send a new web content request to the internet wherein the internet user station receives modified web content based on the new web content request, and otherwise, if the tunneled second-type web content request does not meet a criteria for modification, the content modification station forwarding the tunneled second-type web content request wherein the internet user station receives requested web content, directly from the internet and not from the content modification station, based on the tunneled second-type web content request. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 1, wherein a second-type request comprises an http request, and a first-type request excludes an http request. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 1, wherein the network service provider tunnels the second-type web content request to the content modification station using the Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) protocol. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 1, wherein the content modification station responds to the second-type web content request with a redirection only if the internet user station is a participant in web content modification. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 4, wherein the content modification station forwards the second-type web content request to the internet if the internet user station is not a participant in web content modification. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A method for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 4, wherein the content modification station discards the second-type web content request if the internet user station is not a participant in web content modification. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 1, wherein the redirection is configured to appear to originate from a target of the web content request from the internet user station. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 1, wherein a second-type request comprises outbound TCP port 80 traffic, and a first-type request excludes outbound TCP port 80 traffic. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 1, wherein a second-type request comprises a request based on a protocol using metadata, and a first-type request excludes a request based on a protocol using metadata. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 1, wherein the content modification station modifies the second-type web content request by replacing a request for first content, in the second-type web content request, with a request for second content thereby generating the new web content request. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 10, wherein the second content comprises an advertisement. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A method for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 1, wherein the content modification station modifies the second-type web content request by adding a request for second content thereby generating the new web content request. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 1, wherein the network service provider includes an identifier with the second-type web content request tunneled to the content modification station so the content modification station can identify the tunneled second-type web content request as originating from the network service provider. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 1, wherein the internet user station receives the redirection with the new web content request from the content modification station, sends the new web content request to the internet through the network service provider, and receives the modified web content based on the new web content request. ### Claim 15 An apparatus for targeted web content modification, comprising: a network service provider; and a content modification station; wherein the network service provider determines whether a web content request from an internet user station is a first-type request or a second-type request, and the network service provider forwards the first-type web content request to the internet if the web content request is a first-type request, otherwise the network service provider tunnels the second-type web content request to the content modification station, wherein a one-directional tunnel is used for tunneling the second-type content request to the content modification station; and wherein, if the tunneled second-type web content request meets a criteria for modification, the content modification station responds to the tunneled second-type web content request by forwarding to the internet user station a redirection causing the internet user station to send a new web content request to the internet wherein the internet user station receives modified web content based on the new web content request, and otherwise, if the tunneled second-type web content request does not meet a criteria for modification, the content modification station forwards the tunneled second-type web content request wherein the internet user station receives requested web content, directly from the internet and not from the content modification station, based on the tunneled second-type web content request. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An apparatus for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 15, wherein a second-type request comprises an http request, and a first-type request excludes an http request. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) An apparatus for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 15, wherein the network service provider tunnels the second-type web content request to the content modification station using the Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) protocol. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) An apparatus for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 15, wherein the content modification station responds to the second-type web content request with a redirection only if the internet user station is a participant in web content modification. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) An apparatus for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 18, wherein the content modification station forwards the second-type web content request to the internet if the internet user station is not a participant in web content modification. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) An apparatus for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 18, wherein the content modification station discards the second-type web content request if the internet user station is not a participant in web content modification. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) An apparatus for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 15, wherein the redirection is configured to appear to originate from a target of the web content request from the internet user station. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) An apparatus for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 15, wherein a second-type request comprises outbound TCP port 80 traffic, and a first-type request excludes outbound TCP port 80 traffic. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) An apparatus for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 15, wherein a second-type request comprises a request based on a protocol using metadata, and a first-type request excludes a request based on a protocol using metadata. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) An apparatus for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 15, wherein the content modification station modifies the second-type web content request by replacing a request for first content, in the second-type web content request, with a request for second content thereby generating the new web content request. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) An apparatus for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 24, wherein the second content comprises an advertisement. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) An apparatus for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 15, wherein the content modification station modifies the second-type web content request by adding a request for second content thereby generating the new web content request. ### Claim 27 (depends on 15) An apparatus for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 15, wherein the network service provider includes an identifier with the second-type web content request tunneled to the content modification station so the content modification station can identify the tunneled second-type web content request as originating from the network service provider. ### Claim 28 (depends on 15) An apparatus for targeted web content modification as defined in claim 15, wherein the internet user station receives the redirection with the new web content request from the content modification station, sends the new web content request to the internet through the network service provider, and receives the modified web content based on the new web content request. ### Claim 29 A computer program product, comprising: non-transitory computer readable medium including: code for causing a network service station to determine whether a web content request from an internet user station is a first-type request or a second-type request; code for causing the network service station to forward the first-type web content request to the internet if the web content request is a first-type request, otherwise causing the network service station to tunnel the second-type web content request to a content modification station, wherein a one-directional tunnel is used for tunneling the second-type content request to the content modification station; code for causing the content modification station to respond to the tunneled second-type web content request, if the tunneled second-type web content request meets a criteria for modification, by forwarding to the internet user station a redirection for causing the internet user station to send the modified web content request to the internet wherein the internet user station receives modified web content based on the new web content request; and code for causing the content modification station, if the tunneled second-type web content request does not meet a criteria for modification, to forward the tunneled second-type web content request wherein the internet user station receives requested web content, directly from the internet and not from the content modification station, based on the tunneled second-type web content request. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A computer program product as defined in claim 29, wherein a second-type request comprises an http request, and a first-type request excludes an http request. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) A computer program product as defined in claim 29, wherein a second-type request comprises outbound TCP port 80 traffic, and a first-type request excludes outbound TCP port 80 traffic. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) A computer program product as defined in claim 29, wherein a second-type request comprises a request based on a protocol using metadata, and a first-type request excludes a request based on a protocol using metadata.