Granted Patent B1

US 7,383,579 · App. 10/225,304 · Granted Jun 3, 2008

Abstract

Claims (43)

1. A method for handling computerized requests comprising:

receiving a request to an external network from a computer comprising a user agent string and a specified destination in the external network, in a network component;

extracting anti-virus data from the user agent string;

comparing the anti-virus data with a standard, wherein the anti-virus data comprises an anti-virus version date and wherein the user agent string has been modified by the computer to include the anti-virus version date, wherein the anti-virus version date has been converted by the computer to a coordinated universal time-expressed version date value and wherein the coordinated universal time-expressed version date value is at the end of the user agent string; and

directing the request based on a result of the comparison;

wherein directing the request based on a result of the comparison comprises redirecting said request to an alternate destination with respect to the specified destination in the external network and the network component when the anti-virus data does not meet the standard; and

wherein the alternate destination comprises a server in communication with the network component over an internal network and wherein the server, upon receiving the redirected request, performs at least one of the following:

severs a connection between the computer and the server comprising the alternate destination, wherein the connection is severed without informing the computer why the request was denied;

transmits an updated virus protection file to the computer; and

notifies a software provider that the updated virus protection file should be sent to the computer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said request comprises a hypertext transfer protocol request.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said directing said request comprises directing said request to an original destination of said request when said anti-virus data meets said standard.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said directing said request comprises directing said request to an original destination of said request when said anti-virus data exceeds said standard.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising modifying said user agent string to include said antivirus data.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising automating system updates to update one or more standards accessed for use in the comparison.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining if said user agent string and said standard are in comparable formats; and

converting said user agent string to a format which enables comparison with said standard.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining if said user agent string and said standard are in comparable formats; and

converting said standard to a format which enables comparison with said user agent string.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said standard is dependent upon the resource being requested in said request.

10. A system for handling computerized requests comprising:

a computer network;

a processor in communication with said computer network;

a request filter installed on said processor for comparing anti-virus data in a request to an external network received from a computer with a standard and directing said request based on said comparison, wherein directing said request based on said comparison comprises redirecting said request to an alternate destination with respect to a destination in the external network specified in the request and the request filter when the anti-virus data does not meet the standard, and wherein the alternate destination comprises a server in communication with the request filter over an internal network and wherein the server, upon receiving the redirected request, performs at least one of the following: sever a connection between the computer and the server comprising the alternate destination, transmit an updated virus protection file to the computer, and notify a software provider that the updated virus protection file should be sent to the computer, wherein the connection is severed without informing the computer why the request was denied.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein said processor comprises a layer 7 switch.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein said processor comprises a server.

13. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:

a client computer in communication with said computer network; and

a browser installed on said client computer, wherein said browser is operable for including antivirus data in a user agent string of a request.

14. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded computer program code for handling computerized requests comprising:

program code for receiving a request to an external network from a computer comprising a user agent string and a specified destination in the external network, in a network component from a computer;

program code for extracting anti-virus data from said user agent string;

program code for comparing said anti-virus data with a standard; and

program code for directing said request based on a result of said comparison, wherein directing the request based on a result of the comparison comprises redirecting said request to an alternate destination with respect to the specified destination and the network component when the anti-virus data does not meet the standard; and wherein the alternate destination comprises a server in communication with the network component over an internal network and wherein the server, upon receiving the redirected request, performs at least one of the following: severs a connection between the computer and the server comprising the alternate destination, wherein the connection is severed without informing the computer why the request was denied; transmits an updated virus protection file to the computer; and notifies a software provider that the updated virus protection file should be sent to the computer.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein said request comprises a hypertext transfer protocol request.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein said anti-virus data comprises the antivirus version date.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein said anti-virus version date comprises a coordinated universal time-expressed version date.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein said program code for directing said request comprises program code for directing said request to an original destination of said request when said anti-virus data meets said standard.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein said program code for directing said request comprises program code for directing said request to an original destination of said request when said anti-virus data exceeds said standard.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein said program code for directing said request comprises program code for redirecting said request to an alternate destination when said standard exceeds said anti-virus data.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising program code for modifying said user agent string to include said anti-virus data.

Assignments (8)