Content Filtering Router Using Static Source Routes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing content filtering systems require extensive installation, configuration, and updating on individual client computers, are prone to circumvention, and struggle with the rapid growth of inappropriate content on the internet, necessitating a more efficient and user-intervention-free solution.

Innovation Solution

A remotely configurable content filtering system that uses a content filtering router to manage filtering decisions based on static source routes, eliminating the need for software on client computers and allowing centralized management of filtering lists, ensuring transparent and effective content control across a network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If content filtering software is installed on each client computer, then content filtering capability is provided, but installation and configuration time increases and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent filtering capabilityVSAvoidinstallation and configuration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the content filtering functionality from individual client computers and consolidates it into a centralized proxy server. The proxy server maintains a master list of restricted content that is periodically updated and distributed to client computers, eliminating the need for complex installation and configuration on each client while maintaining filtering capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The proxy server serves as a universal filtering solution for the entire network, providing content filtering capabilities to all client computers through a single system. This multi-functional approach allows the proxy server to handle filtering for multiple clients simultaneously, reducing overall installation and maintenance time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If filtering software is updated periodically on client computers, then restricted content lists are maintained, but client computer memory is consumed and performance is affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverestricted content list accuracyVSAvoidclient computer memory

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the large memory-intensive filtering database from client computers and stores it centrally on the proxy server. Client computers only receive periodic updates containing changes to the restricted content list, rather than maintaining the complete database locally. This dramatically reduces memory consumption on client machines while keeping the filtering accurate and up-to-date.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If filtering software is installed on client computers, then content filtering is provided, but ease of operation decreases due to configuration requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent filtering functionVSAvoidconfiguration simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automatic update mechanisms where the proxy server periodically downloads updated restricted content lists and automatically distributes them to client computers without user intervention. This self-service approach eliminates the need for users to manually configure or maintain filtering software, greatly improving ease of operation while maintaining filtering reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If filtering lists are downloaded and installed on each client computer, then restricted content is blocked, but productivity decreases due to maintenance requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent restriction effectivenessVSAvoidsystem maintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the maintenance burden from individual client computers and centralizes it on the proxy server. The proxy server automatically downloads, processes, and distributes filtering list updates to all clients in a single operation, rather than requiring separate maintenance on each machine. This significantly reduces total maintenance time while maintaining effective content restriction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The proxy server performs preliminary processing of filtering updates before distributing them to clients. By preparing and validating update packages in advance, the system minimizes the time clients need to spend on maintenance operations, improving overall productivity while ensuring reliable content restriction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7953087B1Content filtering using static source routes

Publication Date: 2011.05.31 DIRECTV LLC

AI summary

A packet containing a request for content is initially received at a content filtering router. The packet comprises a first destination Internet Protocol (IP) address of a content server that stores the content and a second destination IP address of the content filtering router. It is then ascertained that the first IP address is on a list of destination IP addresses to be filtered and the packet is, therefore, routed someplace other than the first destination IP address, such as to a port that discards the packet.