Inline URL Categorization Using Lightweight Deep Learning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing URL categorization systems in cloud-based security systems face challenges in efficiently categorizing new URLs without introducing undesirable latency, particularly in large-scale environments with high transaction volumes.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing lightweight machine learning models, such as BERT-tiny, with improved tokenization and language-based content filtering, and implementing data leakage detection to perform inline URL categorization, leveraging curated training data and preprocessing of HTML files for efficient URL classification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional machine learning models are used for URL categorization, then classification accuracy can be achieved, but system latency increases and processing speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveURL categorization accuracyVSAvoidsystem latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs lightweight machine learning models that are computationally efficient and可以快速 deployed, replacing heavier traditional models. These lightweight models provide sufficient accuracy for URL categorization while significantly reducing processing time and resource consumption, enabling real-time inline categorization without substantial latency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies model parameters and architecture to optimize for speed-accuracy tradeoff. By adjusting model complexity, layer depth, and parameter counts, the system achieves acceptable categorization accuracy with reduced computational overhead, thereby minimizing latency in high-volume traffic environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If comprehensive content inspection is performed on all URLs, then categorization accuracy improves, but processing throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecategorization accuracyVSAvoidprocessing throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a two-stage processing approach where not all URLs undergo complete inspection. A lightweight filtering mechanism first processes URLs to identify obvious cases, and only potentially ambiguous URLs are subjected to full content inspection. This partial action maintains high accuracy for critical cases while preserving overall processing throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the URL categorization process into multiple stages: initial filtering, lightweight model classification, and detailed analysis only when needed. This segmentation allows the system to handle high volumes of traffic efficiently while maintaining accuracy through selective deep inspection of specific URL subsets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Speed

If lightweight models are used to reduce latency, then processing speed improves, but model complexity reduction may affect classification precision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidclassification precision
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses curated training data that replicates real-world URL distributions and characteristics. By training lightweight models on this carefully constructed dataset, the models achieve classification precision comparable to heavier models while maintaining the speed advantages of their simplified architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs extensive model training and optimization in advance before deployment. Pre-computing features, pre-processing training data, and fine-tuning model parameters beforehand allow the lightweight models to achieve high precision during actual online categorization without sacrificing processing speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20260058911A1Utilizing deep learning for inline Uniform Resource Locator (URL) categorization
Publication Date: 2026.02.26 ZSCALER INC
  • US20260058911A1 patent drawing
  • US20260058911A1 patent drawing
  • US20260058911A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods for inline Uniform Resource Locator (URL) categorization include training a lightweight machine learning model to score content associated with unknown Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) to determine a category of the plurality of categories for each of the unknown URLs; deploying the trained lightweight machine learning model to a node in a cloud-based system for use in production; and utilizing the trained lightweight machine learning model to monitor traffic inline to categorize unknown URLs.