Proxy Server Mediator for Mobile B2C Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems face challenges in making existing web-based B2C commercial applications accessible from mobile phones due to limitations in mobile browsers, requiring complex conversions and additional security measures, which are tedious and costly, and pose security risks.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an application server, a proxy server, and a proxy database that enables secure authentication and data encryption for mobile access, using a dynamic encryption engine to manage user identities and payment instruments, allowing seamless access to B2C applications without modifying existing backend systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing B2C websites are converted to WAP format for mobile phone access, then mobile accessibility is improved, but device complexity and security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a WAP gateway as an intermediary component that sits between the WAP browser and the HTTP server. This gateway translates WAP protocol requests into HTTP requests, allowing mobile devices to access existing B2C websites without modifying the backend systems. The gateway acts as a mediator that handles protocol conversion, thereby improving mobile accessibility while maintaining the original website architecture and avoiding direct complexity in the B2C application itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing B2C websites are converted to WAP format for mobile phone access, then mobile accessibility is improved, but security risks increase due to signal interception
Solution Approach 1:
The WAP gateway serves as a secure intermediary that terminates the WAP connection and establishes a separate HTTP connection to the backend server. This architecture allows security measures to be implemented at the gateway level, protecting the communication channel between mobile devices and the B2C application. The gateway can implement security protocols, encryption, and authentication mechanisms to mitigate signal interception risks while maintaining mobile accessibility.
3Reliability
If authentication and security systems are established for mobile phone browsers, then security is improved, but implementation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The WAP gateway centralizes authentication and security functions in a single intermediary component rather than distributing them across the entire B2C application. This allows security systems to be implemented and maintained in one location, reducing implementation time and complexity. The gateway can handle authentication, authorization, and security protocols independently, enabling faster deployment and easier updates without affecting the core B2C application logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The WAP gateway performs authentication and security verification in advance, before requests are forwarded to the B2C application. By pre-processing security checks at the gateway level, the system establishes secure connections beforehand, reducing the time required for authentication during actual transactions and simplifying the overall security implementation timeline.
4Adaptability or versatility
If complex B2C applications are created to be compatible with mobile devices, then mobile compatibility is improved, but development cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The WAP gateway acts as an intermediary that handles mobile-specific protocol conversions and adaptations, allowing the B2C application to remain unchanged. Instead of modifying the complex B2C application to work with mobile devices, the gateway translates mobile WAP requests into standard HTTP requests that the existing application can process, thereby achieving mobile compatibility without increasing application complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system architecture is segmented into distinct components: the WAP gateway handling mobile protocol conversions and the B2C application handling business logic. This segmentation allows mobile compatibility features to be isolated in the gateway layer, keeping the core B2C application simple and unchanged while still achieving comprehensive mobile compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A system (1) for conducting commercial transactions comprises an application server (2) that hosts a software application that can be accessed by users to conduct commercial transactions thereon, an application user database (7) of authorized users capable of accessing the application server (2), each authorized user in the application user database (7) being uniquely identifiable by means of corresponding login name and password, and a proxy server (10) communicable with the application server (2) and accessible by a plurality of registered users from respective mobile phones (9). The proxy server provides each one of the plurality of registered users with access to the application server (2) from that user's respective mobile phone (9). A proxy database (11) is associated with the proxy server (10), the proxy server (10) containing details of authorized user database (7) who are also registered to access the application (2) server through the proxy server from their respective mobile phones (9).