Proxy Server Application for Network Site Customization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Online merchants face challenges in customizing and managing their network sites due to compliance with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) when using third-party hosted solutions, which restricts their control and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a proxy server application that separates control of network sites, allowing merchants to designate self-managed portions and simplify hosting migrations between providers, while using external proxy servers to prevent unauthorized access and ensure security compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If merchants use third-party hosted solutions to ensure PCI DSS compliance, then security compliance is improved, but control and customization flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the network site into multiple domains: a first domain hosted by the third-party provider (maintaining PCI DSS compliance) and a second domain self-hosted by the merchant (enabling full customization). This segmentation allows merchants to have both security compliance and customization flexibility by placing different functional components in different hosting environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a proxy server as an intermediary component that sits between the client and the hosted site. The proxy server receives client requests, determines which domain is being accessed, and forwards requests to the appropriate hosting environment. This intermediary enables seamless integration of both hosted and self-hosted domains without compromising security compliance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If merchants use self-managed solutions to maintain control and customization, then flexibility is improved, but security compliance burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the site into compliance-critical components (hosted by third-party) and customization-critical components (self-hosted). This allows merchants to maintain full control over customization while the third-party provider maintains security compliance, effectively distributing the compliance burden only where necessary.
3Productivity
If merchants migrate hosting between providers to improve service or reduce cost, then operational benefits are improved, but migration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy server acts as a migration-friendly intermediary that can redirect traffic between different hosting providers. When migrating, merchants can update the proxy server's configuration to point to the new provider while maintaining the same domain structure, significantly simplifying the migration process compared to direct provider switches.
4Reliability
If external proxy servers are used to prevent unauthorized access, then security is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The external proxy server serves as a security intermediary that filters and monitors traffic before it reaches the hosted site. While it adds a component to the architecture, it provides essential security functions including access control, traffic filtering, and protection against unauthorized access, with the added benefit of enabling the hybrid hosting model.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments for network site customization using proxy server applications. A first request is obtained from an administrator of a network site to configure a proxy server application to obtain one or more network pages associated with a first portion of the network site from a first application executed in one or more computing devices. The proxy server application is configured in accordance with the first request. A second request is obtained from the administrator to reconfigure the proxy server application to obtain the one or more network pages from a second application executed in one or more computing devices. The network site includes one of several network sites hosted at least in part through the second application. The proxy server application is reconfigured in accordance with the second request.