Web Page Characteristic Detection Using HTM for Malicious Changes

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems lack effective methods to detect malicious attacks on web servers that result in subtle changes to web application configurations, posing risks to network security and data integrity.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method using a hierarchical temporal memory (HTM) to model normal web application characteristics during a training phase, followed by anomaly detection in a production phase, identifying deviations from the trained model to detect anomalous changes indicative of malicious activity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional detection methods are used to monitor web application changes, then the system complexity remains low, but the detection precision is insufficient to identify subtle malicious changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an HTM-based anomaly detection system as an intermediary layer between web application operations and security analysis. This intermediary automatically learns normal operational patterns during training and detects deviations during monitoring, achieving high detection precision without requiring complex manual rule configurations. The HTM model acts as a mediator that translates complex web application behaviors into recognizable patterns and anomalies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms web application operational data into sparse distributed representations (SDRs), changing the parameter space from raw operational logs to structured binary vectors. This parameter transformation enables the HTM model to efficiently process and recognize patterns in web application characteristics, achieving high detection precision while maintaining computational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If comprehensive monitoring of web application characteristics is implemented, then the reliability of attack detection improves, but the loss of time for data processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattack detection reliabilityVSAvoiddata processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by training the HTM model during a dedicated training phase using sparse distributed representations of normal web application operations. This pre-learning of operational patterns enables rapid real-time detection during the monitoring phase, as the model has already established baseline expectations for normal behavior, reducing processing time while maintaining high detection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the essential characteristics of web application operations into sparse distributed representations, focusing on key parameters such as HTML tag structures and operational patterns. This extraction of critical features from comprehensive data reduces processing complexity and time while maintaining sufficient detection reliability for identifying malicious changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If manual analysis of web application changes is performed, then the device complexity remains low, but the productivity of security monitoring decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity monitoring productivityVSAvoidautomation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The HTM-based system performs self-service by automatically learning normal web application operational patterns during training and autonomously detecting anomalies during monitoring. The system self-adjusts to changing operational patterns through continuous learning, eliminating the need for manual rule updates and configuration, thereby achieving high security monitoring productivity while managing complexity through automated adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where detection results and anomaly patterns are continuously fed back into the HTM model, enabling it to refine its understanding of normal operations and improve detection accuracy over time. This automated feedback loop enhances security monitoring productivity by continuously improving detection capabilities without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12401686B2Detecting changes to web page characteristics using machine learning
Publication Date: 2025.08.26 BRITISH TELECOM PLC
  • US12401686B2 patent drawing
  • US12401686B2 patent drawing
  • US12401686B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A computer implemented method to detect an anomalous change to a web application, the web application executing with a web server, the method including receiving a first set of records for the web application operating in a training mode of operation, each record including characteristics of a content of a web page for the web application; generating a sparse distributed representation of the set of records to form a training set for a hierarchical temporal memory (HTM); training the HTM based on the training set in order that the trained HTM provides a model of the operation of the web application in the training mode of operation; receiving a second set of records for the web application, each record including characteristics of content of the web page; generating a sparse distributed representation of the second set of records to form an input set for the trained HTM; executing the trained HTM based on the input set to determine a degree of recognition of the records of the input set; and responsive to a determination that a degree of recognition of one or more records of the input set is below a threshold degree, identifying an anomalous change to the web page.