U.S. patent application number 11/799452 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-20 for secure transmission system and method.
Invention is credited to Tanel Hiir, Andres Kutt.
Application Number | 20070291789 11/799452 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36603854 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070291789 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kutt; Andres ; et
al. |
December 20, 2007 |
Secure transmission system and method
Abstract
A method is provided for transmitting information from a user to
a first network entity over a communications network. The user
enters information into a browser executed at a user terminal. The
browser generates a first message comprising the information using
a first communication protocol for dispatch over the network via a
network port, the first message including an identifier of the
first network entity. A client executed at the user terminal
receives the first message before the first message reaches the
network port. The first message is wrapped in a second message of a
second communication protocol used for transmitting messages
between the client and a second network entity. The second message
is transmitted to the second network entity over the communications
network. The first message is unwrapped from the second message at
the second network entity, the identifier of the first network
entity translated to a network address of the first network entity
and the first message is transmitted to the first network entity
over the communications network.
Inventors: |
Kutt; Andres; (Tallinn,
EE) ; Hiir; Tanel; (Tallinn, EE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HAMILTON, BROOK, SMITH & REYNOLDS, P.C.
530 VIRGINIA ROAD
P.O. BOX 9133
CONCORD
MA
01742-9133
US
|
Family ID: |
36603854 |
Appl. No.: |
11/799452 |
Filed: |
May 1, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/467 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 63/0428 20130101;
H04L 63/029 20130101; H04L 67/104 20130101; H04L 29/06027 20130101;
H04L 63/0471 20130101; G06Q 30/00 20130101; H04L 65/602 20130101;
H04L 67/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/467 |
International
Class: |
H04J 3/22 20060101
H04J003/22; H04J 3/16 20060101 H04J003/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 3, 2006 |
GB |
GB 0608752.2 |
Claims
1. A method of transmitting information from a user to a first
network entity over a communications network, comprising the steps
of: the user entering information into a browser executed at a user
terminal; the browser generating a first message comprising the
information using a first communication protocol for dispatch over
the network via a network port, the first message including an
identifier of the first network entity; receiving the first message
at a client executed at the user terminal before the first message
reaches the network port; wrapping the first message in a second
message of a second communication protocol used for transmitting
messages between the client and a second network entity;
transmitting the second message to the second network entity over
the communications network; and unwrapping the first message from
the second message at the second network entity, translating the
identifier of the first network entity to a network address of the
first network entity and transmitting the first message to the
first network entity over the communications network.
2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of
encrypting the information in the first message after receiving the
first message at the client.
3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of
receiving the first message transmitted by the second network
entity at the first network entity.
4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of
decrypting the information in the first message, after it is
received at the first network entity.
5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of encrypting is
performed using an encryption key provided by the first network
entity.
6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of
the first network entity periodically transmitting the encryption
key to the second network entity.
7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
transmitting a third message to the second network entity from the
first network entity, responsive to receiving the first message;
receiving the third message at the second network entity and,
responsive thereto, fetching a webpage from a server; wrapping the
webpage in a fourth message of the second communication protocol;
transmitting the fourth message to the client over the
communications network; unwrapping the webpage from the fourth
message at the client and passing the webpage to the browser; and
displaying the webpage to the user in the browser.
8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the third message is a
redirect message.
9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of wrapping the
first message in a second message of a second communication
protocol comprises the step of adding a header and a footer to the
first message.
10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first communication
protocol is a hypertext transfer protocol.
11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first network entity
is a payment service provider.
12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communications
network is the Internet.
13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second network
entity is a Skype backend server.
14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information is
payment information.
15. A system for transmitting information from a user to a first
network entity over a communications network, comprising: a browser
executed at a user terminal, the browser comprising means for
receiving information entered by the user, and means for generating
a first message comprising the information using a first
communication protocol for dispatch over the network via a network
port, the first message including an identifier of the first
network entity; a client executed at the user terminal comprising
means for receiving the first message at the client before the
first message reaches the network port, means for wrapping the
first message in a second message of a second communication
protocol used for transmitting messages between the client and a
second network entity, and means for transmitting the second
message to the second network entity over the communications
network; and the second network entity comprising means for
unwrapping the first message from the second message at the second
network entity, means for translating the identifier of the first
network entity to a network address of the first network entity,
and means for transmitting the first message to the first network
entity over the communications network.
16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the client further
comprises means for encrypting the information in the first message
after receiving the first message at the client.
17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the first network
entity further comprises means for receiving the first message
transmitted by the second network entity.
18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the first network
entity further comprises means for decrypting the information in
the first message, after it is received at the first network
entity.
19. A system according to claim 16, wherein the encryption is
performed using an encryption key provided by the first network
entity.
20. A system according to claim 19, wherein the first network
entity further comprises means for periodically transmitting the
encryption key to the second network entity.
21. A system according to claim 15, wherein the first network
entity further comprises means for transmitting a third message to
the second network entity, responsive to receiving the first
message.
22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the second network
entity further comprises means for receiving the third message and,
responsive thereto, fetching a webpage from a server, means for
wrapping the webpage in a fourth message of the second
communication protocol, and means for transmitting the fourth
message to the client over the communications network.
23. A system according to claim 22, wherein the client further
comprises means for unwrapping the webpage from the fourth message
and passing the webpage to the browser.
24. A system according to claim 23, wherein the browser further
comprises means for displaying the webpage to the user.
25. A system according to claim 21, wherein the third message is a
redirect message.
26. A system according to claim 15, wherein the means for wrapping
the first message in a second message of a second communication
protocol comprises means for adding a header and a footer to the
first message.
27. A system according to claim 15, wherein the first communication
protocol is a hypertext transfer protocol.
28. A system according to claim 15, wherein the first network
entity is a payment service provider.
29. A system according to claim 15, wherein the communications
network is the Internet.
30. A system according to claim 15, wherein the second network
entity is a Skype backend server.
31. A system according to claim 15, wherein the information is
payment information.
32. A user terminal comprising: a browser executed at the user
terminal, the browser comprising means for receiving information
entered by a user, and means for generating a first message
comprising the information using a first communication protocol for
dispatch over a communications network via a network port, the
first message including an identifier of a first network entity;
and a client executed at the user terminal comprising means for
receiving the first message at the client before the first message
reaches the network port, means for wrapping the first message in a
second message of a second communication protocol used for
transmitting messages between the client and a second network
entity, and means for transmitting the second message to the second
network entity over the communications network.
33. A network entity comprising: means for unwrapping a first
message of a first communication protocol from a second message of
a second communication protocol transmitted by a client executed at
a user terminal to the network entity over a communications
network, the first message including an identifier of a further
network entity; means for translating the identifier of the further
network entity to a network address of the further network entity;
and means for transmitting the first message to the further network
entity over the communications network.
34. A computer program product comprising program code means which
when loaded into a computer controls the computer to carry out the
method of claim 1.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119
or 365 to Great Britain Application No. GB 0608752.2, filed May 3,
2006. The entire teachings of the above application are
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a secure transmission system and
method, particularly but not exclusively for use in a peer-to-peer
telecommunications system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Peer-to-peer telecommunications systems allow the user of a
device, such as a personal computer, to make telephone calls across
a computer network such as the Internet. These systems are
beneficial to the user as they are often of significantly lower
cost than traditional telephony networks, such as fixed line or
mobile networks. This may particularly be the case for long
distance calls. These systems may utilise voice over internet
protocol ("VoIP") over an existing network (e.g. the Internet) to
provide these services, although alternative protocols can also be
used. To use a peer-to-peer telephony service, the user must
install and execute client software on their device. The client
software provides the VoIP connections as well as other functions
such as registration and authentication.
[0004] Some calls in a peer-to-peer telephony network may be free
to the user, such as calls to other user of the same peer-to-peer
system. However, other calls, such as to fixed line telephones or
mobiles, may require the user to pay for the service. This
therefore requires the user to provide sensitive information to the
system, and hence requires a high level of security for
transmissions of such data. Many peer-to-peer telephone systems
operate a pre-paid account system. In these systems, the user must
securely transfer sensitive information to a payment service
provider in order to credit their account, and this credit is then
used during the calls made. Once the credit runs out, the user must
again securely transfer sensitive information to the payment
service provider to credit more money into their account in order
to continue using the service. In alternative systems, the user may
be invoiced for the amount of calls they have made over a period of
time, or may be required to make a fixed payment regardless of the
number of calls made.
[0005] In existing peer-to-peer telephony systems, the user can
securely transfer sensitive data to a payment service provider by
opening a web browser program and navigating to the site of the
telephony system operator. From this web page the user can select
links to make a payment to their account. The user can then enter
credit card or other payment information into the web page. The web
browser can use known secure protocols for sending the sensitive
information to a payment service provider. The disadvantage of this
method is that it requires the user to open a separate program on
their terminal (i.e. a web browser) in order to make a payment. The
user may also be required to proceed through several clicks of the
webpages before reaching the correct page. Furthermore, the user
must have access to the World Wide Web in order to make such a
payment. However, in some circumstances the user may be blocked
from accessing the web for security reasons, but would otherwise
still be able to use the peer-to-peer telephony service.
[0006] From a usability perspective, it would be desirable for the
user of the telephony system to be able to make secure payments for
services directly from the client software running on the user's
terminal. This is because the user directly associates the client
program with the telephony service. Furthermore, by allowing secure
payment from within the client program, this avoids the need for
the user to open other programs in order to securely transmit
sensitive information for the service. For example, as discussed
hereinbefore, if the user needs to transmit the sensitive
information over the Internet, the user may be required to open a
browser on his or her terminal and then enter the correct address
of the web site through which they should pay before they can enter
any payment details. This process can be prone to user error, and
hence frustration on the part of the user. In addition, some users
may also be suspicious of entering sensitive information on web
site pages, and may have a greater level of trust in the client
software provided by the operator of the telephony service. The
client, however, already knows the identity of user, and this
information can therefore be passed to the payment provider without
having to prompt the user for an additional username and password,
thereby making the payment process more straightforward for the
user.
[0007] However, any information transmitted over the network
related to sensitive information must be secure. In particular,
sensitive information should not be sent unencrypted. A
conventional way of sending sensitive information is using a
hypertext transfer protocol ("HTTP") message format, such as HTTP
secure ("HTTPS"), which encrypts data using a version of the secure
socket layer ("SSL") or transport layer security ("TLS") protocols.
However, any HTTP messages sent from the client software are easy
to detect and block resulting in a failure to deliver the HTTP
message and thus the encrypted data. The detection and blocking of
HTTP messages may be done by third parties or firewalls. For
example, some companies see the ability to access arbitrary
webpages as a security risk and may therefore block HTTP. However,
the telephony service provider does not pose a security risk as its
content would be obtained from trusted sources. Furthermore, some
companies or third parties may wish to block the peer-to-peer
telephony service itself. Whilst the actual telephony traffic may
be difficult to detect, the client may make specific HTTP requests
to perform its tasks. These requests can therefore be detected and
allow the terminal running the client to be determined, and the
requests blocked.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] There is therefore a need for a secure transmission system
and method in a network, such as the Internet, that enables the
transmission of sensitive information from a local client to a
web-based service provider.
[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method of transmitting information from a user to a
first network entity over a communications network, comprising the
steps of: the user entering information into a browser executed at
a user terminal; the browser generating a first message comprising
the information using a first communication protocol for dispatch
over the network via a network port, the first message including an
identifier of the first network entity; receiving the first message
at a client executed at the user terminal before the first message
reaches the network port; wrapping the first message in a second
message of a second communication protocol used for transmitting
messages between the client and a second network entity;
transmitting the second message to the second network entity over
the communications network; and unwrapping the first message from
the second message at the second network entity, translating the
identifier of the first network entity to a network address of the
first network entity and transmitting the first message to the
first network entity over the communications network.
[0010] In one embodiment the method further comprises the step of
encrypting the information in the first message after receiving the
first message at the client. In another embodiment the method
further comprises the step of receiving the first message
transmitted by the second network entity at the first network
entity. In another embodiment the method further comprises the step
of decrypting the information in the first message, after it is
received at the first network entity. In another embodiment the
step of encrypting is performed using an encryption key provided by
the first network entity. In another embodiment the method further
comprises the step of the first network entity periodically
transmitting the encryption key to the second network entity.
[0011] In another embodiment the method further comprises the steps
of: transmitting a third message to the second network entity from
the first network entity, responsive to receiving the first
message; receiving the third message at the second network entity
and, responsive thereto, fetching a webpage from a server; wrapping
the webpage in a fourth message of the second communication
protocol; transmitting the fourth message to the client over the
communications network; unwrapping the webpage from the fourth
message at the client and passing the webpage to the browser; and
displaying the webpage to the user in the browser. Preferably, the
third message is a redirect message.
[0012] In another embodiment the step of wrapping the first message
in a second message of a second communication protocol comprises
the step of adding a header and a footer to the first message.
[0013] Preferably, the first communication protocol is a hypertext
transfer protocol. Preferably, the first network entity is a
payment service provider. Preferably, the communications network is
the Internet. Preferably, the second network entity is a Skype
backend server. Preferably, the information is payment
information.
[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided a system for transmitting information from a user to a
first network entity over a communications network, comprising: a
browser executed at a user terminal, the browser comprising means
for receiving information entered by the user, and means for
generating a first message comprising the information using a first
communication protocol for dispatch over the network via a network
port, the first message including an identifier of the first
network entity; a client executed at the user terminal comprising
means for receiving the first message at the client before the
first message reaches the network port, means for wrapping the
first message in a second message of a second communication
protocol used for transmitting messages between the client and a
second network entity, and means for transmitting the second
message to the second network entity over the communications
network; and the second network entity comprising means for
unwrapping the first message from the second message at the second
network entity, means for translating the identifier of the first
network entity to a network address of the first network entity,
and means for transmitting the first message to the first network
entity over the communications network.
[0015] In one embodiment the client further comprises means for
encrypting the information in the first message after receiving the
first message at the client. In another embodiment the first
network entity further comprises means for receiving the first
message transmitted by the second network entity. In another
embodiment the first network entity further comprises means for
decrypting the information in the first message, after it is
received at the first network entity. In another embodiment the
encryption is performed using an encryption key provided by the
first network entity. In another embodiment the first network
entity further comprises means for periodically transmitting the
encryption key to the second network entity.
[0016] In another embodiment the first network entity further
comprises means for transmitting a third message to the second
network entity, responsive to receiving the first message. In
another embodiment the second network entity further comprises
means for receiving the third message and, responsive thereto,
fetching a webpage from a server, means for wrapping the webpage in
a fourth message of the second communication protocol, and means
for transmitting the fourth message to the client over the
communications network. In another embodiment the client further
comprises means for unwrapping the webpage from the fourth message
and passing the webpage to the browser. In another embodiment the
browser further comprises means for displaying the webpage to the
user. Preferably, the third message is a redirect message.
[0017] In another embodiment the means for wrapping the first
message in a second message of a second communication protocol
comprises means for adding a header and a footer to the first
message.
[0018] Preferably, the first communication protocol is a hypertext
transfer protocol. Preferably, the first network entity is a
payment service provider. Preferably, the communications network is
the Internet. Preferably, the second network entity is a Skype
backend server. Preferably, the information is payment
information.
[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided a user terminal comprising: a browser executed at the
user terminal, the browser comprising means for receiving
information entered by a user, and means for generating a first
message comprising the information using a first communication
protocol for dispatch over a communications network via a network
port, the first message including an identifier of a first network
entity; and a client executed at the user terminal comprising means
for receiving the first message at the client before the first
message reaches the network port, means for wrapping the first
message in a second message of a second communication protocol used
for transmitting messages between the client and a second network
entity, and means for transmitting the second message to the second
network entity over the communications network.
[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided a network entity comprising: means for unwrapping a
first message of a first communication protocol from a second
message of a second communication protocol transmitted by a client
executed at a user terminal to the network entity over a
communications network, the first message including an identifier
of a further network entity; means for translating the identifier
of the further network entity to a network address of the further
network entity; and means for transmitting the first message to the
further network entity over the communications network.
[0021] According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided a computer program product comprising program code
means which when loaded into a computer controls the computer to
carry out the method above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] For a better understanding of the present invention and to
show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be
made, by way of example, to the following drawings in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a peer-to-peer telephony system with the secure
transfer of information to a payment service provider;
[0024] FIG. 2A shows the messages exchanged in the system of FIG. 1
for the maintenance of key information;
[0025] FIG. 2B shows the messages exchanged in the system of FIG. 1
for the initiation of a payment;
[0026] FIG. 2C shows the messages exchanged in the system of FIG. 1
for the secure transfer of payment information;
[0027] FIG. 2D shows the messages exchanged in the system of FIG. 1
for the transmission of a completed payment result;
[0028] FIG. 2E shows the messages exchanged in the system of FIG. 1
for the transmission of a uncompleted payment result;
[0029] FIG. 3 shows the structure of the messages sent in the
secure transfer of payment information;
[0030] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart outlining the operations performed
at the user terminal; and
[0031] FIG. 5 shows the page flow for the operations performed in
FIG. 2B-2D.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] Reference will first be made to FIG. 1, in which is shown a
peer-to-peer telephony system 100 with the secure transfer of
information to a payment service provider.
[0033] A user terminal 102 is shown connected to a network 104. The
user terminal may be, for example, a personal computer, personal
digital assistant, a suitably enabled mobile phone or other device
able to connect to the network 104. The user terminal 102 is
connected to the network 104 via a network port 105, and may be via
a cable (wired) connection or a wireless connection. The network
104 may be a network such as the Internet.
[0034] A user 106 of user terminal 102 can make a telephone call to
second user 108 of a second user terminal 110 across the network
104. The user terminal is running a client 112, provided by the
operator of the peer-to-peer telephony system. The client 112 is a
software program executed on a local processor in the user terminal
102. To initiate the call, the user 106 can click on the contact
listed for the second user 108 displayed in the client 112, or can
alternatively type in a telephone number or username for the second
user 108. The client 112 then sets up the call to the second user
108. The telephone call may be made using VoIP, in accordance with
methods known in the art, such as disclosed in WO 2005/009019. The
telephone call may comprise voice, video, instant messaging ("IM"),
or a combination thereof.
[0035] The second user terminal 110 may be directly connected to
the network 104 (as shown in FIG. 1), or may be connected to a
different network such as the public switched telephone network
("PSTN") or a mobile network (not shown in FIG. 1). If the second
user terminal is connected to the network 104, then it may be
running a client program 114 provided by the operator of the
telephony system, similar to the client 112 running on the first
user terminal 102. If connected to the PSTN, the second user
terminal may be a fixed line telephone, and if connected to a
mobile network, the second user terminal may be a mobile
telephone.
[0036] In order to be able to make telephone calls, the user 106
must be suitably registered and authenticated. Furthermore, the
user 106 must also be able to pay for the telephone services.
Sensitive payment information therefore needs to be transferred
from the user 106 to a payment service provider ("PSP") across the
network 104. As the payment information is of a sensitive nature,
the payment system needs to be very secure. If there is sensitive
information flowing though the telephony system servers, then the
system must comply with payment card industry ("PCI") rules
enforced by credit card companies. Complying with these rules is
expensive and takes time. In addition, if the servers of the
telephony system are storing sensitive payment information, then
they are likely to become a target for attack by hackers. There is
therefore significant benefit in reducing the number of system
entities that are exposed to sensitive information and need to be
PCI compliant. Furthermore, the secure transmission of the
sensitive information needs to be as simple and usable as possible
from the point of view of the user.
[0037] As stated previously, it is significantly simpler for the
user of the telephony system to be able to securely pay for
services directly using the client 112 running on the user terminal
102. In addition, this allows the client to be the only part of the
telephony system that needs to be PCI compliant. As will be
described hereinafter, the rest of the system just sees encrypted
information, and has no knowledge of the information content.
Therefore, the rest of the system is not directly dealing with
sensitive information and does not need to be PCI compliant. The
expense of making the client PCI compliant is an order of magnitude
cheaper than maintaining a secure server environment. FIG. 1 shows
the entities in the system 100 that allow the user 106 to securely
pay for telephony services through the client 112. The user 106
makes the payment to a payment service provider 116. The PSP 116 is
a private network that is connected to network 104, and may
comprise a PSP proxy 118 and a PSP web application 120. The PSP
proxy 118 is a software program running on a processor in a server,
which is connected between the PSP web application 120 and the
network 104, and is responsible for decrypting information before
it is presented to the PSP web application 120. The PSP web
application 120 is a software application executed on a processor
in a server. The PSP proxy 118 and PSP web application 120 may be
located on separate servers, or may be running on the same server.
The PSP 116 may be operated by a different operator than the
telephony service.
[0038] Also connected to the network 104 are a Skype backend server
122 and a Skype web application 124. The Skype backend server 122
and the Skype web application 124 may be located within the private
network 128 of the operator of the telephony system. The Skype
backend server 122 and the Skype web application 124 may be
geographically co-located, or may be geographically separated. The
Skype backend server 122 is located between the Skype web
application 124 and the network 104, and is responsible for
exchanging messages between the Skype web application 124 and the
client 112. The Skype backend 122 and the client 112 communicate
using a proprietary Skype protocol, and do not use HTTP. This is to
avoid the detection and blocking of HTTP messages by third parties
and firewalls, as discussed previously. Furthermore, the Skype
backend 122 also blocks HTTP.
[0039] The user terminal 102 has web browsing software 130
installed on it, in addition to the client 112. The web browser 130
is capable of being utilised as part of the user interface of the
client 112, and can be controlled by the client 112 to display
hypertext markup language ("HTML") webpages to the user 106.
[0040] The operation of the system 100 shown in FIG. 1 will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 2A-2E. Referring first to FIG.
2A, this figure shows the maintenance of cryptography key
information at the client 112. In step S1, the Skype web
application 124 will periodically query the PSP web application 120
for a new version of its public key. The message in step S1 is in
the form of a HTTP Get request specifying the uniform resource
locator ("URL") of the key located at the PSP web application. In
response to this request, the PSP web application 120 will return
the public key to the Skype web application 124 in step S2. The
above two steps are performed periodically and independently of any
other operations to ensure that the Skype web application 124
always has an up-to-date copy of the public key.
[0041] The client 112 periodically polls the Skype backend 122
using the Skype protocol for a new version of the public key in
step S3. The Skype backend server 122 forwards the request to the
Skype web application 124 in the form of an HTTP Get request
specifying the URL of the key stored in the Skype web application
in step S4. The Skype web application 124 returns the key to the
Skype backend server 122 in step S5, and this is passed to the
client 112 in step S6 using the Skype protocol. The above four
steps are performed periodically, without the user being aware of
its operation, in order to ensure that the key information is
always up to date in the client 112.
[0042] Therefore, as a result of the steps performed in FIG. 2A,
the client 112 has a recent copy of the public key of the PSP web
application 120 for use in the payment process, as described in
more detail hereinbelow.
[0043] FIG. 2B shows the user 106 initiating the payment process.
In step S7, the user 106 clicks a button which may be labeled "Buy
Skype Credit" (although other labeling is possible) displayed in
the client 112, indicating to the client 112 that the payment
process should be started. In step S8, the client 112 initiates web
browser 130 control, in which the client opens the web browser
within the client user interface, and when complete a signal is
returned to the client 112 in step S9.
[0044] Associated with the button "Buy Skype Credit" is a URL,
which may, for example, be of the form
"nonsecure://skype/buycredit.html". This is a request to retrieve
the page "buycredit.html" from the server "skype", so that the page
"buycredit.html" may be displayed to the user 106 in the web
browser 130. This request does not begin with the standard
"http://", but uses a marker string "nonsecure". A request such as
"nonsecure://skype/buycredit.html" has the same functionality as a
standard HTTP request, but the string "nonsecure" allows the client
112 to intercept the request and determine what action to take. In
other words, "nonsecure" acts as a marker for the client 112 to use
when intercepting requests. When the client 112 sees an attempt to
make a request using "nonsecure", the client 112 knows that the
request does not contain sensitive information, and that the
request can be sent to the Skype backend server 122 (a further
marker is also used, "secure", as will be described
hereinafter).
[0045] At step S110, the client 112 wraps the "nonsecure" request
message into a Skype proprietary communication protocol message and
this is sent to the Skype backend server 122. On receipt of the
message, the Skype backend server 122 unwraps the "nonsecure"
request from the Skype proprietary communication protocol. For
security and maintainability reasons, the requests only contain
references to arbitrary services, not actual server addresses and
ports. For example, the request "nonsecure://skype/buycredit.html"
only contains a reference to a server "skype", and not an actual
server address. The Skype backend server 122 therefore needs to
resolve an arbitrary reference to a service name into a web server
address. This is achieved by maintaining a table of correspondence
between services and server addresses. Only the Skype backend
server 122 maintains the mapping table between references and
server addresses. The Skype backend 122 resolves the message from
the client 112 to obtain the web server address. For example, the
reference to "skype" in "nonsecure://skype/buycredit.html" may be
resolved to "http://webstore.skype.com". The Skype backend server
122 then constructs a new HTTP request using the resolved address
and the rest of the "nonsecure" request, resulting in, for example,
"http://webstore.skype.com/buycredit.html".
[0046] This HTTP request is forwarded to the resolved location of
the Skype web application 124 in the form of the above HTTP Get
request at step S11, and the requested page is returned by the
Skype web application 124 in step S12 in the form of HTML. The
Skype backend 122 wraps the HTML response from the Skype web
application in the Skype protocol and forwards the page to the
client 112 in step S13, and this is then unwrapped from the Skype
protocol and sent to the web browser 130 in step S14, and
subsequently displayed to the user 106 in step S15.
[0047] In step S16, the user 106 views the page in the web browser
130 window and clicks on a link which may be labeled "Get Started".
This link may be, for example, a link to the URL
"nonsecure://skype/getstarted.html". The client 112 intercepts the
web browser's attempt to make a "nonsecure" request (a type of HTTP
Get request) to navigate to the linked webpage at step S17. The
client 112 wraps the "nonsecure" request message into a Skype
proprietary communication protocol message and this is sent to the
Skype backend 122 in step S18. The Skype backend 122 unwraps the
message and resolves the message from the client 112 to obtain the
web server address in a similar manner to that described above with
reference to step S10. The Skype backend 122 then creates a HTTP
request from the resolved web server address and the unwrapped
"nonsecure" request, for example
"http://webstore.skype.com/getstarted.html". The HTTP request is
forwarded to the resolved address of the Skype web application 124
in step S119. The Skype web application 124 returns the webpage
"getstarted.html" to the Skype backend 122 in step S20, which wraps
the response in the Skype protocol and forwards it to the client
112 in step S21, and this is unwrapped and passed to the web
browser 130 window in step S22 and displayed to the user 106 in
step S23.
[0048] The page displayed to the user 106 comprises a form to enter
initial payment information. In step S24, the user 106 views the
page and fills in the initial payment information, such as a
billing address, email address and payment method and clicks
"next". The "next" button is associated with a URL, which may be,
for example, "nonsecure://skype/initialform.html". The web browser
generates a type of HTTP Post request including the information
entered into the form, such as
"nonsecure://skype/initialform.html?address=x&method=y" (where
"address=x" and "method=y" represents exemplary information entered
by the user in the form), and transmits this message to the network
104 via the network port 105 in step S25. The HTTP Post request
from the web browser 130 is received by the client 112 (which
detects the use of the "nonsecure" marker) before it can reach the
network port 105. The client wraps the HTTP Post request in a Skype
protocol message and this message is forwarded to the Skype backend
server 122 in step S26. Note that the client 112 may include other
information in the message when it is wrapped in the Skype
protocol, as discussed in more detail hereinafter with reference to
FIG. 3.
[0049] The Skype backend server 122 unwraps and resolves the HTTP
Post request message. For example,
"nonsecure://skype/initialform.html?address=x&method=y" may be
resolved to a HTTP message of the form
"http://webstore.skype.com/initialform.html?address=x&method=y".
The Skype backend server 122 then sends the resolved request to the
Skype web application 124 in step S27 to initiate the payment. The
Skype web application 124 sends a message containing the initial
payment information to the PSP web application 120 in step S28 to
initiate the payment at the PSP. In step S29 the PSP web
application 120 processes the information and returns the URL of a
webpage containing the appropriate form for the payment method,
such as a credit card information form. The Skype web application
124 receives the URL and creates a redirect header. The redirect
header is sent to the Skype backend 122 in step S30.
[0050] The Skype backend server 122 resolves the address from the
redirect header and sends a request to the PSP web application 120
to obtain the required webpage in step S31. The PSP web application
120 then returns the webpage containing the form for the payment
details (such as credit card information) in step S32. This webpage
is subsequently forwarded to the client 112 using the Skype
protocol in step S33, unwrapped and passed to the web browser 130
in step S34, and displayed to the user 106 in step S35.
[0051] As a result of the procedure outlined in FIG. 2B, the user
106 has been presented with a form in the web browser 130, into
which the user can enter credit card payment information. This
payment information is sensitive, and therefore must be handled in
a secure manner. The method in which this is performed can be seen
with reference to FIG. 2C.
[0052] In step S36, the user 106 enters the payment information
(for example credit card number, expiry date or other information)
into the HTML form presented in the web browser window and clicks a
"Submit" button. The "Submit" button is associated with a URL,
which may be, for example, "secure://somepsp/creditcardform.html".
The web browser 130 then generates a type of HTTP Post request
using a marker "secure" containing the payment information (in the
form of postData) and the URL above in step S37. This HTTP Post
request may be, for example,
"secure://somepsp/creditcardform.html?cardno=1234&expirydate=01012010"
(where "cardno=1234" and "expirydate=01012010" represents exemplary
credit card information entered in the form. Note also that this is
a POST request represented in GET notation for ease of reading).
The HTTP Post request from the web browser 130 is intercepted by
the client 112, and prevented from being sent into the network 104.
In particular, the client detects the marker "secure". This not
only indicates to the client that it should intercept the message
(as with "nonsecure"), but also that the information in the message
should be encrypted.
[0053] In step S38, the payment information, in the form of
postData from the HTTP Post request, is encrypted using the public
key of the PSP (provided to the client as outlined above with
regards to FIG. 2A). The encryption is performed using a standard
encryption algorithm as are known in the art. For example, if the
postData were to comprise information such as "cardno=1234" and
"expirydate=01012010", this is encrypted to form a new HTTP Post
request with, e.g., "payload=34214123ddasdas". The client then
creates a new HTTP Post request with the encrypted payload, for
example
"secure://somepsp/creditcardform.html?payload=34214123ddasdas".
[0054] The client 112 then wraps the HTTP Post request including
the encrypted payment information in the Skype protocol format. In
addition, the client 112 includes further information in the Skype
protocol message. The further information may include user
information, such as the user's Skypename and the version of the
client 112 they are running, and context information containing
fraud-related information about the request context, such as the
identity of the terminal and the user. The Skype protocol message
is forwarded to the Skype backend server 122 from the client 112 in
step S39.
[0055] Providing user information and context information in the
Skype protocol message gives the advantage of additional security.
This is because, in the case of ordinary Web access, it is easy to
conceal the identity of the actual terminal that a request
originates from, and this often happens unintentionally on the part
of the user (due to the use of proxies). However, the information
in the Skype protocol message ties the request to a specific
terminal, which can allow for the use of greater fraud detection
mechanisms. Furthermore, the client 112 already knows the identity
of user, and this information can therefore be passed to the PSP
web application without having to prompt the user for an additional
username and password.
[0056] The Skype backend 122 receives the Skype protocol message
containing the encrypted payment information. The Skype backend 122
unwraps the Skype protocol message to leave the HTTP Post request
comprising the encrypted payment information. The Skype backend 122
resolves the reference contained in the request to the server
address of the PSP proxy 118, for example resolving the reference
to "somepsp" to "http://www.psp.com". The Skype backend 122 then
creates a new HTTP Post request message by combining the resolved
server address of the PSP proxy 118 with the encrypted payload from
the "secure" message. For example, this may create a HTTP Post
request such as
http://www.psp.com/creditcardform.html?payload=34214123ddasdas.
This HTTP Post request is sent from the Skype backend 122 to the
PSP Proxy 118 in step S40. It should be noted that the Skype
backend 122 is not aware at any point of the actual contents of the
request message. It does not decrypt the information, but merely
"repackages" it into a new message. The Skype backend 122 therefore
does not require PCI compliance. Furthermore, the Skype backend 122
does not store the payment information, and is therefore not a
target for hackers.
[0057] The operation performed in steps S37, S39 and S40 can be
seen further illustrated in FIG. 3, which shows an example of the
structure of the messages received and sent in these steps. This
shows the HTTP Post request 302 using the "secure" marker from the
web browser 130, comprising the reference to the PSP 304 and the
unencrypted postData 306, as received at the client 112. The
postData (the payment information) is encrypted to produce the
encrypted payment information 308. The encrypted payment
information 308, the reference to the PSP 304, user information
310, and context 312 are wrapped between a Skype protocol header
314 and Skype protocol footer 316 to form the Skype protocol
message 318. The Skype protocol message 318 is sent to the Skype
backend 122, where it is unwrapped and the PSP reference 304
resolved to form an HTTP Post request 320 comprising the server
address of the PSP 322 and the encrypted payment information
308.
[0058] Referring again to FIG. 2C, in step S41 the encrypted
payment information in the HTTP Post request is decrypted by the
PSP proxy 118 to obtain the original payment information entered by
the user 106. The decrypted payment information is then sent to the
PSP web application 120 in step S42 in the form of a HTTP Post
request containing the decrypted payment information as postData
and the URL of the PSP web application.
[0059] The PSP web application 120 processes the payment
information from the user 106. If, following the processing of the
payment information, the payment is completed, then the operation
shown in FIG. 2D is performed. If, on the other hand, the payment
is not yet completed, then the operation shown in FIG. 2E is
performed.
[0060] Reference is first made to FIG. 2D, which, as mentioned
above, shows the case in which the payment has been completed. In
step S43, the PSP web application 120 issues a redirect header in
response to the completed payment. The redirect header is received
at the PSP proxy 118 and forwarded without any changes to the Skype
backend 122 in step S44. The Skype backend 122 processes the
redirect header, and, in step S45, sends an HTTP Get request to the
URL of the Skype web application 124 referred to in the redirect
header. The Skype web application 124 returns a HTML webpage to the
Skype backend 122 in response in step S46. The HTML webpage is then
forwarded to the client 112 in step S46, and onto the web browser
130 in step S48. Finally, the user 106 is displayed the results of
the transaction in the web browser window in step S49.
[0061] Reference is now made to FIG. 2E, which, as mentioned above,
shows the case in which the payment has not yet been completed.
This may occur if the user has entered their credit card details
incorrectly, or in the case that the PSP requests additional
information for fraud control purposes. In this instance the PSP
web application 120 generates a HTML webpage to be displayed to the
user 106. The HTML page is sent to the PSP proxy 118 in step S50,
and forwarded unaltered to the Skype backend 122 in step S51. The
Skype backend 122 forwards the HTML webpage to the client 112 in
step S52, and onto the web browser 130 in step S53. Finally, the
user 106 is displayed the HTML page from the PSP web application
120 in the web browser window in step S54.
[0062] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart summarising the operations
performed at the user terminal 102. In step S402, the user 106
chooses to make a payment from within the client program 112. In
response to this, the client 112 opens a web browser 130 within the
client user interface at step S404. A payment details form is
fetched from the PSP 116, and is presented to the user in step S406
in the web browser 130. In step S408 the user 106 enters the
payment information into the form in the web browser 130. The web
browser 130 creates a HTTP Post request with the "secure" marker
including the payment information (302 as shown in FIG. 3) and
attempts to send this into the network 104 via the network port 105
in step S410. The client 112 detects the "secure" marker and
intercepts the HTTP Post request from the web browser 130 in step
S412, thereby preventing it from being sent into the network 104.
In step S414, the client 112 encrypts the payment information from
the HTTP Post request. Then, in step S416, the client wraps the
HTTP Post request with the encrypted payload in a Skype proprietary
protocol message (318 in FIG. 3). Finally, in step S418, the client
transmits the Skype protocol message containing the encrypted
payment information to the Skype backend server 122.
[0063] FIG. 5 shows the page flow for the operations shown in FIGS.
2B-2D. The step numbers shown in FIG. 5 correspond to those as
shown in FIGS. 2B-2D. In FIG. 5, "IE" refers to "Internet
Explorer", which is an example of a type of web browser 130.
[0064] While this invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be
understood to those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the
invention as defined by the appendant claims.
* * * * *
References