Abstract: A method for communicating in real-time to users of a provider of Internet access service, without requiring any installation or set-up by the user, that utilizes the unique identification information automatically provided by the user during communications for identifying the user to provide a fixed identifier which is then communicated to a redirecting device. Messages may then be selectively transmitted to the user. The system is normally transparent to the user, with no modification of its content along the path. Content then may be modified or replaced along the path to the user. For the purposes of establishing a reliable delivery of bulletin messages from providers to their users, the system forces the delivery of specially-composed World Wide Web browser pages to the user, although it is not limited to that type of data.

Abstract: An internet service provider (ISP) is configured to analyze a subscriber's sent e-mail packets to determine a subscriber identity associated with the e-mail packets. A database is then queried to determine a current sending rate of e-mails by the subscriber. A sending rate above an allowed threshold causes the upstream transmission of the e-mail packets to be blocked by injecting connection destroying packets. A subscriber remains blocked from upstream transmission of e-mails until the sending rate as determined by the ISP drops below a second, more stringent threshold. This automatic process is also accompanied by automated messaging to the subscriber with information as to the measures taken and remedial options.

Abstract: A redirection of a URL page request may be performed by monitoring an upstream path from a subscriber to the internet through an ISP. When a URL page request is detected from a subscriber for whom a redirection is required, a redirection device generates a single TCP packet response that mimics a response from the intended destination server. The single TCP packet includes a set FIN bit that closes any active session with the destination server to prevent the subscriber from accepting packets from the destination server.

Abstract: An internet service provider (ISP) is configured to analyze data sent by a user to determine a subscriber account associated with the data and a user associated with the data. A database is then queried to determine the number of users of the subscriber account, with a number above a threshold indicating a likely theft of service. This automatic process is accompanied by automated messaging to the user with information as to the measures taken and remedial options. The messaging may be different dependent on whether the user is deemed to be an authorized user having subscriber account administration rights.

Abstract: An internet service provider (ISP) is configured to analyze a subscriber's sent e-mail packets to determine a subscriber identity associated with the e-mail packets. A database is then queried to determine a current sending rate of e-mails by the subscriber. A sending rate above an allowed threshold causes the upstream transmission of the e-mail packets to be blocked by injecting connection destroying packets. A subscriber remains blocked from upstream transmission of e-mails until the sending rate as determined by the ISP drops below a second, more stringent threshold. This automatic process is also accompanied by automated messaging to the subscriber with information as to the measures taken and remedial options.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of processing a user initiated request for information is disclosed. The method may provide receiving a user initiated request including a uniform resource locator (URL) submitted to a web browser application and receiving a response that the URL is an invalid URL that cannot be resolved to a corresponding webpage. The method may also include blocking a subsequent attempt to transmit the user initiated request as a browser modified search request that includes modifications to the user initiated request.

Abstract: In a set-top-box system, messages from a service provider are stored and delayed until activity from a set-top-box remote is detected. Messages are then generated and provided to a television associated with the set-top-box. Delaying of the message display until set-top-box activity is detected allows short display times, thus preventing burn-in on some television screens, while providing a greater likelihood that messages will be viewed.

Abstract: A method for providing watermark to subscribers is provided. The method comprises observing a request for a first content from a subscriber, determining if the subscriber can receive a watermark, generating a second content comprising the watermark if the subscriber can receive a watermark, causing the subscriber to fetch the first content, and causing the subscriber to fetch the second content comprising the watermark overlaying the first content.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for communicating at least one real-time specially-composed bulletin message to at least one subscriber of a provider of Internet services, comprising a first device, and a second device communicably coupled to the first device, wherein the first device: accesses only subscriber upstream traffic to a destination web site requested by the subscriber, wherein the first device inter-connects between the at least one subscriber and the destination web site, identifies the at least one subscriber's identification based on the accessed subscriber upstream traffic automatically provided by the subscriber, and provides the unique subscriber identification to the second device located at the provider of Internet services providing data services and management control to the first device, wherein the second device determines the subscriber associated with the unique subscriber identification.

Abstract: A method for communicating in real-time to users of a provider of Internet access service, without requiring any installation or set-up by the user, that utilizes the unique identification information automatically provided by the user during communications for identifying the user to provide a fixed identifier which is then communicated to a redirecting device. Messages may then be selectively transmitted to the user. The system is normally transparent to the user, with no modification of its content along the path. Content then may be modified or replaced along the path to the user. For the purposes of establishing a reliable delivery of bulletin messages from providers to their users, the system forces the delivery of specially-composed World Wide Web browser pages to the user, although it is not limited to that type of data.

Abstract: An internet service provider (ISP) is configured to analyze a subscriber's sent e-mail packets to determine a subscriber identity associated with the e-mail packets. A database is then queried to determine a current sending rate of e-mails by the subscriber. A sending rate above an allowed threshold causes the upstream transmission of the e-mail packets to be blocked by injecting connection destroying packets. A subscriber remains blocked from upstream transmission of e-mails until the sending rate as determined by the ISP drops below a second, more stringent threshold. This automatic process is also accompanied by automated messaging to the subscriber with information as to the measures taken and remedial options.

Abstract: An internet service provider (ISP) is configured to provide notification messages such as service updates to subscribers via redirected web pages. In order for the web pages to be treated as originating from the ISP, the ISP provides a shared secret in the browser message. The shared secret may be a secret not derivable by viruses or trojans in the subscriber computer, such as a MAC address of the subscriber modem.

Abstract: A method for providing watermark to subscribers is provided. The method comprises observing a request for a first content from a subscriber, determining if the subscriber can receive a watermark, generating a second content comprising the watermark if the subscriber can receive a watermark, causing the subscriber to fetch the first content, and causing the subscriber to fetch the second content comprising the watermark overlaying the first content.

Abstract: An internet service provider (ISP) is configured to analyze a subscriber's sent e-mail packets to determine a subscriber identity associated with the e-mail packets. A database is then queried to determine a current sending rate of e-mails by the subscriber. A sending rate above an allowed threshold causes the upstream transmission of the e-mail packets to be blocked by injecting connection destroying packets. A subscriber remains blocked from upstream transmission of e-mails until the sending rate as determined by the ISP drops below a second, more stringent threshold. This automatic process is also accompanied by automated messaging to the subscriber with information as to the measures taken and remedial options.

Abstract: An internet service provider (ISP) is configured to analyze data sent by a user to determine a subscriber account associated with the data and a user associated with the data. A database is then queried to determine the number of users of the subscriber account, with a number above a threshold indicating a likely theft of service. This automatic process is accompanied by automated messaging to the user with information as to the measures taken and remedial options. The messaging may be different dependent on whether the user is deemed to be an authorized user having subscriber account administration rights.

Abstract: A method for communicating in real-time to users of a provider of Internet access service, without requiring any installation or set-up by the user, that utilizes the unique identification information automatically provided by the user during communications for identifying the user to provide a fixed identifier which is then communicated to a redirecting device. Messages may then be selectively transmitted to the user. The system is normally transparent to the user, with no modification of its content along the path. Content then may be modified or replaced along the path to the user. For the purposes of establishing a reliable delivery of bulletin messages from providers to their users, the system forces the delivery of specially-composed World Wide Web browser pages to the user, although it is not limited to that type of data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of processing a user initiated request for information is disclosed. The method may provide receiving a user initiated request including a uniform resource locator (URL) submitted to a web browser application and receiving a response that the URL is an invalid URL that cannot be resolved to a corresponding webpage. The method may also include blocking a subsequent attempt to transmit the user initiated request as a browser modified search request that includes modifications to the user initiated request.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for communicating at least one real-time specially-composed bulletin message to at least one subscriber of a provider of Internet services, comprising a first device, and a second device communicably coupled to the first device, wherein the first device: accesses only subscriber upstream traffic to a destination web site requested by the subscriber, wherein the first device inter-connects between the at least one subscriber and the destination web site, identifies the at least one subscriber's identification based on the accessed subscriber upstream traffic automatically provided by the subscriber, and provides the unique subscriber identification to the second device located at the provider of Internet services providing data services and management control to the first device, wherein the second device determines the subscriber associated with the unique subscriber identification.

Abstract: An internet service provider (ISP) is configured to analyze a subscriber's sent e-mail packets to determine a subscriber identity associated with the e-mail packets. A database is then queried to determine a current sending rate of e-mails by the subscriber. A sending rate above an allowed threshold causes the upstream transmission of the e-mail packets to be blocked by injecting connection destroying packets. A subscriber remains blocked from upstream transmission of e-mails until the sending rate as determined by the ISP drops below a second, more stringent threshold. This automatic process is also accompanied by automated messaging to the subscriber with information as to the measures taken and remedial options.

Abstract: An Internet service provider (ISP) is configured to analyze a subscriber's sent e-mail packets to determine a subscriber identity associated with the e-mail packets. A database is then queried to determine a current sending rate of e-mails by the subscriber. A sending rate above an allowed threshold causes the upstream transmission of the e-mail packets to be blocked, optionally by injecting connection destroying packets. A subscriber remains blocked from upstream transmission of e-mails until the sending rate as determined by the ISP drops below a second, more stringent threshold. This automatic process is also accompanied by automated messaging to the subscriber with information as to the measures taken and remedial options.