Abstract: In an intermediation system, an intermediary is positioned along a communications path between a client and a server. The client sends a payment message over the communications path to consummate a payment. The intermediary receives the payment message and detects whether the message includes an account number, such as a credit card number. The intermediary replaces the account number with a limited-use payment number, such as a one-time-use credit card number. The intermediary may request the limited-use payment number from a credit card issuer. The intermediary may send a verification message to the client to verify that the client approves of the replacement of the account number with a limited-use payment number.

Abstract: An intermediary system is disposed along a communication path between a user device, such as a Web-enabled mobile phone, and a content server. The user device sends a request, such as an HTTP GET request, for a data page at the content server. The data page may be, for example, the hypertext markup language (HTML) code of a Web page. The intermediary receives the request and determines whether the requested data page includes a data reference, such as a uniform resource locator (URL) of an embedded image in the Web page. If the requested page includes a data reference, the intermediary creates a preload instruction and sends the preload instruction to the user device in a response to the request for the data page. The preload instruction instructs the user device to load the referenced data. The preload instruction may be a hidden frame.

Abstract: Messaging patterns for a plurality of subscribers are obtained and analyzed to determine a “trust score” that is an indication of the likelihood that a given message for a particular subscriber is of interest, as opposed to unwanted, e.g., spam or telemarketing phone calls. Subscribers establish or set trust score thresholds and call processing actions to take based on the thresholds and the trust score for a given incoming communication. For example, if a subscriber establishes a processing action of “block call” for calls with a “low” threshold trust score, and an incoming message (email, SMS, instant message, or phone call) has a trust score of “low” or “very low”, the message is blocked. Conversely, if the trust score for the message is “high” and the user has specified to pass through “high” trust score messages, the message is passed through. Various algorithms can be used compute trust scores based on messaging patterns.

Abstract: A secure e-mail messaging system is positioned to receive an original e-mail message from a sender before the message is delivered to a recipient. To secure HTML mail, the system inserts a resource tag such as a Web bug and/or an HTML frame tag in the message, and it removes and stores a portion of the original e-mail message. The system then sends the modified e-mail message to the recipient. A reader of the message, who may or may not be the original recipient, opens the e-mail message with an e-mail client, which sends a resource request in response to the resource tag. The system receives the resource request and determines whether the reader is authorized to read the original e-mail message. If the reader is authorized to read the e-mail message, then it sends the removed portion to the authorized reader.

Abstract: A method and system operative to preclude content providers from tracking users, while still allowing content providers to communicate to users. An intermediary, such as an access channel provider for instance, gives content providers non-repeating user-identification-tokens, each of which a content provider can use as a key to access an intermediary resource that facilitates a communication to the user, without revealing the user's identity to the content provider.

Abstract: In a secure intermediary system, an intermediary is positioned along a communications path between a client and a server. The client sends a request to enter into a secure session, such as a secure socket layer (SSL) session. The intermediary receives the session request and establishes a first secure session between the client and the intermediary and/or a second secure session between the intermediary and the server. After the first and second secure sessions have been established, the intermediary provides intermediation services between the server and the client in an intermediated secure session. The intermediation service may be, for example, detecting whether a message sent by the client includes a credit card number. To prevent the credit card number from being sent over a network, credit card number may be replaced with a one-time use payment number.

Abstract: A method and system for inserting web content through intermediation between a content server and a client station. An intermediation system within an HTTP communication path between a content server and a client station receives a markup language that is being transmitted via the HTTP communication path from the content server to the client station. The intermediation system then detects a markup-insertion instruction within the markup language and responsively inserts new markup language into the set of markup language, so as to establish a modified set of markup language. The intermediation system then sends the modified markup language along the HTTP communication path to the client station.

Abstract: A method and system for embellishing web content during transmission of the content between a content server and a client station. An intermediation system receives web content that is being transmitted via an HTTP communication path from the content server to the client station. The system then adds into the content at least one explanatory object and then sends the content with the explanatory object along the HTTP communication path to the client station. The explanatory object could take various forms. For instance, it could be an explanation of what will happen when a user clicks on a particular hyperlink in the web content.

Abstract: A portal server keeps a record of the availability of portlets. When a client node sends a request for a portal page, the portal server checks the record to determine whether portlets in the portal page are available. If a portlet is unavailable, the portal server sends a portal page with a substitute portlet without requiring the client node to wait for unavailable portlets. The substitute portlet may notify the user that the requested portlet is delayed, and/or it may provide the user with an option to attempt to reload the portlet or to be notified—for example by email—when the portlet is available.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically varying intermediation functions in a communication path between a content server and a client station. An intermediation system within the communication path receives an HTTP message and detects an intermediation-variance instruction within the message. In response, the intermediation system varies a default set of intermediation logic, such as by removing, changing or adding one or more intermediation triggers and/or intermediation actions. In turn, the intermediation system applies the variant intermediation logic in response to the HTTP message and/or in response to subsequent HTTP messages.

Abstract: A tubing connection arrangement and a method used for coupling expandable tubing sections together. In one embodiment, there is disclosed a tubing connection arrangement comprising a first expandable tubing section defining a male portion; a second expandable tubing section defining a female portion, the first and second expandable tubing sections being engageable with one another; one of the first and second expandable tubing sections including a restraining member for restraining part of the other expandable tubing section; and the first expandable tubing section including a tapered shoulder for co-operating with a corresponding tapered shoulder of the second expandable tubing section.

Abstract: A method and system for providing advanced notice of cost to access web content. During transmission of web content over a communication path between a content server and a client station, an intermediation system adds into the web content, in conjunction with a hyperlink to web content, an indication of cost to access the referenced web content. The indication of cost will then be presented to a user when the web content is presented to the user, thereby giving the user an advanced notice of the cost to access the referenced content.

Abstract: A system is described for providing certified digital photos as a form of photo identification. In an m-wallet transaction, a vendor requests photo identification from the user of a mobile station, such as a mobile telephone or smart card. In response to the request, the mobile station displays a digital image of an authorized user of the mobile station. The mobile station also displays a trust-certification indicator to indicate to the vendor that the image is authentic. The mobile station may retrieve the image of the authorized user, together with a trust-certification, from a service provider.

Abstract: A system for authenticating and/or authorizing users of a service includes one communication interface with an access communication channel and another communication interface with a confirmation communication channel. Requests for a user to access a service are received over the access communication channel, and confirmation codes for the user are received over a trusted confirmation channel, such as an SMS text messaging system. Confirmation codes may be received from the user requesting access to the service or by a third party acting as a gatekeeper to the service. The system tests the validity of received confirmation codes, and enables the user to access the service if a valid confirmation code is received.

Abstract: A method and system for notifying a user that the user is engaging in interstitial communication. An intermediation system within an HTTP communication path between a content server and a client station engages in interstitial communication with a client station. During the interstitial communication, the intermediation system sends one or more interstitial screens to the client station and includes in each screen a predefined interstitial notice. Further, to help safeguard against the possibility that a third party will try to provide the interstitial notice within an HTTP response to the client station, the intermediation system can be arranged to detect and strip the interstitial notice from any such HTTP response.

Abstract: A system for authenticating and/or authorizing users of a service includes one communication interface with an access communication channel and another communication interface with a confirmation communication channel. Requests for a user to access a service are received over the access communication channel, and confirmation codes for the user are received over a trusted confirmation channel, such as an SMS text messaging system. Confirmation codes may be received from the user requesting access to the service or by a third party acting as a gatekeeper to the service. The system tests the validity of received confirmation codes, and enables the user to access the service if a valid confirmation code is received.

Abstract: A method and system for providing advanced notice of cost to access web content. During transmission of web content over a communication path between a content server and a client station, an intermediation system adds into the web content, in conjunction with a hyperlink to web content, an indication of cost to access the referenced web content. The indication of cost will then be presented to a user when the web content is presented to the user, thereby giving the user an advanced notice of the cost to access the referenced content.