Abstract: A method and apparatus tracks and blocks content requested by a first remote device for forwarding over a network to a second remote device. For a given content item, one or more usage identities are tracked. Usage identities may include any combination of one or more of a source identity, a content identity, and/or a destination identity. One or more thresholds associated with the tracked usage identities are applied to determine whether a request to forward content should be blocked; a threshold is a limit on the number of times a content item having a particular usage identity may be forwarded within a time period. Misuse of content-forwarding messaging services by spammers and the like may thereby be discouraged. In one embodiment, the invention may be employed as part of a content clipping service for forwarding content to mobile devices by way of SMS or another mobile messaging technology.

Abstract: A shortened identifier, such as a shortened URL, is used to access data, a service, and/or another resource that is associated with a full identifier, such as a full URL. In an exemplary embodiment, a hash key is generated from the full URL and included with a domain identifier to form a shortened URL. Other codes can also be included in the shortened URL. The shortened URL can be included in a message, page, and/or other data element that is generally too small for the full URL. When received from a client, a property code, a user ID, and/or other data is used to locate one or more full URLs. A selected hash function is applied to the full URLs to generate a table of hash keys. If a match exists with the hash key from the shortened URL, the resource is accessed at the corresponding full URL.

Abstract: One or more staged cookies are used to control access to a special service, such as a service to send clips of search results to a mobile device. In one embodiment, a client obtains a staged cookie when the client completes a permitted task that a server determines is performed by a typical user and not by a client programmed to circumvent server protections. One or more staged cookies indicate a trust level based on the client behavior with or without client registration, authentication, or other conventional security scheme. The server may digitally sign each issued cookie to ensure they are valid. When a client submits a request, the server checks the staged cookies to determine whether the client should be allowed to access the special service. The staged cookies enable a client user to remain anonymous, but also enable a server to prevent abuses, such as spam.