Abstract: The invention concerns presence of users, such as online presence in a broadcast domain. First one-way encrypted (e.g. hashed) presence information of multiple users is received (42) from their respective devices. Then for each received presence information, attempting to match (44) that received hashed presence information to a token of a stored set of tokens where each token corresponds to a user. The presence of a subset of the multiple users for which a matching token is in the stored set is determined, causing the generation (46) of an indication of the presence of one or more users of the subset of the multiple users. Aspects of the invention include methods, systems and software.

Abstract: The invention enables identifying relationships between users of a online communications domain such as a social networking website. First identification tokens 20, 34 and 36 are stored that are each encrypted identification information associated with a domain user A, B and C. Then the service provider 58 receives relationship tokens 72 from a first user A, wherein each relationship token 72 is one-way encrypted identification information associated with a possible domain user B and C. The service provider 58 compares the relationship tokens 72 to the identification tokens to identify any matches. For each match to a unique domain user B and C, identifying a relationship between the first user and the domain user B and C associated with the matched identification token. This relationship allows communication in the domain between the first user A and the domain user B and C. It is an advantage of the invention that the relationships between users can be identified while preserving their privacy.

Abstract: Server-to-user delivery of a data stream associated with a service provided by the server is effectuated by selecting the server and, automatically and without manual intervention, providing in a communication path that is to be used for the delivery a proxy that performs a proxy operation on the data stream during the delivery. A proxy can be automatically installed in a communication path through a data network. In response to an installation request, a communication port for coupling to the communication path is automatically allocated and a proxy to support data flow through the communication port is automatically loaded. The proxy is operable for performing a proxy operation on the data stream. In maintaining proxies in a communication path used to deliver from a server to a user a data stream associated with a service provided by the server, it can be determined when a first proxy in the communication path is not performing its proxy function within the communication path.

Abstract: Server-to-user delivery of a data stream associated with a service provided by the server is effectuated by selecting the server and, automatically and without manual intervention, providing in a communication path that is to be used for the delivery a proxy that performs a proxy operation on the data stream during the delivery. A proxy can be automatically installed in a communication path through a data network. In response to an installation request, a communication port for coupling to the communication path is automatically allocated and a proxy to support data flow through the communication port is automatically loaded. The proxy is operable for performing a proxy operation on the data stream. In maintaining proxies in a communication path used to deliver from a server to a user a data stream associated with a service provided by the server, it can be determined when a first proxy in the communication path is not performing its proxy function within the communication path.

Abstract: In requesting a server to provide a service to a user, a user application provides a service request that includes first information which directs the server to route to the user application a data stream associated with the service. The first information is transformed into second information which directs the server to route the data stream to a proxy which is installed in a communication path from the server to the user application and which is operable for performing a proxy operation on the data stream.