Patent ID: 7565534
Filing Date: 2009-07-21
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. In a messaging board server using a legacy protocol to post data messages for multiple clients, a method of extending the functionality and data properties offered by the legacy protocol, without modifying the legacy protocol so as to maintain support for clients with only legacy capabilities, the method comprising the acts of: receiving legacy data, including a main body of a data message, for posting on a messaging board over an unsecured legacy channel using a legacy protocol for supporting legacy clients; participating in the creation of a secure side channel for exchanging extended data properties and supporting functionalities not offered by the legacy protocol; receiving over the secure side channel extended data that includes a client hash value, created by a client when hashing at least a portion of the legacy data, and metadata for defining extended data properties that extend the legacy protocol; creating a server hash value by hashing at least a portion of the legacy data received over the unsecured legacy channel; linking the legacy data and the extended data; and comparing the client hash value with the server hash value to ensure that the legacy data has not been altered for extending the functionality of the legacy protocol by securing the unsecured legacy channel without having modified the legacy protocol.