Abstract:
A custom browser can be setup or configured by end user to scan, monitor, filter out or eliminate any element of HTTP or HTTPS or Java script code or cookie downloading from the Internet in real time. The browser with custom security protects and eliminates unnecessary data or hacker attempts from the Internet by transcoding the downloading HTML/HTML5 code without requiring any plug-in, security app or changed system security level of devices. The application is particularly useful in IPTV and Remote UI HTML5 implementations.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The application relates generally to custom security browsers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Current Internet browsers are typically customized by service providers to be configured with the service provider&#39;s favorite service or applications, including any security features the browser might have. Present principles understand that this is a salient point, because downloading hypertext markup language (HTML) or Javascript code and associated data are controlled by downloading server and services through standard browser mechanisms that are tailored by the service providers. Thus, the end user is using his browser to access content that is controlled by service and server and has little control over how to execute downloaded HTML code. This may be problematic because such downloaded code may become advertising, pop-ups, and “phishing” code that is dangerous to the computer operation as it is being executed. Simply monitoring such HTML code using a blacklist of suspect uniform resource identifiers (URI) or keywords may miss otherwise dangerous code. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Present principles use a custom browser or browser plug-in to protect a downloading computer and eliminate unnecessary data or hacker software from the Internet by transcoding the downloading HTML/HTML5 code. This prevents the hacked or phishing HTML code being downloaded from being executed, which would otherwise damage the user device. As understood herein, a browser can run faster and more securely on the browsing contents after transcoding. The executing computer can rely on the browser and does not have to rely on external security such as network gateways or firewall security. The custom security browser has its own security and can be configured by an end user. 
         [0004]    In an example, a “media” element URI and its parameters can be monitored and transcoded as dictated by user setup of a security zoom that won&#39;t hack or damage the device system/data. A status notification message or a separate warning window can pop up to notify the user of how the browser decides if downloaded code should be executed. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, a device includes at least one computer memory that is not a transitory signal and that in turn includes instructions executable by at least one processor to receive at least one user selection of at least one network item for transcoding at such time as the network item is encountered on a wide area computer network by a browser. The instructions are executable to, responsive to the browser navigating to a location on the wide area network at which the network item is encountered, transcode the network item prior to executing the item to render a transcoded item. The instructions are further executable to determine whether to execute at least a portion of the transcoding item. 
         [0006]    The computer memory and processor can be components of an end user computer. The instructions may be native to the browser, i.e., programmed into the browser by the browser manufacturer, or may be part of a plug-in associable with the browser. 
         [0007]    The determining whether to execute at least a portion of the transcoding item may be responsive to user input or it may be automatic without requiring a user response prior to determining whether to execute the item. When done per user input, the user input can be from a user interface (UI) presented on an end user computer. The UI can include one or more of a first selection to remove suspicious code found in the transcoded item and only then execute the transcoded item minus the suspicious code, delete all versions of the item, transcoded and original, and execute the transcoded item including the suspicious code. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, a computer includes a storage including computer instructions, a network interface, and a processor configured to access the instructions to present at least one user interface (UI) facilitating at least one user selection of at least one network item for transcoding at such time as the network item is encountered on a wide area computer network by a browser executed by the processor. The processor responsive to executing the instructions, and responsive to the browser navigating to a location on the wide area network at which the network item is encountered, transcodes the network item prior to executing the item. 
         [0009]    In examples, the UI facilitates a user selection to have all items encountered on the wide area network transcoded prior to execution. In addition or alternatively, an example UI may facilitate a user selection to have only user-selected individual items transcoded prior to execution of the individual items. In addition or alternatively, an example UI may facilitate a user selection to have only at least one user-selected class of items transcoded prior to execution of an item in the class of items. 
         [0010]    In another aspect, a computer includes a storage including computer instructions, a network interface, and a processor configured to access the instructions to present at least one user interface (UI) facilitating at least one user selection of at least one reaction to encountering suspicious code in a transcoded version of an original item encountered on a wide area computer network prior to executing the transcoded version or the original item. The user selection can include one or more of (1) remove suspicious code found in the transcoded version and execute the transcoded version minus the suspicious code, (2) delete all versions of the item, transcoded and original, and (3) execute the transcoded version including suspicious code. 
         [0011]    The details of the present disclosure, both as to its structure and operation, can be best understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example system including an example in accordance with present principles; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of example logic; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a screen shot of an example setup user interface (UI); and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is screen shot of an example UI that may be presented when suspicious code has been identified. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    This disclosure relates generally to computer ecosystems including aspects of consumer electronics (CE) device based user information in computer ecosystems. A system herein may include server and client components, connected over a network such that data may be exchanged between the client and server components. The client components may include one or more computing devices including portable televisions (e.g. smart TVs, Internet-enabled TVs), portable computers such as laptops and tablet computers, and other mobile devices including smart phones and additional examples discussed below. These client devices may operate with a variety of operating environments. For example, some of the client computers may employ, as examples, operating systems from Microsoft, or a Unix operating system, or operating systems produced by Apple Computer or Google. These operating environments may be used to execute one or more browsing programs, such as a browser made by Microsoft or Google or Mozilla or other browser program that can access web applications hosted by the Internet servers discussed below. 
         [0017]    Servers may include one or more processors executing instructions that configure the servers to receive and transmit data over a network such as the Internet. Or, a client and server can be connected over a local intranet or a virtual private network. A server or controller may be instantiated by a game console such as a Sony Playstation®, a personal computer, etc. 
         [0018]    Information may be exchanged over a network between the clients and servers. To this end and for security, servers and/or clients can include firewalls, load balancers, temporary storages, and proxies, and other network infrastructure for reliability and security. One or more servers may form an apparatus that implement methods of providing a secure community such as an online social website to network members. 
         [0019]    As used herein, instructions refer to computer-implemented steps for processing information in the system. Instructions can be implemented in software, firmware or hardware and include any type of programmed step undertaken by components of the system. 
         [0020]    A processor may be any conventional general purpose single- or multi-chip processor that can execute logic by means of various lines such as address lines, data lines, and control lines and registers and shift registers. 
         [0021]    Software modules described by way of the flow charts and user interfaces herein can include various sub-routines, procedures, etc. Without limiting the disclosure, logic stated to be executed by a particular module can be redistributed to other software modules and/or combined together in a single module and/or made available in a shareable library. 
         [0022]    Present principles described herein can be implemented as hardware, software, firmware, or combinations thereof; hence, illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps are set forth in terms of their functionality. 
         [0023]    Further to what has been alluded to above, logical blocks, modules, and circuits described below can be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A processor can be implemented by a controller or state machine or a combination of computing devices. 
         [0024]    The functions and methods described below, when implemented in software, can be written in an appropriate language such as but not limited to C# or C++, and can be stored on or transmitted through a computer-readable storage medium such as a random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage such as digital versatile disc (DVD), magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices including removable thumb drives, etc. A connection may establish a computer-readable medium. Such connections can include, as examples, hard-wired cables including fiber optics and coaxial wires and digital subscriber line (DSL) and twisted pair wires. 
         [0025]    Components included in one embodiment can be used in other embodiments in any appropriate combination. For example, any of the various components described herein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged or excluded from other embodiments. 
         [0026]    “A system having at least one of A, B, and C” (likewise “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” and “a system having at least one of A, B, C”) includes systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc. 
         [0027]    Now specifically referring to  FIG. 1 , an example ecosystem  10  is shown, which may include one or more of the example devices mentioned above and described further below in accordance with present principles. The first of the example devices included in the system  10  is an example primary display device, and in the embodiment shown is an audio video display device (AVDD)  12  such as but not limited to an Internet-enabled TV. Thus, the AVDD  12  alternatively may be an appliance or household item, e.g. computerized Internet enabled refrigerator, washer, or dryer. The AVDD  12  alternatively may also be a computerized Internet enabled (“smart”) telephone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a wearable computerized device such as e.g. computerized Internet-enabled watch, a computerized Internet-enabled bracelet, other computerized Internet-enabled devices, a computerized Internet-enabled music player, computerized Internet-enabled head phones, a computerized Internet-enabled implantable device such as an implantable skin device, etc. Regardless, it is to be understood that the AVDD  12  is configured to undertake present principles (e.g. communicate with other CE devices to undertake present principles, execute the logic described herein, and perform any other functions and/or operations described herein). 
         [0028]    Accordingly, to undertake such principles the AVDD  12  can be established by some or all of the components shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, the AVDD  12  can include one or more displays  14  that may be implemented by a high definition or ultra-high definition “4K” or “8K” (or higher resolution) flat screen and that may be touch-enabled for receiving consumer input signals via touches on the display. The AVDD  12  may include one or more speakers  16  for outputting audio in accordance with present principles, and at least one additional input device  18  such as e.g. an audio receiver/microphone for e.g. entering audible commands to the AVDD  12  to control the AVDD  12 . The example AVDD  12  may also include one or more network interfaces  20  for communication over at least one network  22  such as the Internet, an WAN, an LAN, etc. under control of one or more processors  24 . Thus, the interface  20  may be, without limitation, a Wi-Fi transceiver, which is an example of a wireless computer network interface. It is to be understood that the processor  24  controls the AVDD  12  to undertake present principles, including the other elements of the AVDD  12  described herein such as e.g. controlling the display  14  to present images thereon and receiving input therefrom. Furthermore, note the network interface  20  may be, e.g., a wired or wireless modem or router, or other appropriate interface such as, e.g., a wireless telephony transceiver, or Wi-Fi transceiver as mentioned above, etc. 
         [0029]    In addition to the foregoing, the AVDD  12  may also include one or more input ports  26  such as, e.g., a USB port to physically connect (e.g. using a wired connection) to another CE device and/or a headphone port to connect headphones to the AVDD  12  for presentation of audio from the AVDD  12  to a consumer through the headphones. The AVDD  12  may further include one or more computer memories  28  that are not transitory signals, such as disk-based or solid state storage (including but not limited to flash memory). Also in some embodiments, the AVDD  12  can include a position or location receiver such as but not limited to a cellphone receiver, GPS receiver and/or altimeter  30  that is configured to e.g. receive geographic position information from at least one satellite or cellphone tower and provide the information to the processor  24  and/or determine an altitude at which the AVDD  12  is disposed in conjunction with the processor  24 . However, it is to be understood that that another suitable position receiver other than a cellphone receiver, GPS receiver and/or altimeter may be used in accordance with present principles to e.g. determine the location of the AVDD  12  in e.g. all three dimensions. 
         [0030]    Continuing the description of the AVDD  12 , in some embodiments the AVDD  12  may include one or more cameras  32  that may be, e.g., a thermal imaging camera, a digital camera such as a webcam, and/or a camera integrated into the AVDD  12  and controllable by the processor  24  to gather pictures/images and/or video in accordance with present principles. Also included on the AVDD  12  may be a Bluetooth transceiver  34  and other Near Field Communication (NFC) element  36  for communication with other devices using Bluetooth and/or NFC technology, respectively. An example NFC element can be a radio frequency identification (RFID) element. 
         [0031]    Further still, the AVDD  12  may include one or more auxiliary sensors  37  (e.g., a motion sensor such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, cyclometer, or a magnetic sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, an optical sensor, a speed and/or cadence sensor, a gesture sensor (e.g. for sensing gesture command), etc.) providing input to the processor  24 . The AVDD  12  may include still other sensors such as e.g. one or more climate sensors  38  (e.g. barometers, humidity sensors, wind sensors, light sensors, temperature sensors, etc.) and/or one or more biometric sensors  40  providing input to the processor  24 . In addition to the foregoing, it is noted that the AVDD  12  may also include an infrared (IR) transmitter and/or IR receiver and/or IR transceiver  42  such as an IR data association (IRDA) device. A battery (not shown) may be provided for powering the AVDD  12 . 
         [0032]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , in addition to the AVDD  12 , the system  10  may include one or more other CE device types. In one example, a first CE device  44  may be used to control the display via commands sent through the below-described server while a second CE device  46  may include similar components as the first CE device  44  and hence will not be discussed in detail. In the example shown, only two CE devices  44 ,  46  are shown, it being understood that fewer or greater devices may be used. 
         [0033]    In the example shown, to illustrate present principles all three devices  12 ,  44 ,  46  are assumed to be members of an entertainment network in, e.g., in a home, or at least to be present in proximity to each other in a location such as a house. However, for illustrating present principles the first CE device  44  is assumed to be in the same room as the AVDD  12 , bounded by walls illustrated by dashed lines  48 . 
         [0034]    The example non-limiting first CE device  44  may be established by any one of the above-mentioned devices, for example, a portable wireless laptop computer or notebook computer, and accordingly may have one or more of the components described below. The second CE device  46  without limitation may be established by a wireless telephone. 
         [0035]    The first CE device  44  may include one or more displays  50  that may be touch-enabled for receiving consumer input signals via touches on the display. The first CE device  44  may include one or more speakers  52  for outputting audio in accordance with present principles, and at least one additional input device  54  such as e.g. an audio receiver/microphone for e.g. entering audible commands to the first CE device  44  to control the device  44 . The example first CE device  44  may also include one or more network interfaces  56  for communication over the network  22  under control of one or more CE device processors  58 . Thus, the interface  56  may be, without limitation, a Wi-Fi transceiver, which is an example of a wireless computer network interface. It is to be understood that the processor  58  controls the first CE device  44  to undertake present principles, including the other elements of the first CE device  44  described herein such as e.g. controlling the display  50  to present images thereon and receiving input therefrom. Furthermore, note the network interface  56  may be, e.g., a wired or wireless modem or router, or other appropriate interface such as, e.g., a wireless telephony transceiver, or Wi-Fi transceiver as mentioned above, etc. 
         [0036]    In addition to the foregoing, the first CE device  44  may also include one or more input ports  60  such as, e.g., a USB port to physically connect (e.g. using a wired connection) to another CE device and/or a headphone port to connect headphones to the first CE device  44  for presentation of audio from the first CE device  44  to a consumer through the headphones. The first CE device  44  may further include one or more computer memories  62  such as disk-based or solid state storage. Also in some embodiments, the first CE device  44  can include a position or location receiver such as but not limited to a cellphone and/or GPS receiver and/or altimeter  64  that is configured to e.g. receive geographic position information from at least one satellite and/or cell tower, using triangulation, and provide the information to the CE device processor  58  and/or determine an altitude at which the first CE device  44  is disposed in conjunction with the CE device processor  58 . However, it is to be understood that that another suitable position receiver other than a cellphone and/or GPS receiver and/or altimeter may be used in accordance with present principles to e.g. determine the location of the first CE device  44  in e.g. all three dimensions. 
         [0037]    Continuing the description of the first CE device  44 , in some embodiments the first CE device  44  may include one or more cameras  66  that may be, e.g., a thermal imaging camera, a digital camera such as a webcam, and/or a camera integrated into the first CE device  44  and controllable by the CE device processor  58  to gather pictures/images and/or video in accordance with present principles. Also included on the first CE device  44  may be a Bluetooth transceiver  68  and other Near Field Communication (NFC) element  70  for communication with other devices using Bluetooth and/or NFC technology, respectively. An example NFC element can be a radio frequency identification (RFID) element. 
         [0038]    Further still, the first CE device  44  may include one or more auxiliary sensors  72  (e.g., a motion sensor such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, cyclometer, or a magnetic sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, an optical sensor, a speed and/or cadence sensor, a gesture sensor (e.g. for sensing gesture command), etc.) providing input to the CE device processor  58 . The first CE device  44  may include still other sensors such as e.g. one or more climate sensors  74  (e.g. barometers, humidity sensors, wind sensors, light sensors, temperature sensors, etc.) and/or one or more biometric sensors  76  providing input to the CE device processor  58 . In addition to the foregoing, it is noted that in some embodiments the first CE device  44  may also include an infrared (IR) transmitter and/or IR receiver and/or IR transceiver  78  such as an IR data association (IRDA) device. A battery (not shown) may be provided for powering the first CE device  44 . 
         [0039]    The second CE device  46  may include some or all of the components shown for the CE device  44 . 
         [0040]    Now in reference to the afore-mentioned at least one server  80 , it includes at least one server processor  82 , at least one computer memory  84  such as disk-based or solid state storage, and at least one network interface  86  that, under control of the server processor  82 , allows for communication with the other devices of  FIG. 1  over the network  22 , and indeed may facilitate communication between servers and client devices in accordance with present principles. Note that the network interface  86  may be, e.g., a wired or wireless modem or router, Wi-Fi transceiver, or other appropriate interface such as, e.g., a wireless telephony transceiver. 
         [0041]    Accordingly, in some embodiments the server  80  may be an Internet server, and may include and perform “cloud” functions such that the devices of the system  10  may access a “cloud” environment via the server  80  in example embodiments. Or, the server  80  may be implemented by a game console or other computer in the same room as the other devices shown in  FIG. 1  or nearby. 
         [0042]    As used herein, “transcoding” refers to the process of converting a file or object from one format to another. Transcoding may be used to convert one video format to another, but may also be used to convert HTML files and graphics files to a format that satisfies the constraints of mobile devices and other Web-enabled products. Transcoding can entail receiving a HTML or Javascript file and operate on it using a specified annotation to transcode the file to another format. 
         [0043]    With the above in mind and turning now to  FIG. 2 , at block  200  one or more user designations of “at risk” or otherwise user-designated code/objects is received.  FIG. 2  thus represents executable instructions of an end user&#39;s browser (or a plug-in to the end user&#39;s browser) to implement present principles, giving the user control over what Internet downloads to filter per the following discussion. In this way, the end user controls his device&#39;s behaviors and security, instead of allowing such control to remain in the hands of the browser manufacturer or as dictated by hypertext markup language (HTML) or other code directly from an Internet link. 
         [0044]    Proceeding to block  202 , the browser navigates the Internet according to user navigation commands. As it encounters items such as web pages, pop-up ads, cookies, and so on to be downloaded and executed, the logic determines at decision diamond  204  whether any such items are among the user-designated code/items received at block  200 . This determination may include ascertaining a geographic location of an item by noting its geographic extension in its network address (e.g., in its uniform resource indicator, or URI), e.g., “.de” for Germany or “.ca” for Canada. The determination may be include ascertaining a type of file as indicated in metadata accompanying the item, or as indicated by the URI of the item, or as indicated by an attempted communication from the item, or as indicated by a size of the item matching, e.g., the size of cookies, etc. 
         [0045]    If any such item is found the logic moves to block  206  to transcode the item prior to allowing it to execute on the end user computer. All or part of the item may be transcoded. To execute the transcoding, the browser (or the browser plug-in) transcodes the HTML code to Java script code, or transcodes Java script code to extensible markup language (XML), etc., and in so doing changes the original code downloaded from an Internet link prior to execution of the original code. From a technical view, transcoding can be effected by programming in HTML JavaScript. The transcoding code in HTML JavaScript usually is executed in real time and the results can be cached or not cached. Transcoding may be to ASCII or other format. 
         [0046]    As understood herein, the above-described transcoding can find, in the transcoded result, any malware code and remove that code or simply not execute the item containing the code as further explicated below. To locate malware code, the browser or browser plug-in can access a transcoding guide with a database or list or other identification indicia of known malware, with the list being automatically updated if desired by periodically having the browser or browser plug-in access an update site on the Internet. This prevents otherwise hidden malware code that has been downloaded from executing and embedding itself into the device. 
         [0047]    Block  208  indicates that a notification may be presented to the user of any activity in states  204 - 206  as described further below in reference to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0048]    Turning to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , UIs are shown that can be presented to an end user of a browser on any of the displays described herein. The example UI  300  shown in  FIG. 3  allows the end user to define what Internet downloads to transcode prior to allowing the downloads to execute. As indicated at  302 , the UI may have a selector or other means for facilitating the user designating all code encountered on the Internet for download to be transcoded. The UI  300  may facilitate the user electing transcoding only for more targeted types of items such as pop-up ads, indicated at  304 , possible phishing items as indicated by, e.g., items having data fields soliciting user completion, indicated at  306 , any item downloaded by geographic region as indicated at  308 , with particular geographic regions such as countries being selectable from a list by the user as indicated at  310  or manually designated by the user by entering the name or designation or other identification of the region into data field  312 , and any item downloaded from user-designated network addresses such as individual URIs, as indicated at  314 . Cookies also may be selected using the UI  300 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  shows a UI  400  that may be presented responsive to block  208  in  FIG. 2 . As shown a notification  402  may be presented that an item “ABC” has been downloaded and transcoded. If suspicious code has been found a notification  404  may be presented as such. In some cases one or more of the reactions shown at  406 - 410  may be executed automatically by the browser or browser plug-in without user interaction, but in other cases the user may be given the option to select one of the reactions listed as examples. That is, the user may select at  406  to have the suspicious code remove from the transcoded result and the remaining portion of the transcoded “ABC” executed. Or, the user may select at  408  to delete all of “ABC” in both original and transcoded form. Yet again, the user may select at  410  to run the transcoded version of “ABC” without removing the suspicious code. 
         [0050]    Note that the selections in  FIG. 4  may be made in near real time as malware is discovered or they may be pre-selected by the user by presenting all or part of  FIG. 4  to the user during setup, along with the UI  300  of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0051]    While the particular technical description is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.