Remote validation of user interactions for client-side scripting

A system for remote validation of user interactions for client-side scripting may include one or more processors and memory. The processors may receive a transcript of user interactions recorded during an execution of a client-side script and a corresponding score. The transcript may include an indication of a relative time when each user interaction was recorded. The processors may execute the client-side script and recreate the user interactions during the execution at the relative times indicated by the transcript, may calculate a second score for the user interactions based at least in part on at least some of the user interactions and the relative times when the user interactions are recreated during the execution of the client-side script, and may provide the second score when it is equivalent to the received score, otherwise may provide an indication that the user interactions are invalid and/or that the received score is invalid.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present description relates generally to a validation system, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a system for remote validation of user interactions for client-side scripting.

BACKGROUND

Client-side scripting may refer to web-based programs that are executed client-side, such as within a web browser. Since client-side scripts are locally executed within a web browser on a device, as opposed to being executed on a remote server, client-side scripts may be able to quickly respond to user events, such as user interactions. As such, client-side scripts may be well-suited for programs that need to respond quickly to user interactions and that can be executed independent of a server.

For example, web-based games that include graphics that change in response to user interactions, and/or scores that are calculated based on user interactions, may be well suited for a client-side scripting implementation. A client-side script for a web-based game may execute in a web browser, independent of a server. A user may interact with the web-based game and the client-side script may respond to the user interactions and/or maintain a score for the user based on the user interactions. At the completion of the web-based game, the web browser may communicate the final score for the user's interactions with the web-based game to a server, such as through a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request. The score for the user may be stored on the server and/or the score may be communicated to an external system for comparison against other users' scores, such as a leaderboard system, or another score aggregation system.

However, a possible drawback to client-side scripting is that the source code of a client-side script is often accessible to the users, such as through the web browser. As such, a user may be able to access the source code for the client-side script and determine the syntax for making unauthorized function calls within the client-side script, such as to improve the user's score in a web-based game. Similarly, a user may be able to access the source code of the client-side script and determine the syntax for a communication of a final score to the server. In this instance, the user may be able to mimic the syntax of the communication of the final score to the server in order to communicate a score of any value, such as a high score, irrespective of whether the user's interactions with the web-based game actually correlate to the high score. Thus, for any client-side script that communicates a value to a server for user interactions during the execution of the client-side script, such as a score of a web-based game, there is a possibility that the value being communicated to the server has been illicitly modified, and/or tampered with, by the user.

SUMMARY

The disclosed subject matter relates to a computer-implemented method for remote validation of user interactions for client-side scripting. The method may include receiving, using one or more computing devices and over a network, a transcript of a plurality of user interactions recorded during an execution of a client-side script, wherein the transcript comprises an indication of a relative time when each of the plurality of user interactions was recorded during the execution of the client-side script, executing, using the one or more computing devices, the client-side script, wherein each of the plurality of user interactions is provided to the executing client-side script at the relative time indicated by the transcript, determining, using the one or more computing devices and during the executing the client-side script, whether any user interaction of the plurality of user interactions provided to the executing client-side script comprises an invalid interaction for the executing client-side script at the time when the user interaction is provided to the executing client-side script, and providing, using the one or more computing devices, an indication of whether the plurality of user interactions are valid for the client-side script based at least in part on the determining.

In another aspect, a computer-implemented method for remote validation of user interactions for client-side scripting may include executing, using one or more computing devices, a client-side script received over a network, intercepting, using the one or more computing devices, a plurality of user interactions provided during the executing of the client-side script, generating, using the one or more computing devices, a transcript of the plurality of user interactions, wherein the transcript comprises a description of each of the plurality of user interactions and an indication of when each of the plurality of interactions was provided relative to the executing of the client-side script, sending, using the one or more computing devices and over the network, the transcript of the plurality of user interactions to one or more other computing devices, receiving, using the one or more computing devices and over the network, a value corresponding to the plurality of user interactions or an indication that the plurality of user interactions are invalid from the one or more other computing devices, and presenting, using the one or more computing devices, the value corresponding to the plurality of user interactions or the indication that the plurality of user interactions are invalid.

The disclosed subject matter also relates to a system for remote validation of user interactions for client-side scripting. The system may include one or more processors and a memory including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to receive, over a network, a transcript of a plurality of user interactions recorded during an execution of a client-side game script and a first score for the plurality of user interactions, wherein the transcript comprises an indication of a relative time when each of the plurality of user interactions was recorded relative to the execution of the client-side game script, execute the client-side game script, wherein each of the plurality of user interactions is recreated at the relative time during executing the client-side game script that is indicated by the transcript, calculate, during executing the client-side game script, a second score for the plurality of user interactions, wherein the second score is determined based at least in part on values associated with at least some of the plurality of user interactions and the relative times when the at least some of the plurality of user interactions are recreated during executing the client-side game script, and provide the second score when the second score is equivalent to the first score, otherwise provide an indication that the plurality of user interactions are invalid.

The disclosed subject matter also relates to a machine-readable medium embodying instructions that, when executed by a machine, allow the machine to perform a method for remote validation of user interactions for scripting. The method may include receiving, over a network, a transcript of a plurality of user interactions recorded during an execution of a script, wherein the transcript comprises an indication of a time when each of the plurality of user interactions was recorded relative to the execution of the script. The method may further include executing the script within a script engine, wherein each of the plurality of user interactions is provided to the script during the executing at the time indicated by the transcript, determining, during the executing, whether any user interaction of the plurality of user interactions provided to the executing script comprises an invalid interaction for the executing script at the time when the user interaction is provided to the executing script, and providing an indication of whether the plurality of user interactions are valid for the script based at least in part on the determining.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a system for remote validation of user interactions for client-side scripting, a client-side script may generate a transcript of a user's interactions during the execution of the client-side script, such as by intercepting and recording browser events during the execution of the client-side script. The transcript may include an indication and/or description of each user interaction and an indication of a time when the user interaction occurred relative to the execution of the client-side script. For example, the indication of the time when a user interaction occurred may be the number of milliseconds that elapsed since the start of the client-side script. In some instances, the execution of a client-side script may be divided into a number of linear steps, or ticks. In this instance, the indication of the time when a user interaction occurred may be the number of ticks that elapsed since the start of the client-side script. Alternatively, the indication of the time when a user interaction occurred may be any value that identifies when the user interaction occurred relative to the execution of the client-side script.

Upon completion of the client-side script, the web browser may communicate the transcript to a server, along with any value associated with the user's interactions with the client-side script, such as a score for a web-based game. However, as previously noted, a user may be able to illicitly improve their score, such as by making unauthorized function calls within the client-side script. In some instances, if a user illicitly improves their score, such as by circumventing the normal operation of the client-side script, the improved score may not accurately reflect the user's interactions with the web-based game, as recorded in the transcript.

The server may receive the transcript of the user's interactions along with the value associated with the user's interactions at the completion of the execution of the client-side script. The server may then re-execute the client-side script, in a server-side script engine, with each of the user interactions described in the transcript being recreated during the execution of the client-side script at the time indicated by the transcript. In this manner, the server may effectively replay the user's actual interactions with the web-based game, based on the user interactions recorded in the transcript. Since the server executes the client-side script in a server-side script engine, the functions within the client-side script that are related to displaying graphical elements do not need to be re-executed by the server. As such, in order to conserve processing resources, any functions related to displaying graphical elements may be replaced with null functions prior to the server-side execution of the client-side script. In this manner, calls to the functions related to displaying graphical elements will still be valid, but the server will not waste processing resources evaluating the functions.

During the execution of the client-side script within the server-side script engine, the server may determine whether a recreated user interaction is invalid for the web-based game at the time within the execution of the client-side script that the user interaction is recreated. For example, a user may have circumvented game logic to improve their score by illicitly mimicking user interactions within the web-based game. Thus, the server may validate each of the recreated user interactions with the game logic at that time within the web-based game that the user interactions are recreated. If the server determines that any of the user interactions are invalid for the web-based game at the time indicated by the transcript, the server may determine that the score received for the user's interactions is invalid.

If the execution of the client-side script completes without identifying any invalid user interactions, the server may compare the score determined by the execution of the client-side script within the server-side script engine with the score communicated to the server with the transcript. If the score communicated to the server is equivalent to the score determined by the execution of the client-side script within the server-side script engine, the server may determine that the communicated score is valid for the user's interactions. In this instance, the server may store the score for the user's interactions, such as to compare with scores associated with other users' interactions. For example, the server may present a leaderboard to the users that identifies the users' with the highest scores.

Alternatively, or in addition, the server may provide an indication to the user that their score is valid when the value determined by the server is equivalent to the value communicated to the server and the transcript does not include any invalid user interactions. Otherwise, the server may provide an indication to the user that the score is invalid. In the example of a web-based game, at the completion of the execution of the client-side script, the user may be presented with the score being communicated to the server along with an indication that the score is “unofficial.” If the server subsequently determines that the score is valid, the user may be presented with an indication that the score is “official.” However, if the server determines that the score is invalid, the user may be presented with an indication that the score has been “disqualified.”

Alternatively, or in addition, the server may aggregate multiple transcripts, such as from multiple users, and may periodically validate the aggregated transcripts. In this example, the server may use a parallel processing framework and/or a distributed processing framework, such as a map reduce framework, to efficiently validate multiple transcripts in parallel. In the example of a web-based game, upon validating the aggregated transcripts, the server may communicate all of the scores determined to be valid to a leaderboard or score aggregation system, and the server may discard all of the scores determined to be invalid.

Alternatively, or in addition, the logic of the client-side script may be written in a language that is a subset of a server-side language, or can be easily transformed into a server-side language. For example, since the expression and literal data structure syntax of JavaScript and Python are substantially similar, the client-side script could be written in the subset of JavaScript that is also valid in Python. In this example, the client-side script could be executed on the server without the need for a server-side script engine.

II. Example Client-Server Network Environments for a System for Remote Validation of User Interactions for Client-Side Scripting

FIG. 1illustrates an example client-server network environment which may implement a system for remote validation of user interactions for client-side scripting. Not all of the depicted components may be required, however, and some implementations may include additional components not shown in the figure. Variations in the arrangement and type of the components may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims as set forth herein. Additional, different or fewer components may be provided.

Network environment100may include a number of electronic devices102,104,106communicably connected to server110, such as by network108. In another example, electronic devices102,104,106may be communicably connected to one another, such as by network108, but not communicably connected to server110. Network108may be a public communication network (such as the Internet, cellular data network, dialup modems over a telephone network) or a private communications network (such as private local area network (“LAN”), leased lines). Network108may also include, but is not limited to, any one or more of the following network topologies, including a bus network, a star network, a ring network, a mesh network, a star-bus network, a tree or hierarchical network, and the like.

In some example embodiments, electronic devices102,104and106can be computing devices such as laptop or desktop computers, smartphones, personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), portable media players, tablet computers, televisions or other displays with one or more processors coupled thereto and/or embedded therein, or other appropriate computing devices that can be used for displaying a web page, a web application, or otherwise executing a client-side script. In the example ofFIG. 1, electronic device102is depicted as a desktop computer, electronic device104is depicted as a smartphone, and electronic device106is depicted as a tablet device.

In one example, server110includes one or more processing devices112and data store114. The one or more processing devices112execute computer instructions stored in data store114, for example, to provide remote validation of user interactions for client-side scripts that executed on one or more of electronic devices102,104,106. Data store114may store the computer instructions on non-transitory computer-readable medium.

In one example, server110may be a single computing device such as a computer server. In another example, server110may represent more than one computing device working together to perform the actions of a server computer (such as a cloud of computers and/or a distributed system). In another example, server110may be coupled with various databases, storage services, or other computing devices. Server110and the coupled databases, storage services, or other computing devices may be collocated, or may be disparately located.

Communications between electronic devices102,104,106, and server110may be facilitated through the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”) communication protocol. Other communication protocols may also be used including, for example, Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) communication, for some or all communications between electronic devices102,104,106and server110. In another example, electronic devices102,104,106may be in communication with one another without communicating with server110.

Server110may transmit scripts to electronic devices102,104,106, such as client-side scripts. Electronic devices102,104,106may receive the scripts and may execute the scripts independent of server110. For example, electronic devices102,104,106may execute client-side scripts within a web browser independent of server110. Alternatively, or in addition, client-side scripts may be executed on electronic devices102,104,106within any application or container.

In one example, a client-side script may be executed on electronic device102, such as within a browser, to provide a web-based game to a user interacting with electronic device102. For example, a web-based game may include graphics that change in response to user interactions, and/or scores that are calculated based on user interactions. The user may interact with electronic device102to participate in the web-based game during the execution of the client-side script. The client-side script may generate a transcript of the user's interactions with electronic device102during the execution of the client-side script, such as by intercepting and recording browser events during the execution of the client-side script. In one example, the client-side script may intercept browser events using a library that handles browser events within the browser. The transcript may include an indication and/or description of each user interaction and an indication of a time when the user interaction occurred relative to the execution of the client-side script. An example process for generating a transcript is described inFIG. 4below.

One the execution of the client-side script completes, electronic device102may transmit the final score for the user's interactions with the web-based game, and the transcript of the user's interactions to server110. Server110may validate the received score based on the user interactions recorded in the transcript. For example, server110may re-execute the client-side script, in a server-side script engine, with each of the user interactions described in the transcript being recreated during the execution of the client-side script at the time indicated by the transcript. In this manner, server110may effectively replay the user's interactions with the web-based game, based on the user interactions recorded in the transcript.

Server110may determine, during the server-side execution of the client-side script, whether any of the recorded user interactions are invalid for the client-side script and/or the game logic corresponding to the client-side script, at the time that the user interactions were recorded relative to the execution of the client-side script. If server110determines that any of the recorded user interactions are invalid interactions for the client-side script at the relative time that the user interactions were recorded, server110may transmit a notification to electronic device102that indicates that the received score is invalid. An example process for determining whether recorded user interactions are invalid is described inFIG. 3below.

Server110may also generate a score for the recorded user interactions during the server-side execution of the client-side script. Server110may then compare the server-generated score with the score received from electronic device102. If the score received from electronic device102is not equivalent to the server-generated score, server110may transmit a notification to electronic device102that indicates that the received score is invalid. Alternatively, if the score received from electronic device102is equivalent to the server-generated score, server110may transmit a notification to electronic device102that indicates that the received score has been validated.

Alternatively, or in addition, server110may validate scores received from electronic devices102,104,106asynchronously, such as on a periodic basis. For example, server110may receive scores and associated transcripts from electronic devices102,104,106, and may store the received scores and associated transcripts, such as in data store114. On a periodic basis, such as on a daily basis, an hourly basis, or generally any periodic basis, server110may perform a batch process to validate one or more received scores stored in data store114. In one example, the batch process may include pipeline processing and/or may be performed through one or more stages of a pipeline process. Alternatively, or in addition, server110may use a parallel processing framework and/or a distributed processing framework, such as a map reduce framework, to efficiently validate multiple transcripts in parallel.

III. Example Processes for Remote Validation of User Interactions for Client-Side Scripting

FIG. 2illustrates a flow diagram of an example process200for a user association attribution system. For explanatory purposes, example process200is described herein with reference to the example network environment100ofFIG. 1; however, example process200is not limited to the example network environment100ofFIG. 1. Further for explanatory purposes, the blocks of example process200are described herein as occurring in serial, or linearly. However, multiple blocks of example process200may occur in parallel.

In block202, server110receives a transcript of user interactions recorded during the execution of a client-side script from the device upon which the client-side script was executed, such as from electronic device102. The transcript may include an indication or description of each user interaction along with an indication of the relative time that the user interaction occurred during the execution of the client-side script. The indication or description of the user interaction and the indication of the relative time may be any information that allows server110to recreate the user interaction during a server-side execution of the client-side script at the relative time when the user interaction occurred during the client-side execution of the client-side script. For example, the indication of the relative time when the user interaction occurred may be the number of milliseconds that elapsed since the start of the client-side script. Alternatively, or in addition, the execution of the client-side script may be divided into a number of linear steps, or ticks. In this instance, the indication of the time when a user interaction occurred may be the number of ticks that elapsed since the start of the client-side script.

In block204, server110executes the client-side script with the recorded user interactions of the transcript provided as input to the client-side script. For example, each of the recorded user interactions may be recreated by the server110during the execution of the client-side script at the relative times indicated by the transcript. In one example, server110may execute the client-side script in a server-side script engine. In this example, the functions within the client-side script that are related to displaying graphical elements do not need to be re-executed by server110. As such, in order to conserve processing resources, server110may replace any functions related to displaying graphical elements with null functions prior to the server-side execution of the client-side script, or during the server-side execution of the client-side script. In this manner, calls to the functions related to displaying graphical elements will still be valid, but server110will not waste processing resources evaluating the functions.

In block206, server110determines, during the server-side execution of the client-side script, whether any of the user interactions that are provided as input to the client-side script are invalid interactions for the client-side script, and/or for the game logic corresponding to the client-side script, at the time that the user interactions are provided as input. For example, if the user made an illicit function call that circumvented the game logic to simulate a user interaction, such as to improve their score in a manner that would otherwise violate the game logic, the illicit function call may be recorded in the transcript. Thus, during the server-side execution of the client-side script, server110may determine that the user interaction that was simulated by the user is an invalid interaction for the client-side script at the relative time that the user interaction was provided as input to the client-side script.

In block208, server110provides an indication to the device upon which the client-side script was executed, such as electronic device102, that indicates whether the user interactions are valid for the client-side script. For example, if in block206server110determines that one or more of the user interactions that were provided as input during the server-side execution of the client-side script were invalid interactions at the time that they were provided as input, server110may provide an indication to electronic device102that indicates that one or more of the user interactions are invalid. Alternatively, if in block206, server110determines that all of the user interactions that were provided as input during the server-side execution of the client-side script were valid interactions for the client-side script at the time that they were provided as input, server110may provide an indication to electronic device102that indicates that the user interactions are valid. In the instance of a web-based game, server110may also provide an indication that any score associated with the user interactions is also valid.

FIG. 3illustrates a flow diagram of an example process300for a user attribution system. For explanatory purposes, example process300is described herein with reference to the example network environment100ofFIG. 1; however, example process300is not limited to the example network environment100ofFIG. 1. Further for explanatory purposes, the blocks of example process300are described herein as occurring in serial, or linearly. However, multiple blocks of example process300may occur in parallel.

In block302, server110receives a transcript of user interactions recorded during the execution of a client-side game script from the device upon which the client-side game script was executed, such as from electronic device102. For example, the execution of the client-side game script in a browser on electronic device102may provide a web-based game in which user interactions are correlated to a score. Alternatively, or in addition, the execution of the client-side game script may provide any web-based program in which user interactions are correlated with a value. The transcript may include an indication or description of each user interaction along with an indication of the relative time that the user interaction occurred during the execution of the client-side game script. The indication or description of the user interaction and the indication of the relative time may be any information that allows server110to recreate the user interaction during a server-side execution of the client-side game script at the relative time when the user interaction occurred during the client-side execution of the client-side game script.

In block304, server110receives a first score determined for the user interactions during the client-side execution of the client-side game script. For example, the first score may be determined by the execution of the client-side game script on electronic device102. In one instance, the first score may not correlate to the user interactions recorded in the transcript, such as if the user made an illicit function call during the execution of the client-side game script.

In block306, server110executes the client-side game script with the recorded user interactions provided as input to the client-side game script at the relative times indicated by the transcript. In one example, server110may execute the client-side game script in a server-side script engine. In this example, server110may replace any functions related to displaying graphical elements with null functions prior to the server-side execution of the client-side game script, or during the server-side execution of the client-side game script.

In block308, server110calculates a second score for the user interactions during the server-side execution of the client-side game script. For example, the second score for the user interactions may be calculated by the client-side game script during the execution of the client-side game script on server110. In this example, the second score may be output by the client-side game script upon completion of the server-side execution of the client-side game script.

In block310, server110determines whether the second score determined during the server-side execution of the client-side game script is equivalent to the first score determined during the client-side execution of the client-side game script. If, in block310, server110determines that the second score is not equivalent to the first score, server110moves to block312. In block312, server110provides an indication to the device upon which the client-side game script was executed, such as electronic device102, and/or to the user that achieved the first score, that indicates that the first score is invalid. In this instance, the user may not be awarded any credit or incentives for the first score. For example, the first score may not qualify to be included on any leaderboards, or other forms of recognition for scores associated with the client-side game script.

If, in block310, server110determines that the second score is equivalent to the first score, server110moves to block314. In block314, server110may provide the second score to the device upon which the client-side game script was executed, such as electronic device102, and/or another device or system, such as a ranking system, a leaderboard system, and/or any other system associated with recognizing scores associated with the client-side game script. Alternatively, or in addition, server110may provide an indication to the device upon which the client-side game script was executed, such as electronic device102, and/or to the user that achieved the first score, that indicates that the first score is valid.

FIG. 4illustrates a flow diagram of an example process400for providing a graphical representation of a multivariate dataset, such as in a user association attribution system. For explanatory purposes, example process400is described herein with reference to the example network environment100ofFIG. 1; however, example process400is not limited to the example network environment100ofFIG. 1. Further for explanatory purposes, the blocks of example process400are described herein as occurring in serial, or linearly. However, multiple blocks of example process400may occur in parallel.

In block402, an electronic device, such as electronic device102, receives a client-side script, such as from server110. In block404, electronic device102executes the client-side script, such as in a browser, or in any other application or container. In block406, electronic device102intercepts user interactions that are provided during the execution of the client-side script on electronic device102. In one example, the user interactions may be intercepted by the client-side script through the use of a library that handles web events. Alternatively, or in addition, the user interactions may be intercepted by a web-based program executing on electronic device102, or other application executing on electronic device102, that is separate from the client-side script.

In block408, electronic device102generates a transcript of the intercepted user interactions including the relative timing of the user interactions, such as by recording information describing the user interactions. In one instance, the transcript may include any information that may be used to recreate the user interactions during a server-side execution of the client-side script, where the user interactions are recreated at the relative time when the user interactions were recorded during the client-side execution of the client-side script. For example, for a given user interaction the transcript may list the type of the user interaction, such as a mouse click, a keystroke, or generally any other type of user interaction, an indication of a location within the web browser associated with the user interaction, such as coordinates of the location where the mouse click occurred for the mouse click interaction, and the time that the user interaction occurred relative to the execution of the client-side script.

In block410, electronic device102provides the transcript containing the recorded user interactions to server110. In one example, electronic device102may not determine any value for the user interactions, such as a score, and may provide the transcript to server110without any value for the user interactions. Alternatively, or in addition, electronic device102may also provide a value or score determined during the client-side execution of the client-side script to server110. In block412, electronic device102receives a value for the user interactions from server110, such as a score, or electronic device102receives an indication that the user interactions are invalid from server110. For example, server110may determine whether the user interactions are valid for the client-side script and/or may determine a value for the user interactions, such as a score, when the user interactions are determined to be valid.

If, in block412, electronic device102receives an indication that the user interactions are invalid, electronic device102moves to block414. In block414, electronic device102presents an indication that the user interactions are invalid. For example, electronic device102may provide a notification, such as on a display, that indicates that the user interactions are invalid. If, in block412, electronic device102receives a value, such as a score, for the user interactions, electronic device102moves to block416. In block416, electronic device102presents the value for the user interactions, such as on a display. For example, electronic device102may display the value to the user with an indication that the score has been validated.

IV. Example Systems for Remote Validation of User Interactions for Client-Side Scripting

FIG. 5conceptually illustrates an electronic system with which some implementations of the subject technology are implemented. Electronic system500can be a server, computer, phone, PDA, a tablet computer, a television with one or more processors embedded therein or coupled thereto, or generally any electronic device. Such an electronic system includes various types of computer readable media and interfaces for various other types of computer readable media. Electronic system500includes a bus508, processing unit(s)512, a system memory504, a read-only memory (ROM)510, a permanent storage device502, an input device interface514, an output device interface506, and a network interface516.

Bus508collectively represents all system, peripheral, and chipset buses that communicatively connect the numerous internal devices of electronic system500. For instance, bus508communicatively connects processing unit(s)512with ROM510, system memory504, and permanent storage device502.

ROM510stores static data and instructions that are needed by processing unit(s)512and other modules of the electronic system. Permanent storage device502, on the other hand, is a read-and-write memory device. This device is a non-volatile memory unit that stores instructions and data even when electronic system500is off. Some implementations of the subject disclosure use a mass-storage device (such as a magnetic or optical disk and its corresponding disk drive) as permanent storage device502.

Other implementations use a removable storage device (such as a floppy disk, flash drive, and its corresponding disk drive) as permanent storage device502. Like permanent storage device502, system memory504is a read-and-write memory device. However, unlike storage device502, system memory504is a volatile read-and-write memory, such as random access memory. System memory504stores some of the instructions and data that the processor needs at runtime. In some implementations, the processes of the subject disclosure are stored in system memory504, permanent storage device502, and/or ROM510. For example, the various memory units may include instructions for remote validation of user input for client-side scripting in accordance with some implementations. From these various memory units, processing unit(s)512retrieves instructions to execute and data to process in order to execute the processes of some implementations.

Bus508also connects to input and output device interfaces514and506. Input device interface514enables the user to communicate information and select commands to the electronic system. Input devices used with input device interface514include, for example, alphanumeric keyboards and pointing devices (also called “cursor control devices”). Output device interfaces506enables, for example, the display of images generated by the electronic system500. Output devices used with output device interface506include, for example, printers and display devices, such as cathode ray tubes (CRT) or liquid crystal displays (LCD). Some implementations include devices such as a touchscreen that functions as both input and output devices.

Finally, as shown inFIG. 5, bus508also couples electronic system500to a network (not shown) through a network interface516. In this manner, the computer can be a part of a network of computers (such as a local area network (“LAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), or an Intranet, or a network of networks, such as the Internet. Any or all components of electronic system500can be used in conjunction with the subject disclosure.

While the above discussion primarily refers to microprocessor or multi-core processors that execute software, some implementations are performed by one or more integrated circuits, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). In some implementations, such integrated circuits execute instructions that are stored on the circuit itself. Alternatively, or in addition, some implementations may be performed using one or more graphics processing units (GPUs).

Embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented in a computing system that includes a back end component, such as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, such as an application server, or that includes a front end component, such as a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation of the subject matter described in this specification, or any combination of one or more such back end, middleware, or front end components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, such as a communication network. Examples of communication networks include a local area network (“LAN”) and a wide area network (“WAN”), an inter-network (e.g., the Internet), and peer-to-peer networks (e.g., ad hoc peer-to-peer networks).

The term website, as used herein, may include any aspect of a website, including one or more web pages, one or more servers used to host or store web related content, and the like. Accordingly, the term website may be used interchangeably with the terms web page and server. The predicate words “configured to”, “operable to”, and “programmed to” do not imply any particular tangible or intangible modification of a subject, but, rather, are intended to be used interchangeably. For example, a processor configured to monitor and control an operation or a component may also mean the processor being programmed to monitor and control the operation or the processor being operable to monitor and control the operation. Likewise, a processor configured to execute code can be construed as a processor programmed to execute code or operable to execute code