Patent ID: 8266266

Claim:
A method of redirecting a session directed to an HTTP server to a redirected destination HTTP server, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, at a communications port of a network system, a request from a user device to open a TCP connection with a server located external to the network system; sending, from the network system, TCP connection handshake completion data to the user device in response to the request to open the TCP connection, the handshake completion data being configured to appear to be from the server located external to the network system, wherein the network system need not communicate with the server located external to the network system; receiving, at the communications port of the network system, an HTTP server request for access to the server located external to the network system, the HTTP server request originating from the user device; and generating response data customized for the HTTP server request, the response data including alternate content different from content requested by the HTTP server request, wherein the response data is customized for the HTTP server request at least in part by appearing to be from the server located external to the network system, wherein the response data appears to be from the server located external to the network system at least in part by including, in a header of the response data, a source address corresponding to the server located external to the network system; and sending, from the network system, a response to the HTTP server request, the response configured to cause the user device to receive the alternate content, the response comprising the generated response data customized for the HTTP server request.