Patent ID: 8886620

Claim:
A network device for managing web page flow over a network, comprising: a transceiver for receiving and sending packets; and a processor that is programmed to perform actions comprising: receiving from a client a request for a webpage at a website, wherein the website is configured as a hierarchically structured website and wherein the webpage is associated with a first sub-directory or first leaf node within the website; providing to the client a cookie with a response to the request; receiving from the client a second request for another webpage within the same website, the second request including the cookie and additional information, the additional information including a referrer that identifies the previously requested webpage; and in response to determining that the cookie or the additional information identifying the previously requested webpage indicate that the second client request to the other webpage within the same website violates browsing of the same website according to the hierarchical structure of the website, redirecting the client to a pre-determined webpage other than the requested other webpage to maintain orderly browsing of the website, wherein violation of browsing of the hierarchical structure is based on examining the cookie and additional information to determine that the second client request is an improper access, such that the second client request is determined to be an improper access where: 1) the second client request is a request within the hierarchical structure of the same website where the second client request would result in a transition without using a structured flow through the hierarchical structure according to the hierarchical structure of the same website, and is also determined to be an improper access where: 2) the second client request is a request to a second sub-directory within the hierarchical structure of the second leaf node within the hierarchical structure of the same website where the second client request would result in a transition without using a structured flow through the hierarchical structure according to the hierarchical structure of the same website; and in response to determining that the cookie and the additional information identifying the previously requested webpage indicate that the second client request to the other webpage is consistent with orderly browsing of the hierarchical structure of the same website, enabling the client to access the other webpage.