Web resource request processing

Abstract

Improved approaches for providing secure remote access to email resources maintained on private networks are disclosed. The secure access can be provided through a public network using a standard network browser. Multiple remote users are able to gain restricted and controlled access to email on a mail server within a private network through a common access point. The solution provided by the improved approaches allow not only native access to email resources but also robust authentication approaches.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a network device and from a remote device, a request for remote access to a resource stored on another network device of a private network;   requesting, by the network device, the resource from the other network device;   receiving, at the network device, the resource from the other network device; and   inserting code, by the network device, into the resource to enable operations, provided to a user of the remote device, by the network device.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 modifying a link included in the resource using uniform resource locator (URL) modification to direct the link to the network device.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , where the code is inserted using script modification. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , where, prior to requesting the resource, the method further comprises:
 returning, to the remote device, an initial access page, where the initial access page enables a user of the remote device to access the resource via the network device.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , where, prior to requesting the resource, the method further comprises:
 determining whether the remote device is authorized to access the private network.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 obtaining, when the remote device is determined to be authorized, an access privilege associated with a user of the remote device; and   selectively requesting the resources based on the access privilege.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , where determining whether the remote device is authorized further comprises:
 determining whether a stored hashed password, associated with a previous authorization of the remote device, matches a hash of a password received from the remote device.   
     
     
         31 . A method comprising:
 preventing, by a network device, remote access, via a public network, to a private network;   providing, by the network device, indirect access to resources maintained on devices of the private network by:
 determining whether a remote device requesting one of the resources is authorized to access the one of the resources, 
 requesting, when the remote device is determined to be authorized and from one of the devices of the private network, the resources, 
 inserting code, into the resources, to modify the resources to enable an operation provided by the network device, and 
 providing the modified resources to the remote device. 
   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , where inserting the code further comprises:
 modifying a link, contained in the resources, to be directed to the network device, where the link is initially directed to the one of the devices of the private network.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , where the link is modified using URL modification. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , where the code is inserted using script modification. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , where inserting the code further comprises:
 inserting a tool bar into the resources to enable a plurality of operations provided by the network device.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , where, prior to requesting the resource, the method further comprises:
 determining whether the remote device is authorized to access the private network.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 determining, when the remote device is determined to be authorized and based on an access privilege associated with a user of the remote device, to request the resources based on the access privilege.   
     
     
         38 . A network device comprising:
 one or more components to provide indirect access to resources maintained on devices of a private network, where, when providing indirect access, the one or more components are to:
 determine whether remote devices requesting the resources, maintained on the devices of the private network, are authorized to access the resources, 
 request, when the remote devices are determined to be authorized, the resources from one or more of the devices of the private network, 
 insert code, into the resources, to modify the resources to enable operations provided by the network device to users of the remote devices, and 
 provide the modified resources to the remote devices. 
   
     
     
         39 . The network device of  claim 38 , where, the one or more components are further to:
 modify links included in the resources to direct the links to the network device.   
     
     
         40 . The network device of  claim 39 , where the code is inserted using script modification and the links are modified using uniform resource locator (URL) modification. 
     
     
         41 . The network device of  claim 38 , where the one or more components are further to:
 receive requests, from the remote devices, for the resources,   modify the requests to be directed to designated devices of the devices of the private network, and   forward the modified request to request the resources.   
     
     
         42 . The network device of  claim 38 , where, when determining whether the remote devices are authorized, the one or more components are further to:
 obtain an access privilege associated with the remote devices, and   determine, based on the access privilege, whether to request the resources.   
     
     
         43 . The network device of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 a data synchronization component to:
 to selectively couple the network device to another network device to enable the other network device to provide the indirect access to the resources maintained on the devices of the private network.