Browser redirect to proxy

Hello all,
  I have done some programming on the nocat captive gateway (nocat.net) and 
have noticed reciently that someone (acacia) appears to think they have a 
patent on redirecting a browser to a proxy that forces authentication. 
  I believe that there should be plenty of examples of pre 1999 of a firewall 
redirection of services to a proxy as well as authentication through proxy or 
back end auth web server to allow browser access to a 'global network'. As the 
patent calls it. 
  I am not one of those absolute zelots against patents, but I am against 
taking either common knowledge or common sense and trying to turn that into a 
licensing scheme to make money. 
  Btw the patent # is 6226667 and it was filed in january 1999. Also, acacia 
doesn't have an application or library, or even a full algorithm they are 
licensing. Only the idea was patented and anyone else who happened to build it 
indepently are they want to charge license fees to. In fact they don't seem to 
be targeting the hardware or software manufacturere, but the end isp who is 
deploying the tech. 
  I thank you for any facts you can help me unearth. 

David
/--------------------------------------\
 David M. Zendzian * dmz@dmzs.com 
 (415) 867-7812 - phone  
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  Imagination is greater than knowledge * Albert Einstein
 Every day is a good day, whether you like it or not! *