Method of remotely monitoring an internet session

• US 20020032770A1
• Filed: 05/25/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weserve Access, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pearl Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Field, Joseph I. Jr., Fertell, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,978,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

A method of remotely monitoring an Internet session includes participating in a first Internet session at a first Internet protocol (IP) address. Concurrent with the first Internet session, another Internet session is initiated at another IP address. Data associated with the first Internet session is automatically transferred to the other IP address via the other Internet session.

Claims

1. A method of remotely monitoring an exchange of data between a local computer and a remote computer during an Internet session over the Internet, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing at a local computer an Internet server address and port number of a monitor computer;

(b) initiating a first Internet session between the local computer and a remote computer via the Internet;

(c) storing at the local computer data associated with the first Internet session;

(d) retrieving the Internet server address and port number stored at the local computer;

(e) initiating concurrent with the first Internet session a second Internet session between the local computer and the monitor computer at the retrieved Internet server address and port number;

(f) transmitting from the monitor computer to the local computer at least one of another Internet server address and another port number;

(g) terminating the second Internet session;

(h) initiating concurrent with the first Internet session a third Internet session between the local computer and the monitor computer using the other Internet server address and/or the other port number; and

(i) transferring from the local computer to the monitor computer via the third Internet session the stored data associated with the first Internet session.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

step (c) includes storing the data associated with the first Internet session in a memory of the local computer; and

step (i) includes transferring the data stored in the memory to the monitor computer.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, further including at least one of the steps of;

displaying on a display of the monitor computer the transferred stored data associated with the first Internet session; and

storing at the monitor computer the transferred stored data associated with the first Internet session.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data associated with the first Internet session includes data previously displayed on a display of the local computer.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, further including the step of:

(j) transferring from the local computer to the monitor computer in real-time via the third Internet session data displayed on a display of the local computer and associated with the first Internet session.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, further including the steps of:

causing the local computer to terminate real-time transferring of data to the monitor computer via the third Internet session; and

terminating the third Internet session.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the local computer determines a first check sum of the stored data and transfers the first check sum with the stored data;

the monitor computer determines a second check sum of the transferred stored data; and

in response to detecting a match between the first and second check sums, the monitor computer displays on a display of the monitor computer the transferred stored data and/or stores the transferred stored data.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the local computer transfers with the transferred stored data the time the stored data is transferred to the monitor computer; and

the monitor computer stores with the transferred stored data the time the stored data is transferred to the monitor computer.

9. A method of remotely monitoring an Internet session, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) participating in a first Internet session at a first Internet protocol (IP) address;

(b) concurrent with the first Internet session, initiating another Internet session at another IP address; and

(c) transferring data associated with the first Internet session to the other IP address via the other Internet session.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein step (b) includes the steps of:

initiating a second Internet session at a second IP address;

receiving from the second IP address via the second Internet session a third IP address;

terminating the second Internet session; and

initiating a third Internet session at the third IP address.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein step (c) includes the step of transferring data associated with the first Internet session to the third IP address via the third Internet session.

12. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the data associated with the other Internet session includes at least one of (i) data previously displayed in connection with the first Internet session and (ii) data displayed in real-time in connection with the first Internet session.

13. The method as set forth in claim 9, further including at least one of the steps of:

displaying the transferred data; and

storing the transferred data.

14. The method as set forth in claim 9, further including the steps of:

terminating the transfer of the data to the other Internet session; and

terminating the other Internet session.

15. The method as set forth in claim 9, further including the steps of:

determining a first check sum for the data associated with the first Internet session;

transferring the first check sum to the other IP address via the other Internet session with the data associated with the first Internet session;

determining a second check sum for the transferred data associated with the first Internet session; and

in response to detecting a match between the first and second check sums, displaying and/or storing transferred data.

16. The method as set forth in claim 9, further including the steps of:

applying a time-stamp to the data associated with the first Internet session; and

transferring the time-stamp to the other IP address via the other Internet session with the data associated with the first Internet session.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the data associated with the first Internet session includes at least one of (i) data previously displayed in connection with the first Internet session and (ii) data displayed in real-time in connection with the first Internet session.

19. The method as set forth in claim 17, further including at least one of the steps of:

displaying the transferred data; and

storing the transferred data.

20. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein each IP address includes at least one of a unique server address and unique a port number.

17. A method of remotely monitoring an Internet session, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving at a second Internet protocol (IP) address via a second Internet session therewith a request to monitor a first Internet session occurring at a first IP address;

(b) transmitting from the second IP address via the second Internet session a third IP address;

(c) initiating a third Internet session at the third IP address; and

(d) transferring data associated with the first Internet session to the third IP address via the third Internet session.