Method for characterizing and directing real-time Website usage

• US 20030069962A1
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pandya, Aroopratan D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,376,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A system maintains a communication connection between a client computer and a server computer connected over a network. The system that has a server application runs on the server computer and a client application runs on the client computer. Also, the client application will periodically send a status signal to the server application. The status signal informs the server computer that the client computer has maintained a connection with the server computer. Further, the server application will maintain statistics on client computers connections based on status signals received from the client application.

Claims

1. A system for maintaining a communication connection between a client computer and a server application, running on a server computer, connected to said client computer over a network, said system comprising:

a client application running on said client computer,

wherein said client application subscribes to said server application and periodically sends a status signal to said server application, and

wherein said status signal informs said server application that said client computer is maintaining a connection with said server computer.

2. The system in claim 1, wherein if said server application does not receive said status signal from said client application within a predetermined time period, said server application determines that said client computer is no longer connected to said server computer.

3. The system in claim 1, wherein said client application is sent from said server application to said client computer when said client computer initially forms a connection with said server computer.

4. The system in claim 1, wherein said client application is a self-contained application that runs on said client computer independently of said server application.

5. The system in claim 1, wherein said status signal uniquely identifies said client computer and identifies server resources being accessed by said client computer.

6. The system in claim 1, wherein said status signal comprises a disconnection signal that informs said server application that said client computer is disconnecting from said server computer.

7. The system in claim 1, wherein said server application maintains statistics regarding client demand on server resources based on information within status signal.

8. A system for maintaining a communication connection between a client application, running on a client computer, and a server computer connected to said client computer over a network, said system comprising:

a server application running on said server computer,

wherein said client application subscribes to said server application and periodically sends a status signal to said server application,

wherein said status signal informs said server application that said client computer is maintaining a connection with said server computer, and

wherein said server application maintains statistics on client computer connections based on status signals received from said client application.

9. The system in claim 8, wherein if said server application does not receive said status signal from said client application within a predetermined time period, said server application determines that said client computer is no longer connected to said server computer.

10. The system in claim 8, wherein said client application is sent from said server application when said client computer initially forms a connection with said server computer.

11. The system in claim 8, wherein said client application is a self-contained application that runs on said client computer independently of said server application.

12. The system in claim 8, wherein said status signal uniquely identifies said client computer and identifies server resources being accessed by said client computer.

13. The system in claim 8, wherein said status signal comprises a disconnection signal that informs said server application that said client computer is disconnecting from said server computer.

14. The system in claim 8, wherein said client application comprises an applet.

15. A method for maintaining a communication connection between a client computer and a server application, running on a server computer connected, to said client computer over a network, said method comprising:

sending, by said server application, a client application to said client computer when said client computer establishes communication with said server computer;

subscribing, by said client application, to said server application; and

periodically sending, by said client application, a status signal to said server application,

wherein said status signal informs said server application that said client computer is maintaining a connection with said server computer.

16. The method in claim 15, wherein if said server application does not receive said status signal from said client application within a predetermined time period, said server application determines that said client computer is no longer connected to said server computer.

17. The method in claim 15, wherein said client application is a self-contained application that runs on said client computer independently of said server application.

18. The method in claim 15, wherein said status signal uniquely identifies said client computer and identifies server resources being accessed by said client computer.

19. The method in claim 15, wherein said status signal comprises a disconnection signal that informs said server application that said client computer is disconnecting from said server computer.

20. The method in claim 15, wherein said server application maintains statistics regarding client demand on server resources based on information within status signal.

21. A method for maintaining a communication connection between a client application, running on a client computer, and a server computer connected to said client computer over a network, said method comprising:

sending, by a server application running on said server computer, said client application to said client computer when said client computer establishes communication with said server computer;

subscribing, by said client application, to said server application; and

periodically sending, by said client application, a status signal to said server application,

wherein said status signal informs said server application that said client computer is maintaining a connection with said server computer, and

wherein said server application maintains statistics on client computer connections based on status signals received from said client application.

22. The method in claim 21, wherein if said server application does not receive said status signal from said client application within a predetermined time period, said server application determines that said client computer is no longer connected to said server computer.

23. The method in claim 21, wherein said client application is a self-contained application that runs on said client computer independently of said server application.

24. The method in claim 21, wherein said status signal uniquely identifies said client computer and identifies server resources being accessed by said client computer.

25. The method in claim 21, wherein said status signal comprises a disconnection signal that informs said server application that said client computer is disconnecting from said server computer.

26. The method in claim 21, wherein said client application comprises an applet.

27. A program storage device readable by machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for maintaining a communication connection between a client computer and a server application, running on a server computer, connected to said client computer over a network, said method comprising:

sending, by said server application, a client application to said client computer when said client computer establishes communication with said server computer;

subscribing, by said client application, to said server computer; and

periodically sending, by said client application, a status signal to said server application,

wherein said status signal informs said server application that said client computer is maintaining a connection with said server computer.

28. The device in claim 27, wherein if said server application does not receive said status signal from said client application within a predetermined time period, said server application determines that said client computer is no longer connected to said server computer.

29. The device in claim 27, wherein said client application is a self-contained application that runs on said client computer independently of said server application.

30. The device in claim 27, wherein said status signal uniquely identifies said client computer and identifies server resources being accessed by said client computer.

31. The device in claim 27, wherein said status signal comprises a disconnection signal that informs said server application that said client computer is disconnecting from said server computer.

32. The device in claim 27, wherein said server application maintains statistics regarding client demand on server resources based on information within status signal.