System and method for tracking web-based sessions

• US 20050071464A1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Corporation, Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Corporation, Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Su, William, Nguyen, Truc, Kuwata, Katie
• Granted Patent: US 7,430,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

This invention is directed to a system and method for tracking sessions for web-based applications. The system and method comprise a browser disposed on an associated data terminal and having at least one browser window associated therewith. The browser is adapted to generate at least one interactive session with an associated web server. The system and method also comprises at least one session tracking application associated with an interactive session. The session tracking application includes monitoring means adapted for monitoring activity on the associated interactive session and testing means adapted for determining whether monitored activity includes an unload event. The session tracking application also includes termination means adapted for terminating the associated interactive session upon a determination of a selected unload event and notification means adapted for notifying the associated web server to close out the interactive session.

Claims

1. A system for tracking web-based sessions comprising:

a browser disposed on an associated data terminal and having at least one browser window associated therewith, which browser is adapted for generating at least one interactive session with an associated web server; and

at least one session tracking application associated with an interactive session, which session tracking application includes

monitoring means adapted for monitoring activity on the associated interactive session,

testing means adapted for determining whether monitored activity includes an unload event,

termination means adapted for terminating the associated interactive session upon a determination of a selected unload event, and

notification means adapted for notifying the associated web server to close out the interactive session.

2. The system for tracking web-based sessions of claim 1, wherein the testing means includes counting means adapted for determining the number of browser windows associated with the at least one interactive session.

3. The system for tracking web-based sessions of claim 2, wherein the number of browser windows associated with at least one interactive session are stored in associated memory means.

4. The system for tracking web-based sessions of claim 3, wherein upon generating an interactive session, the counting means associates session identifying information with the session, increments the number of browser windows associated with the interactive session by one, and stores the session identifying information and incremented number of browser windows associated with the interactive session in the memory means.

5. The system for tracking web-based sessions of claim 2, wherein the testing means includes means adapted for testing at least one of a browser refresh, browser close, migration from a selected web site, opening of an additional web site by a browser window associated with the interactive session, and session timeout.

6. The system for tracking web-based sessions of claim 5, wherein in the event the testing means determines that the monitored activity is a browser refresh, the termination means does not terminate the associated interactive session.

7. The system for tracking web-based sessions of claim 5, wherein in the event the testing means determines that the monitored activity is a browser close or a migration from a selected website, the counting means determines the number of browser windows associated with the interactive session.

8. The system for tracking web-based sessions of claim 7, wherein in the event the counting means determines that only one browser window is associated with the interactive session, the terminating means terminates the interactive session.

9. The system for tracking web-based sessions of claim 7, wherein in the event the counting means determines that at least two browser windows are associated with the interactive session, the terminating means does not terminate the interactive session.

10. The system for tracking web-based sessions of claim 9, wherein in the event the counting means determines that at least two browser windows are associated with the interactive session, the counting means decreases the number of browsers associated with the interactive session upon the browser close action or migration from a web site by one of the browser windows associated with the interactive session.

11. The system for tracking web-based sessions of claim 5, wherein in the event the activity monitored is opening of an additional web site by a browser window associated with the interactive session, the counting means increases the number of browser windows associated with the interactive session.

12. The system for tracking web-based sessions of claim 5, wherein in the event the activity monitored is a session timeout, the terminating mean terminates the interactive session.

13. A method for tracking web-based sessions comprising the steps of:

generating at least one interactive session with an associated web server, wherein the interactive session is generated via a browser disposed on an associated data terminal and having at least one browser window associated therewith;

monitoring activity on the interactive session,

determining whether monitored activity includes an unload event,

terminating the interactive session upon a determination of a selected unload event, and

notifying the associated web server to close out the interactive session.

14. The method for tracking web-based sessions of claim 13 further comprising determining the number of browser windows associated with the at least one interactive session.

15. The method for tracking web-based sessions of claim 14, wherein the number of browser windows associated with at least one interactive session are stored in associated memory means.

16. The method for tracking web-based sessions of claim 15, wherein upon generating an interactive session, associating session identifying information with the session, incrementing the number of browser windows associated with the interactive session by one, and storing the session identifying information and incremented number of browser windows associated with the interactive session in the memory means.

17. The method for tracking web-based sessions of claim 14, wherein the determining the monitored activity includes determining whether the activity is at least one of a browser refresh, browser close, migration from a selected web site, opening of an additional web site by a browser window associated with the interactive session, and session timeout.

18. The method for tracking web-based sessions of claim 17, wherein in the event that the monitored activity is a browser refresh, the interactive session is not terminated.

19. The method for tracking web-based sessions of claim 17, wherein in the event that the monitored activity is a browser close or a migration from a selected website, the determining the number of browser windows associated with the interactive session.

20. The method for tracking web-based sessions of claim 19, wherein in the event that only one browser window is associated with the interactive session, the interactive session is terminated

21. The method for tracking web-based sessions of claim 19, wherein in the event that at least two browser windows are associated with the interactive session, the interactive session is not terminated.

22. The method for tracking web-based sessions of claim 21, wherein in the event that at least two browser windows are associated with the interactive session, decreasing the number of browsers associated with the interactive session upon the browser close action or migration from a web site by one of the browser windows associated with the interactive session.

23. The method for tracking web-based sessions of claim 17, wherein in the event the activity monitored is opening of an additional web site by a browser window associated with the interactive session, increasing the number of browser windows associated with the interactive session.

24. The method for tracking web-based sessions of claim 17, wherein in the event the activity monitored is a session timeout, the interactive session is terminated.