Method and apparatus for internet traffic monitoring by third parties using monitoring implements

• US 20090019148A1
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Front Porch, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Front Porch, Inc.
• Inventors: Maxson, Derek S., Britton, Zachary E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,478,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Disclosed is an internet traffic monitoring method that includes a network service provider analyzing an HTTP transaction involving an internet user client. The network service provider responds to the HTTP transaction by forwarding, to the internet user client, an interstitial web page including a monitoring implement. After forwarding the interstitial web page to the internet user client, the network service provider forwards web content, originally associated with the HTTP transaction, to the internet user client.

Claims

1. An internet traffic monitoring method, comprising:

a network service provider analyzing an HTTP transaction involving an internet user client;

the network service provider responding to the HTTP transaction by forwarding, to the internet user client, an interstitial web page including at least one monitoring implement; and

after forwarding the interstitial web page to the internet user client, the network service provider forwarding the web content, originally associated with the HTTP transaction, to the internet user client.

2. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 1, wherein the HTTP transaction involves a web content request that includes search terms directed to an internet search engine, and wherein the monitoring implement causes the internet user client to forward the search terms to an associated advertisement selection service.

3. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 1, wherein the interstitial web page includes at least two monitoring implements which are each associated with a separate advertisement selection service.

4. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 3, wherein the monitoring implements comprise at least first and second web bugs.

5. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 4, wherein the first web bug is referenced with a URL having embedded parameters related to the user associated with the internet user client.

6. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 3, wherein the web content request monitoring implements comprise at least first and second cookies.

7. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 3, wherein monitoring implements comprise a web bug associated with a first advertisement selection service, and a cookie associated with a second advertisement selection service.

8. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 1, wherein an advertisement selection service selects targeted advertising web content for presentation by the internet user client based on at least one parameter from a monitoring implement included in an interstitial web page forwarded by the network service provider.

9. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 1, wherein an advertisement selection service selects targeted advertising web content for presentation to the internet user client based on at least one parameter from a monitoring implement included in an interstitial web page forwarded by the network service provider, and based on at least one parameter from a monitoring implement included in an interstitial web page forwarded by another network service provider in response to a separate HTTP transaction.

10. An internet traffic monitoring system for a network service provider, comprising:

means for analyzing an HTTP transaction involving an internet user client;

means for responding to the HTTP transaction by forwarding, to the internet user client, an interstitial web page including at least one monitoring implement; and

means for forwarding web content, originally associated with the HTTP transaction, to the internet user client after forwarding the interstitial web page.

11. A computer program product, comprising:

computer readable medium including;

code for causing a computer to analyze an HTTP transaction involving an internet user client;

code for causing a computer to respond to the HTTP transaction by forwarding, to the internet user client, an interstitial web page including at least one monitoring implement; and

code for causing a computer to forward web content, originally associated with the HTTP transaction, to the internet user client after forwarding the interstitial web page.

12. An internet traffic monitoring method, comprising:

a network service provider analyzing a web content request from an internet user client;

the network service provider intercepting the requested web content and customizing the requested web content, wherein the customized web content includes the requested web content which has been modified by the network service provider to include at least one monitoring implement; and

the network service provider forwarding the customized web content to the internet user client.

13. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 12, wherein the web content request includes search terms directed to an internet search engine, and wherein the monitoring implement causes the internet user client to forward the search terms to an associated advertisement selection service.

14. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 12, wherein the customized web content includes at least two monitoring implements which are each associated with a separate advertisement selection service.

15. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 14, wherein the monitoring implements comprise at least first and second web bugs.

16. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 15, wherein the first web bug is referenced with a URL having embedded parameters related to the user associated with the internet user client.

17. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 14, wherein the monitoring implements comprise at least first and second cookies.

18. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 14, wherein the monitoring implements comprise a web bug associated with a first advertisement selection service, and a cookie associated with a second advertisement selection service.

19. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 14, wherein an advertisement selection service selects targeted advertising web content for presentation by the internet user client based on at least one parameter from a monitoring implement included in customized web content forwarded by the network service provider.

20. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 14, wherein an advertisement selection service selects targeted advertising web content for presentation to the internet user client based on at least one parameter from a monitoring implement included in customized web content forwarded by the network service provider, and based on at least one parameter from a monitoring implement included in customized web content forwarded by another network service provider in response to a separate web content request.

21. An internet traffic monitoring system for a network service provider, comprising:

means for analyzing a web content request from an internet user client;

means for intercepting the requested web content and customizing the requested web content, wherein the customized web content includes the requested web content which has been modified by the network service provider to include at least one monitoring implement; and

means for forwarding the customized web content to the internet user client.

22. A computer program product, comprising:

computer readable medium including;

code for causing a computer to analyze a web content request from an internet user client;

code for causing a computer to intercept the requested web content and customize the requested web content, wherein the customized web content includes the requested web content which has been modified by the network service provider to include at least one monitoring implement; and

code for causing a computer to forward the customized web content to the internet user client.