METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASYMMETRIC INTERNET TRAFFIC MONITORING BY THIRD PARTIES USING MONITORING IMPLEMENTS

• US 20090157875A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Front Porch, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Front Porch, Inc.
• Inventors: Blocher, Brian Matthew, Smith, Scott Kenneth, Vazquez, Carlos Alberto, Maxson, Derek Stephen, Fletcher, Thabo Husayn, Britton, Zachary Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,953,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks

Abstract

Disclosed is an internet traffic monitoring method. In the method, copied packets that are based on original packets sent from a user client are monitored for a web content request meeting certain monitoring selection criteria. Upon detection of a copied packet having a web content request meeting the selection criteria, a replacement packet is forwarded to the user client such that the user client receives the replacement packet before receiving a response packet from a target server of the corresponding original packet, wherein the replacement packet has a redirection with a fabricated web content request to a monitoring web page including at least one monitoring implement.

Claims

1. An internet traffic monitoring method, comprising:

monitoring copied packets, that are based on original packets sent from a user client, for a web content request meeting certain monitoring selection criteria; and

upon detection of a copied packet having a web content request meeting the selection criteria, forwarding a replacement packet to the user client such that the user client receives the replacement packet before receiving a response packet from a target server of the corresponding original packet, wherein the replacement packet has a redirection with a fabricated web content request to a monitoring web page including at least one monitoring implement.

2. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 1, wherein the web content request meeting the selection criteria includes search terms directed to an internet search engine, and wherein the monitoring implement causes the 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 monitoring 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 user client.

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

7. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 3, 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.

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 user client based on at least one parameter from a monitoring implement included in a monitoring web page presented as a result of traffic monitoring by a 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 user client based on at least one parameter from a monitoring implement included in the monitoring web page which was presented as a result of traffic monitoring by a first network service provider, and based on at least one parameter from a monitoring implement included in another monitoring web page presented as a result of traffic monitoring by another network service provider in response to a separate web content request.

10. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 1, wherein the monitoring web page is an interstitial web page.

11. An internet traffic monitoring system, comprising:

means for monitoring copied packets, that are based on original packets sent from a user client, for a web content request meeting certain monitoring selection criteria; and

means for forwarding a replacement packet to the user client, upon detection of a copied packet having a web content request meeting the selection criteria, such that the user client receives the replacement packet before receiving a response packet from a target server of the corresponding original packet, wherein the replacement packet has a redirection with a fabricated web content request to a monitoring web page including at least one monitoring implement.

12. An internet traffic monitoring system as defined in claim 11, wherein the web content request meeting the selection criteria includes search terms directed to an internet search engine, and wherein the monitoring implement causes the user client to forward the search terms to an associated advertisement selection service.

13. An internet traffic monitoring system as defined in claim 11, wherein the monitoring web page includes at least two monitoring implements which are each associated with a separate advertisement selection service.

14. An internet traffic monitoring system as defined in claim 13, wherein the monitoring implements comprise at least first and second web bugs.

15. An internet traffic monitoring system as defined in claim 14, wherein the first web bug is referenced with a URL having embedded parameters related to the user associated with the user client.

16. An internet traffic monitoring system as defined in claim 13, wherein the monitoring implements comprise at least first and second cookies.

17. An internet traffic monitoring system as defined in claim 13, 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.

18. An internet traffic monitoring system as defined in claim 11, wherein the monitoring web page is an interstitial web page.

19. A computer program product, comprising:

computer readable medium including;

code for causing a computer to monitor copied packets, that are based on original packets sent from a user client, for a web content request meeting certain monitoring selection criteria; and

code for causing a computer to forward a replacement packet to the user client, upon detection of a copied packet having a web content request meeting the selection criteria, such that the user client receives the replacement packet before receiving a response packet from a target server of the corresponding original packet, wherein the replacement packet has a redirection with a fabricated web content request to a monitoring web page including at least one monitoring implement.

20. A computer program product as defined in claim 19, wherein the monitoring web page includes at least two monitoring implements which are each associated with a separate advertisement selection service.

21. A computer program product as defined in claim 20, wherein the monitoring implements comprise at least first and second web bugs.

22. A computer program product as defined in claim 21, wherein the first web bug is referenced with a URL having embedded parameters related to the user associated with the user client.

23. A computer program product as defined in claim 20, wherein the monitoring implements comprise at least first and second cookies.

24. A computer program product as defined in claim 20, 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.

25. An A computer program product as defined in claim 19, wherein the monitoring web page is an interstitial web page.