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

• US 20090177771A1
• Filed: 01/14/2009
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Front Porch, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Front Porch, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Scott Kenneth, Vazquez, Carlos Alberto, Blocher, Brian Mathew, Maxson, Derek Stephen, Fletcher, Thabo Husayn, Britton, Zachary Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,214,486 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: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0258 Registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/028 by filtering
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed is an internet traffic monitoring method. In the method, a first packet, sent from a user client, having a web content request meeting certain monitoring selection criteria is detected. Upon detection of the first packet, a second packet is forwarded to the user client. The second 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:

detecting a first packet, sent from a user client, having a web content request meeting certain monitoring selection criteria; and

upon detection of the first packet, forwarding a second packet, to the user client, having 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 detecting a first packet, sent from a user client, having a web content request meeting certain monitoring selection criteria; and

means for forwarding a second packet to the user client, upon detection of the first packet, having 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 detect a first packet, sent from a user client, having a web content request meeting certain monitoring selection criteria; and

code for causing a computer to forward a second packet to the user client, upon detection of the first packet, having 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.