System and Method for Monitoring Secure Data on a Network

• US 20150019861A1
• Filed: 08/04/2014
• Published: 01/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhou, Todd Tao, Batista, Ricardo
• Granted Patent: US 9,401,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/154
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/04 Processing captured monitoring data, e.g. for logfile generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring secure digital data on a network are provided. An exemplary network monitoring system may include a network device in communication with a user and a network. Further, a server may be in communication with the network. A browser and monitoring program may be stored on the network device, and the network device may receive secure digital data from the network. The browser may convert the secure digital data or a portion thereof into source data, and the monitoring program may transfer the source data or a portion thereof to the server. In an exemplary embodiment, the monitoring program may include a service component and an interface program.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring, the method comprising:

instructing a browser on a network device to store auxiliary data in a storage area of the network device, the instructing of the browser performed by a processor of the network device executing a monitoring program, the monitoring program received from a monitoring entity;

accessing the auxiliary data from the storage area;

encrypting the auxiliary data; and

transmitting the encrypted auxiliary data to a server of the monitoring entity, the server being different from the network device and different from the content provider.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the auxiliary data further comprises timer data and input tracking data.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the timer data further comprises a duration of content download, a duration of browsing activity, and a duration of exposure to a web page.

4. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the input tracking data comprises cursor position, spatial input locations with respect to the display of the network device, keystrokes, and orientation of a peripheral input device.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the auxiliary data is gathered in a secure hypertext transfer protocol session.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

filtering the auxiliary data to remove sensitive information.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the sensitive information further comprises credit card and address information.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a storage device comprising machine readable instructions, the machine readable instructions received from a monitoring entity, the machine readable instructions comprising;

first instructions to instruct a browser on a network device to store auxiliary data in a storage area of the network device, the instructing of the browser performed by a processor of the network device executing a monitoring program, the monitoring program received from a monitoring entity;

second instructions to access the auxiliary data from the storage area;

third instructions to encrypt the auxiliary data; and

fourth instructions to transmit the encrypted auxiliary data to a server of the monitoring entity, the server being different from the network device and different from the content provider.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the auxiliary data further comprises timer data and input tracking data.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the timer data further comprises a duration of content download, a duration of browsing activity, and a duration of exposure to a web page.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the input tracking data comprises cursor position, spatial input locations with respect to the display of the network device, keystrokes, and orientation of a peripheral input device.

12. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the auxiliary data is gathered in a secure hypertext transfer protocol.

13. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the machine readable instructions further comprise:

fifth instructions to filtering the auxiliary data to remove sensitive information.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the sensitive information further comprises credit card and address information.

15. A tangible computer readable storage device or storage disc comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a network device to execute a monitoring program to at least:

instruct a browser on a network device to store auxiliary data in a storage area of the network device, the instructing of the browser performed by a processor of the network device executing a monitoring program, the monitoring program received from a monitoring entity;

access the auxiliary data from the storage area;

encrypt the auxiliary data; and

transmit the encrypted auxiliary data to a server of the monitoring entity, the server being different from the network device and different from the content provider.

16. A storage device or storage disc according to claim 15, wherein the auxiliary data further comprises timer data and input tracking data.

17. A storage device or storage disc according to claim 16, wherein the timer data further comprises a duration of content download, a duration of browsing activity, and a duration of exposure to a web page.

18. A storage device or storage disc according to claim 16, wherein the input tracking data comprises cursor position, spatial input locations with respect to the display of the network device, keystrokes, and orientation of a peripheral input device.

19. A storage device or storage disc according to claim 15, further comprising:

filter the auxiliary data to remove sensitive information.

20. A storage device or storage disc according to claim 19, wherein the sensitive information further comprises credit card and address information.