Method for monitoring and/or modifying web browsing sessions
First Claim
1. A method implemented on a first HTTP server machine for processing HTTP requests from an HTTP client machine, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving an HTTP request from the client;
(b) parsing the request to identify a URL parameter pointing to a second HTTP server machine, wherein the second HTTP server machine is distinct from the first HTTP server machine;
(c) retrieving from the second server machine an HTML document associated with the URL;
(d) modifying the HTML document such that original URLs within the document are changed to new URLs, wherein the new URLs point to the first HTTP server machine and include the original URLs as parameters; and
(e) sending the modified HTML document to the client.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for transparently monitoring and/or modifying web browsing activities over an entire computer network does not require modification of client software and can be implemented on a single server. By rerouting HTTP requests through a centralized gateway server, the sequence and timing of URLs accessed by individual clients are recorded, providing the full information required to recreate a user session. The client HTTP requests are rerouted through the gateway server by modifying URLs within HTML documents. For each document sent to the client, any original URL which points to another server is modified so that it points to a CGI script program on the gateway. The gateway server then fetches the requested document from the other server, modifies the URLs within the document, and passes it on to the client. Thus, subsequent requests from the client will automatically be directed through the gateway server. The method permits tracking individual web sessions and provides valuable information about user behavior. This information can be used for general purpose evaluation of web-based user interfaces to information systems. The technique can also be used to modify a browsing experience by layering or stripping hypertext content or functionality.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method implemented on a first HTTP server machine for processing HTTP requests from an HTTP client machine, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving an HTTP request from the client; (b) parsing the request to identify a URL parameter pointing to a second HTTP server machine, wherein the second HTTP server machine is distinct from the first HTTP server machine; (c) retrieving from the second server machine an HTML document associated with the URL; (d) modifying the HTML document such that original URLs within the document are changed to new URLs, wherein the new URLs point to the first HTTP server machine and include the original URLs as parameters; and (e) sending the modified HTML document to the client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method implemented on a first HTTP gateway server machine for processing HTTP requests from an HTTP client machine, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving at the first gateway server machine an HTTP request from the client; (b) parsing the request to identify a URL parameter pointing to a third HTTP server machine; (c) retrieving from the third server machine an HTML document associated with the URL; (d) modifying the HTML document such that original URLs within the document are changed to new URLs, wherein the new URLs point to a second HTTP server machine and include the original URLs as parameters; and (e) sending the modified HTML document to the client.
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Specification