Monitoring system for computers and internet browsers

• US 6,397,256 B1
• Filed: 01/27/1999
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tong, Fred Tze-Keung, Chan, Hoi Yeung, Kwok, Thomas Yu-Kiu
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Application Number:
  US09/238,254
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223-225,229,204,208-211
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/15 Synchronised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system for monitoring Internet usage, in accordance with the present invention, includes an Internet access unit for accessing the Internet, the Internet access unit including a browser for navigating on the Internet. A transmission device is included for transmitting browser activity and providing browser activity information to be transmitted to a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit is remotely disposed from the Internet access unit and coupled to the transmission device, the monitoring unit including a display for viewing and recording Internet activity of the Internet access unit.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring Internet usage comprising:

an Internet access unit for accessing the Internet, the internet access unit including a browser for navigating on the Internet;

a transmission device associated with a particular Internet access unit for transmitting browser activity and providing browser activity information to be transmitted to a monitoring unit; and

the monitoring unit remotely disposed from the Internet access unit and coupled to the transmission device, the monitoring unit including a display, the monitoring unit for viewing and recording Internet activity of the Internet access unit, the monitoring unit including a control unit for sending messages to and turning on/off the Internet access unit.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmission device includes a software plug-in.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmission device includes an adapter card.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the Internet access unit includes a personal computer.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the Internet access unit includes a televison.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit includes a receiver for receiving the transmitted browser activity information.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit is coupled to the transmission device by a wireless connection.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit is coupled to the transmission device by a cable.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit includes one of a personal computer, a televison and a personal digital assistant.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmission device includes a security device to provide password access to the system.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the browser activity information includes one of URLs, contents of URLs and screen snapshots for the Internet access unit.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the monitor unit monitors a plurality of Internet access units concurrently.

13. A system for monitoring computer usage comprising:

a display access unit for accessing video data of a computer display, the display access unit including;

an adapter card for retrieving video information displayed on the computer display, the adapter card including means for transmitting computer display information to provide computer activity information to be transmitted to a monitoring unit; and

the monitoring unit remotely disposed from the display access unit and coupled to the means for transmitting, the monitoring unit including a display, the monitoring unit for viewing and recording the computer activity information from the computer display, the monitoring unit including a control unit for sending messages to and turning on/off the display.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the display access unit includes a software plug-in.

15. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the monitoring unit includes a receiver for receiving the transmitted computer activity information.

16. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the monitoring unit is coupled to the means for transmitting by a wireless connection.

17. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the monitoring unit is coupled to the means for transmitting by a cable.

18. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the monitoring unit includes one of a personal computer, a television and a personal digital assistant.

19. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the display access unit includes a security device to provide password access to the system.

20. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the computer activity information includes screen snapshots.

21. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the monitor unit monitors a plurality of display access units concurrently.

22. A system for monitoring Internet usage comprising:

at least one computer terminal for accessing the Internet, the at least one computer terminal including a display for viewing Internet activity by a user, the at least one computer terminal including a browser for navigating on the Internet;

means for transmitting browser activity from the computer terminal to provide browser activity information be transmitted to a monitoring unit, the means for transmitting including a plug-in software package for collecting the browser activity information and an adapter card for transmitting the browser activity information to the monitoring unit; and

the monitoring unit remotely disposed from the at least one computer terminal and coupled to the means for transmitting, the monitoring unit including a display for viewing one of URLs, contents of URLs and snapshots of video images displayed on the display of the at least one computer terminal which were transmitted to the monitor unit for monitoring Internet browser activity on the computer terminal, the monitoring unit including a control unit for sending messages to and turning on/off the at least one computer terminal.

23. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the monitoring unit is coupled to the means for transmitting by a wireless connection.

24. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the monitoring unit is coupled to the means for transmitting by a cable.

25. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the monitoring unit includes one of a personal computer, a television and a personal digital assistant.

26. The system as recited in claim 22 wherein the software plug-in includes a security device to provide password access to the system.