Method of gathering usage information and transmitting to a primary server and a third party server by a client program

• US 6,405,214 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1998
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Meade, W. K. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, UYEN T
• Application Number:
  US09/215,046
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/104.1, 709/223, 709/224, 709/201, 709/203, 709/229, 704/14, 704/27
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/02 containing silicon
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/42 with copper
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/44 with molybdenum or tungsten
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/58 with more than 1.5% by weight of manganese
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method of gathering and transmitting information is provided. The method is performed in a client/server computer network including a user computer having a CPU and a storage device, which are adapted to implement a first client program capable of gathering usage information from the user'"'"'s CPU and storage device and a second client program providing connectivity with the network. The network further includes a principal server site having a server program capable of writing transmittable files to the user computer. At least one third-party server site is included, and is capable of uploading transmittable files from the user computer. In the first step, the server program writes at least one transmittable file to the user computer. Next, the first client program gathers usage information from the user computer, and then writes the usage information to the at least one transmittable file. Next, the first client program addresses the at least one transmittable file to the third-party server, and the second client program transmits it to the third-party server. Also provided is an apparatus for gathering and transmitting information in a client/server computer network. [The apparatus includes a user computer including a first client program for gathering usage information from the user'"'"'s CPU and storage device, for writing the usage information and address data to the at least one transmittable file, and a second client program for providing connectivity with the network. The apparatus also includes a principal server site including a server program for writing transmittable files to the user computer and for providing connectivity with the network. At least one third-party server site is also provided. The at least one third-party site includes a communication program for uploading transmittable files from the user computer and for providing connectivity with the network.]

Claims

1. In a client/server computer network including a user computer having a CPU and a storage device, the storage device and CPU of the user computer having a first client program capable of gathering usage information from the user'"'"'s CPU and storage device and a second client program providing connectivity with the network, the network further including a principal server site having a server program capable of writing transmittable files to the user computer, the network further including at least one third-party server site capable of uploading transmittable files from the user computer, a method of gathering and transmitting information, the method comprising the following steps:

causing the server program of the principal server site to write at least one transmittable file to the user computer;

causing the first client program of the user computer to gather usage information from the user'"'"'s CPU or storage device;

causing the first client program of the user computer to write the usage information to the at least one transmittable file;

causing the first client program of the user computer to write an address to the transmittable file, the address corresponding to the third-party server; and

causing the second client program of the user computer to transmit the transmittable file to the third-party server.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein connectivity between the user computer, the server site, and the third-party site is established via the internet.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one transmittable file comprises at least one cookie.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the second client program of the user computer comprises a web browser.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the address corresponding to the third-party server is a URL.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of causing the first client program of the user computer to gather usage information comprises gathering printer use information.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the step of causing first client program to gathering printer use information comprises the step of interfacing with a printer driver of user computer.

8. An apparatus for gathering and transmitting information in a client/server computer network, the apparatus comprising the following:

a user computer having a CPU and a storage device, the storage device and CPU of the user computer having a first client program capable of gathering usage information from the user'"'"'s CPU and storage device and a second client program providing connectivity with the network, the user computer capable of receiving transmittable files from a principal server;

the first client program of the user computer being adapted and constructed to write the usage information and an address to at least one of the transmittable files, the address corresponding to a third-party server, and the second client program of the user computer being adapted and constructed to transmit the at least one transmittable file to the third-party server.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein connectivity between the user computer, the server site, and the third-party site is established via the internet.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one transmittable file comprises at least one cookie.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second client program of the user computer comprises a web browser.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the address corresponding to the third-party server is a URL.

13. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the usage information gathered by the first client program of the user computer comprises printer use information.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the usage information gathered by the first client program of the user computer comprises printer use information compiled from a printer driver of the user computer.