Method and system for monitoring e-mail and website behavior of an e-mail recipient

• US 7,076,533 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2002
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: XANT Inc.
• Original Assignee: iHance Incorporated (XANT Inc.)
• Inventors: Hart, John, Knox, Andrew, Knox, Lars
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US10/289,689
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-218, 709223-224, 709/227
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

A system for monitoring email and website behavior of an email recipient is provided. According to one exemplary embodiment, the system includes a mail enhancement server and a logging server. The mail enhancement server is configured to intercept all outgoing emails from a mail server. The mail enhancement server then modifies each outgoing email to include a tracking code. The tracking code is embedded in an image call which in turn is also inserted into the outgoing email. If the outgoing email contains hyperlinks, each hyperlink is also modified to include the tracking code. The tracking code is uniquely associated with the outgoing email. The image call (and the tracking code) is used to detect when the recipient of the outgoing email has opened that email. The tracking code, when embedded in a hyperlink, is also used to monitor whether the recipient has opened the email and/or clicked through on one or more of the hyperlinks in the email. The logging server associates a cookie with the recipient of the outgoing email. When the logging server receives an image call, the corresponding image and the cookie are concurrently delivered to the recipient. The cookie is used to monitor the behavior of the recipient at a website, regardless of how the recipient arrives at that website, be it through a click-through from the email or otherwise. The logging server is configured to capture and store relevant information relating to the outgoing email thereby allowing the sender of the outgoing email and the recipient to be linked and the behavior of the recipient to be monitored via the tracking code, the image call and the cookie.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring website behavior of an email recipient, comprising:

control logic configured to modify an outgoing email addressed to the email recipient and sent using an email client configured to allow a sender to send the outgoing email and access one or more personal or corporate emails belonging to the sender, wherein the control logic configured to modify the outgoing email is further configured to edit the outgoing email to include a tracking code, wherein the tracking code is uniquely associated with the outgoing email, the email recipient, the sender or the business entity associated with the sender or a combination thereof, and wherein the tracking code is inserted into a hyperlink in the modified outgoing email; and

control logic configured to monitor the website behavior of the email recipient using information contained in the modified outgoing email;

wherein upon the email recipient clicking on the hyperlink, a connection to a remote server is made in which the tracking code is transmitted to the remote server;

the remote server being used to manage a website referenced by the hyperlink; and

wherein upon receipt of the tracking code by the remote server, the remote server is able to use the tracking code to monitor the website behavior of the email recipient.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the monitoring of the website behavior is performed within an Internet domain related to the sender or a business entity associated with the sender.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein upon the remote server receiving the tracking code, the remote server associates an identifier with the email recipient or an agent of the email recipient;

and

wherein the identifier is uniquely associated with the email recipient or its agent and is used in connection with monitoring the website behavior of the email recipient.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the association between the identifier and the email recipient or its agent is established by the remote server transmitting the identifier to the agent being used by the email recipient to establish the connection to the remote server.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the identifier is a cookie.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the website is associated with a partner of the sender or the business entity associated with the sender;

and

wherein the remote server is able to recognize the tracking code as being unique to the email recipient, the sender or the business entity associated with the sender or a combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the control logic configured to modify the outgoing email is embedded within a mail server, a mail relay server or a mail enhancement server.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the control logic configured to modify the outgoing email is embedded within the email client, a plug-in to the email client or an email client utility.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

control logic configured to examine the outgoing email to determine if there is a plurality of recipients; and

control logic configured to generate a copy of the outgoing email for each recipient if it is determined that there is a plurality of recipients; and

wherein if one or more copies of the outgoing email are generated for the plurality of recipients, each copy of the outgoing email is modified to allow website behavior of the corresponding recipient to be monitored.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

control logic configured to determine whether the outgoing email is to be processed before making any modifications.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

control logic configured to evaluate the outgoing email in accordance with an opt-out policy to determine whether or not if any modification is to be made to the outgoing email.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a user interface configured to allow the sender to review monitored website behavior of the email recipient.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

control logic configured to update a contact database with information relating to the email recipient.

14. A system for monitoring website behavior of an email recipient, comprising:

control logic configured to modify an outgoing email addressed to the email recipient and sent using an email client configured to allow a sender to send the outgoing email and access one or more personal or corporate emails belonging to the sender, wherein the control logic configured to modify the outgoing email is further configured to edit the outgoing email to include a tracking code, wherein the tracking code is uniquely associated with the outgoing email, the email recipient, the sender or the business entity associated with the sender or a combination thereof; and

control logic configured to monitor the website behavior of the email recipient using information contained in the modified outgoing email;

wherein upon the email recipient opening the modified outgoing email, a connection to a remote server is made in which the tracking code is transmitted to the remote server;

wherein upon receipt of the tracking code by the remote server, the remote server associates an identifier with the email recipient or an agent of the email recipient; and

wherein the identifier is uniquely associated with the email recipient or its agent and is used in connection with monitoring the website behavior of the email recipient.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the association between the identifier and the email recipient or its agent is established by the remote server transmitting the identifier to the agent being used by the email recipient to establish the connection to the remote server.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the connection to the remote server is an image call inserted into the modified outgoing email;

and

wherein the tracking code is embedded within the image call.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the identifier is a cookie.

18. A system for monitoring website behavior of an email recipient, comprising:

control logic configured to modify an outgoing email addressed to the email recipient and sent using an email client configured to allow a sender to send the outgoing email and access one or more personal or corporate emails belonging to the sender, wherein the control logic configured to modify the outgoing email is further configured to post the modified outgoing email to a remote location and inform the email recipient to access the modified outgoing email at the remote location; and

control logic configured to monitor the website behavior of the email recipient using information contained in the modified outgoing email;

wherein upon the email recipient contacting the remote location to access the modified outgoing email, an identifier is associated with the email recipient or an agent of the email recipient; and

wherein the identifier is uniquely associated with the email recipient or its agent and is used in connection with monitoring the website behavior of the email recipient.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the association between the identifier and the email recipient or its agent is established by the remote location transmitting the identifier to the agent being used by the email recipient to establish contact with the remote location.

20. A system for monitoring website behavior of email recipients, comprising:

a plurality of email clients configured for use by a plurality of corresponding senders to send a plurality of outgoing emails and access a plurality of incoming personal or corporate emails, the plurality of senders respectively having a plurality of emails accounts for sending the plurality of outgoing emails and accessing the plurality of incoming personal or corporate emails, the plurality of email accounts being associated with an Internet domain or a business entity associated with the plurality of senders;

control logic configured to modify the plurality of outgoing emails, wherein the control logic configured to modify the plurality of outgoing emails is further configured to edit one or more of the plurality of outgoing emails to each include a tracking code, wherein each tracking code is uniquely associated with its corresponding modified outgoing email, recipient, sender or a business entity associated with the sender or a combination thereof, and wherein the associated tracking code is inserted into a hyperlink in the corresponding modified outgoing email; and

control logic configured to monitor website behavior of corresponding email recipients using information contained in the plurality of modified outgoing emails; and

wherein upon the recipient of the corresponding modified outgoing email clicking on the hyperlink, a connection to a remote server is made in which the associated tracking code is transmitted to the remote server;

the remote server being used to manage a website referenced by the hyperlink; and

wherein upon receipt of the associated tracking code by the remote server, the remote server is able to use the associated tracking code to monitor the website behavior of the recipient.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the monitoring of the website behavior is performed within an Internet domain related to the business entity associated with the plurality of senders.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein upon the remote server receiving the associated tracking code, the remote server associates an identifier with the recipient or an agent of the recipient;

and

wherein the identifier is uniquely associated with the recipient or its agent and is used in connection with monitoring the website behavior of the recipient.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the association between the identifier and the recipient or its agent is established by the remote server transmitting the identifier to the agent being used by the recipient to establish the connection to the remote server.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the identifier is a cookie.

25. The system of claim 20 wherein the website is associated with a partner of the sender of the corresponding modified outgoing email or the business entity associated with the sender;

and

wherein the remote server is able to recognize the associated tracking code as being unique to the corresponding recipient, sender or the business entity associated with the sender or a combination thereof.

26. The system of claim 20 wherein the control logic configured to modify the plurality of outgoing emails is embedded within a mail server, a mail relay server or a mail enhancement server.

27. The system of claim 20 wherein the control logic configured to modify the plurality of outgoing emails is embedded within the email client, a plug-in to the email client or an email client utility.

28. The system of claim 20 further comprising:

control logic configured to examine one or more of the plurality of outgoing emails to determine if each examined outgoing email has a plurality of recipients; and

control logic configured to, for each examined outgoing email that is determined to have a plurality of recipients, generate a copy of the examined outgoing email for each recipient; and

wherein, for each examined outgoing email, if one or more copies of the examined outgoing email are generated for the plurality of recipients, each copy of the examined outgoing email is modified to allow website behavior of the corresponding recipient to be monitored.

29. The system of claim 20 further comprising:

control logic configured to determine whether one or more of the plurality of outgoing emails are to be processed before making any modifications.

30. The system of claim 20 further comprising:

control logic configured to evaluate one or more of the plurality of outgoing emails in accordance with an opt-out policy to determine whether or not if any modification is to be made.

31. The system of claim 20 further comprising:

a user interface configured to allow the plurality of senders to review monitored website behavior of the corresponding recipients.

32. The system of claim 20 further comprising:

control logic configured to update a contact database with information relating to one or more of the corresponding recipients of the plurality of modified outgoing emails.

33. A system for monitoring website behavior of email recipients, comprising:

a plurality of email clients configured for use by a plurality of corresponding senders to send a plurality of outgoing emails and access a plurality of incoming personal or corporate emails, the plurality of senders respectively having a plurality of emails accounts for sending the plurality of outgoing emails and accessing the plurality of incoming personal or corporate emails, the plurality of email accounts being associated with an Internet domain or a business entity associated with the plurality of senders;

control logic configured to modify the plurality of outgoing emails, wherein the control logic configured to modify the plurality of outgoing emails is further configured to edit one or more of the plurality of outgoing emails to each include a tracking code, wherein each tracking code is uniquely associated with its corresponding modified outgoing email, recipient, sender or a business entity associated with the sender or a combination thereof; and

control logic configured to monitor website behavior of corresponding email recipients using information contained in the plurality of modified outgoing emails;

wherein upon a recipient opening a corresponding modified outgoing email, a connection to a remote server is made in which the associated tracking code is transmitted to the remote server;

wherein upon receipt of the associated tracking code by the remote server, the remote server associates an identifier with the recipient or an agent of the recipient; and

wherein the identifier is uniquely associated with the recipient or its agent and is used in connection with monitoring the website behavior of the recipient.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the association between the identifier and the recipient or its agent is established by the remote server transmitting the identifier to the agent being used by the recipient to establish the connection to the remote server.

35. The system of claim 33 wherein the connection to the remote server is an image call inserted into the corresponding modified outgoing email;

and

wherein the tracking code is embedded within the image call.

36. The system of claim 33 wherein the identifier is a cookie.

37. A system for monitoring website behavior of email recipients, comprising:

a plurality of email clients configured for use by a plurality of corresponding senders to send a plurality of outgoing emails and access a plurality of incoming personal or corporate emails, the plurality of senders respectively having a plurality of emails accounts for sending the plurality of outgoing emails and accessing the plurality of incoming personal or corporate emails, the plurality of email accounts being associated with an Internet domain or a business entity associated with the plurality of senders;

control logic configured to modify the plurality of outgoing emails, wherein the control logic configured to modify the plurality of outgoing emails is further configured to post the modified outgoing emails to a remote location and inform the corresponding recipients to access the modified outgoing emails at the remote location; and

control logic configured to monitor website behavior of corresponding email recipients using information contained in the plurality of modified outgoing emails;

wherein upon a recipient contacting the remote location to access a corresponding modified outgoing email, an identifier is associated with the recipient or an agent of the recipient; and

wherein the identifier is uniquely associated with the recipient or its agent and is used in connection with monitoring the website behavior of the recipient.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the association between the identifier and the recipient or its agent is established by the remote location transmitting the identifier to the agent being used by the recipient to establish contact with the remote location.

39. A method for monitoring website behavior of an email recipient, comprising:

modifying an outgoing email addressed to the email recipient and sent using an email client configured to allow a sender to send the outgoing email and access one or more personal or corporate emails belonging to the sender, wherein modifying the outgoing email includes inserting a tracking code into a hyperlink in the outgoing email, wherein the tracking code is uniquely associated with the outgoing email, the email recipient, the sender or the business entity associated with the sender or a combination thereof;

monitoring the website behavior of the email recipient using information contained in the modified outgoing email;

upon the email recipient clicking on the hyperlink, establishing a connection to a remote server and transmitting the tracking code to the remote server;

the remote server being used to manage a website referenced by the hyperlink; and

upon receipt of the tracking code by the remote server, directing the remote server to use the tracking code to monitor the website behavior of the email recipient.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the monitoring of the website behavior is performed within an Internet domain related to the sender or a business entity associated with the sender.

41. The method of claim 39 further comprising:

upon the remote server receiving the tracking code, directing the remote server to associate an identifier with the email recipient or an agent of the email recipient;

wherein the identifier is uniquely associated with the email recipient or its agent and is used in connection with monitoring the website behavior of the email recipient.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the association between the identifier and the email recipient or its agent is established by the remote server transmitting the identifier to the agent being used by the email recipient to establish the connection to the remote server.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein the identifier is a cookie.

44. The method of claim 39 wherein the website is associated with a partner of the sender or the business entity associated with the sender;

and

wherein the remote server is able to recognize the tracking code as being unique to the email recipient, the sender or the business entity associated with the sender or a combination thereof.

45. The method of claim 39 further comprising:

examining the outgoing email to determine if there is a plurality of recipients;

generating a copy of the outgoing email for each recipient if it is determined that there is a plurality of recipients; and

if one or more copies of the outgoing email are generated for the plurality of recipients, modifying each copy of the outgoing email to allow website behavior of the corresponding recipient to be monitored.

46. The method of claim 39 further comprising:

determining whether the outgoing email is to be processed before making any modifications.

47. The method of claim 39 further comprising:

evaluating the outgoing email in accordance with an opt-out policy to determine whether or not if any modification is to be made to the outgoing email.

48. The method of claim 39 further comprising:

providing a user interface configured to allow the sender to review monitored website behavior of the email recipient.

49. The method of claim 39 further comprising:

updating a contact database with information relating to the email recipient.

54. A mail server, a mail relay server or a mail enhancement server utilizing the method of claim 39.

55. An email client, a plug-in to the email client or an email client utility utilizing the method of claim 39.

50. A method for monitoring website behavior of an email recipient, comprising:

modifying an outgoing email addressed to the email recipient and sent using an email client configured to allow a sender to send the outgoing email and access one or more personal or corporate emails belonging to the sender, wherein the step of modifying the outgoing email includes editing the outgoing email to include a tracking code, wherein the tracking code is uniquely associated with the outgoing email, the email recipient, the sender or the business entity associated with the sender or a combination thereof;

monitoring the website behavior of the email recipient using information contained in the modified outgoing email;

upon the email recipient opening the modified outgoing email, establishing a connection to a remote server in which the tracking code is transmitted to the remote server; and

upon receipt of the tracking code by the remote server, directing the remote server to associate an identifier with the email recipient or an agent of the email recipient;

wherein the identifier is uniquely associated with the email recipient or its agent and is used in connection with monitoring the website behavior of the email recipient.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein the association between the identifier and the email recipient or its agent is established by the remote server transmitting the identifier to the agent being used by the email recipient to establish the connection to the remote server.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein the connection to the remote server is an image call inserted into the modified outgoing email;

and

wherein the tracking code is embedded within the image call.

53. The method of claim 50 wherein the identifier is a cookie.

56. A method for monitoring website behavior of an email recipient, comprising:

modifying an outgoing email addressed to the email recipient and sent using an email client configured to allow a sender to send the outgoing email and access one or more personal or corporate emails belonging to the sender;

monitoring the website behavior of the email recipient using information contained in the modified outgoing email;

posting the modified outgoing email to a remote location and informing the email recipient to access the modified outgoing email at the remote location; and

upon the email recipient contacting the remote location to access the modified outgoing email, associating an identifier with the email recipient or an agent of the email recipient;

wherein the identifier is uniquely associated with the email recipient or its agent and is used in connection with monitoring the website behavior of the email recipient.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein the association between the identifier and the email recipient or its agent is established by the remote location transmitting the identifier to the agent being used by the email recipient to establish contact with the remote location.

58. A method for monitoring website behavior of email recipients, comprising:

modifying a plurality of outgoing emails respectively sent by a plurality of email clients, the plurality of email clients configured for use by a plurality of corresponding senders to send a plurality of outgoing emails and access a plurality of incoming personal or corporate emails, the plurality of senders respectively having a plurality of emails accounts for sending the plurality of outgoing emails and accessing the plurality of incoming personal or corporate emails, the plurality of email accounts being associated with an Internet domain or a business entity associated with the plurality of senders;

monitoring website behavior of corresponding email recipients using information contained in the plurality of modified outgoing emails;

editing one or more of the plurality of outgoing emails to each include a tracking code;

wherein each tracking code is uniquely associated with its corresponding modified outgoing email, recipient, sender or a business entity associated with the sender or a combination thereof;

inserting the associated tracking code into a hyperlink in the corresponding modified outgoing email;

upon the recipient of the corresponding modified outgoing email clicking on the hyperlink, establishing a connection to a remote server and transmitting the associated tracking code to the remote server;

the remote server being used to manage a website referenced by the hyperlink; and

upon receipt of the associated tracking code by the remote server, directing the remote server to use the associated tracking code to monitor the website behavior of the recipient.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein the monitoring of the website behavior is performed within an Internet domain related to the business entity associated with the plurality of senders.

60. The method of claim 58 further comprising:

upon the remote server receiving the associated tracking code, directing the remote server to associate an identifier with the recipient or an agent of the recipient;

wherein the identifier is uniquely associated with the recipient or its agent and is used in connection with monitoring the website behavior of the recipient.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein the association between the identifier and the recipient or its agent is established by the remote server transmitting the identifier to the agent being used by the recipient to establish the connection to the remote server.

62. The method of claim 60 wherein the identifier is a cookie.

63. The method of claim 58 wherein the website is associated with a partner of the sender of the corresponding modified outgoing email or the business entity associated with the sender;

and

wherein the remote server is able to recognize the associated tracking code as being unique to the corresponding recipient, sender or the business entity associated with the sender or a combination thereof.

64. A mail server, a mail relay server or a mail enhancement server utilizing the method of claim 58.

65. An email client, a plug-in to the email client or an email client utility utilizing the method of claim 58.

66. The method of claim 58 further comprising:

examining one or more of the plurality of outgoing emails to determine if each examined outgoing email has a plurality of recipients;

for each examined outgoing email that is determined to have a plurality of recipients, generating a copy of the examined outgoing email for each recipient if it is determined that there is a plurality of recipients; and

for each examined outgoing email, if one or more copies of the examined outgoing email are generated for the plurality of recipients, modifying each copy of the examined outgoing email to allow website behavior of the corresponding recipient to be monitored.

67. The method of claim 58 further comprising:

determining whether one or more of the plurality of outgoing emails are to be processed before making any modifications.

68. The method of claim 58 further comprising:

evaluating one or more of the plurality of outgoing emails in accordance with an opt-out policy to determine whether or not if any modification is to be made.

69. The method of claim 58 further comprising:

providing a user interface configured to allow the plurality of senders to review monitored website behavior of the corresponding recipients.

70. The method of claim 58 further comprising:

updating a contact database with information relating to one or more of the corresponding recipients of the plurality of modified outgoing emails.

71. A method for monitoring website behavior of email recipients, comprising:

modifying a plurality of outgoing emails respectively sent by a plurality of email clients, the plurality of email clients configured for use by a plurality of corresponding senders to send a plurality of outgoing emails and access a plurality of incoming personal or corporate emails, the plurality of senders respectively having a plurality of emails accounts for sending the plurality of outgoing emails and accessing the plurality of incoming personal or corporate emails, the plurality of email accounts being associated with an Internet domain or a business entity associated with the plurality of senders; and

monitoring website behavior of corresponding email recipients using information contained in the plurality of modified outgoing emails;

editing one or more of the plurality of outgoing emails to each include a tracking code, wherein each tracking code is uniquely associated with its corresponding modified outgoing email, recipient, sender or a business entity associated with the sender or a combination thereof;

upon a recipient opening a corresponding modified outgoing email, establishing a connection to a remote server and transmitting the associated tracking code to the remote server; and

upon receipt of the associated tracking code by the remote server, directing the remote server to associate an identifier with the recipient or an agent of the recipient; and

wherein the identifier is uniquely associated with the recipient or its agent and is used in connection with monitoring the website behavior of the recipient.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein the association between the identifier and the recipient or its agent is established by the remote server transmitting the identifier to the agent being used by the recipient to establish the connection to the remote server.

73. The method of claim 71 wherein the connection to the remote server is an image call inserted into the corresponding modified outgoing email;

and

wherein the tracking code is embedded within the image call.

74. The method of claim 71 wherein the identifier is a cookie.

75. A method for monitoring website behavior of email recipients, comprising:

modifying a plurality of outgoing emails respectively sent by a plurality of email clients, the plurality of email clients configured for use by a plurality of corresponding senders to send a plurality of outgoing emails and access a plurality of incoming personal or corporate emails, the plurality of senders respectively having a plurality of emails accounts for sending the plurality of outgoing emails and accessing the plurality of incoming personal or corporate emails, the plurality of email accounts being associated with an Internet domain or a business entity associated with the plurality of senders; and

monitoring website behavior of corresponding email recipients using information contained in the plurality of modified outgoing emails;

posting the modified outgoing emails to a remote location and informing the corresponding recipients to access the modified outgoing emails at the remote location; and

upon a recipient contacting the remote location to access a corresponding modified outgoing email, associating an identifier with the recipient or an agent of the recipient; and

wherein the identifier is uniquely associated with the recipient or its agent and is used in connection with monitoring the website behavior of the recipient.

76. The method of claim 75 wherein the association between the identifier and the recipient or its agent is established by the remote location transmitting the identifier to the agent being used by the recipient to establish contact with the remote location.