Method for continuous, frame-specific click-stream recording

• US 7,860,969 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ip Ot Sub Ulc
• Original Assignee: Vignette Corporation (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: McCullough, Sean M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn; Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siddiqi; Mohammad A
• Application Number:
  US11/601,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20070067454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 705/14, 707/1, 707/101, 707/102
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/44 Distributed routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

A data processing system-implemented method can be used to better track a user'"'"'s movements between network addresses. The method can comprise sending a frame identifier and a requested (current) network address at a first time. The method can also comprise finding a record including the frame identifier that has a prior network address and a time prior to the current time. The method can further comprise generating an entry for a table that includes the frame identifier, the current network address, the prior network address, and time. A server computer or a client computer can generate the entry. Improved accountability and improved user profile accuracy can be obtained with the method. A data processing system readable medium can comprise code that includes instructions for carrying out the method.

Claims

1. A data processing system-implemented method of tracking movement between network addresses comprising:

receiving, at a first time at a tracking server, a request for a first network address from a client computer, wherein the first network address is from a first frame provided to the client computer by a content server, wherein the request contains a first frame identifier for the first frame, and wherein the content server and the client computer are coupled to the tracking server via a network;

finding a record in a database accessible by the tracking server, wherein the record comprises the first frame identifier, a second network address from the first frame provided to the client computer by the content server, and a second time, wherein the second time precedes and is temporally closest to the first time, wherein the finding is performed using the tracking server; and

generating an entry for a table in the database that includes the first frame identifier, the first network address, the second network address, and a third time, wherein the generating is performed using the tracking server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time and the third time are substantially same or close in time.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a view from the content server to a user at the client computer before the receiving step, wherein the view includes the first frame and a second frame having a second frame identifier.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising generating a node diagram illustrating a sequence of network addresses that originated from the first frame but not the second frame.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to the receiving step, the content server sending a view corresponding to the first network address to the client computer that requested the first network address.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a statement of activity, wherein:

the first network address is significantly owned or controlled by a first party;

the second network address is significantly owned or controlled by a second party;

the first party is not significantly owned or controlled by the second party, and the second party is not significantly owned or controlled by the first party; and

the statement indicates that a sequence of network addresses was activated from the first frame.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the request from the client computer further comprises a user identifier; and

the second time is closest in time to the first time for the user identifier and the first frame identifier.

8. A data processing system-implemented method of tracking movement between network addresses comprising:

displaying a first view to a user at a client computer, wherein the first view includes a first frame having a first frame identifier and a second frame having a second frame identifier;

receiving, at a first time at a tracking server, a first request for a first network address from the user at the client computer, wherein the first request is generated by the user activating a first object within the first frame;

in a database accessible by the tracking server, searching records that include the first frame identifier for the first frame, wherein the searching is performed using the tracking server;

from the records that have the same first frame identifier, finding a record in the database accessible by the tracking server, wherein the record comprises the first frame identifier, a second network address from the first frame provided to the client computer by a content server, and a second time, wherein, for the first frame identifier, the second time precedes the first time; and

generating a first entry for a table in the database that includes the first frame identifier, the first network address, the second network address, and a third time, wherein the finding and generating are performed using the tracking server.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first time and the third time are substantially same or close in time.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying a second view corresponding to the first network address to the user.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the second time is closest in time to the first time for the first frame identifier.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a second request for a third network address from the user at the client computer, wherein the second request is generated by the user activating a second object within the second frame;

sending the second frame identifier and the third network address at a fourth time to the tracking server;

finding a record in the database having the second frame identifier, a fourth network address, and a fifth time, wherein, for the second frame identifier, the fifth time precedes and is closest in time to the fourth time; and

generating a second entry for the table in the database that includes the second frame identifier, the third network address, the fourth network address, and a sixth time.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the tracking server receives the first request for the first network address over a network from the client computer.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

sending the first view comprising the first frame and the second frame from the content server to the client computer over the network;

receiving the first network address from the tracking server at the content server; and

sending a second view based on the first network address and the first frame identifier from the content server to the client computer over the network.

15. A tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium having code embodied therein, the code including instructions executable by a data processing system, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the data processing system to perform:

receiving, at a tracking server at a first time, a request for a first network address from a client computer, wherein the first network address is from a first frame provided to the client computer by a content server, and wherein the request contains a first frame identifier for the first frame;

finding a record in a database accessible to the tracking server, wherein the record comprises the first frame identifier, a second network address from the first frame provided to the client computer by the content server, and a second time, wherein the second time precedes the first time, wherein the tracking server performs the finding; and

generating an entry for a table in the database that includes the first frame identifier, the first network address, the second network address, and a third time, wherein the tracking server performs the generating.

16. The tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the first time and the third time are substantially same or close in time.

17. The tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions are configured to further cause the data processing system to perform:

sending a view from the content server to a user at the client computer before the receiving step, wherein the view includes the first frame and a second frame having a second frame identifier.

18. The tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions are configured to further cause the data processing system to perform:

generating a node diagram illustrating the sequence of network addresses that originated from the first frame but not the second frame.

19. The tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions are configured to further cause the data processing system to perform:

in response to the receiving step, sending a view corresponding to the first network address to the client computer that requested the first network address.

20. The tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions are configured to further cause the data processing system to perform:

generating a statement of activity, wherein;

the first network address is significantly owned or controlled by a first party;

the second network address is significantly owned or controlled by a second party;

the first party is not significantly owned or controlled by the second party, and the second party is not significantly owned or controlled by the first party; and

the statement indicates that a sequence of network addresses was activated from the first frame.

21. The tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein:

the request from the client computer further comprises a user identifier; and

the second time is closest in time to the first time for the user identifier and frame identifier.

22. A tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium having code embodied therein, the code including instructions executable by a data processing system, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the non-transitory data processing system to perform:

displaying a first view to a user at a client computer via a browser application running on the client computer, wherein the first view includes a first frame having a first frame identifier and a second frame having a second frame identifier;

receiving, at a first time at a tracking server, a first request for a first network address from the user at the client computer, wherein the first request is generated by the user activating a first object within the first frame;

in a database accessible by the tracking server, searching records that include the first frame identifier for the first frame, wherein the searching is performed using the tracking server;

from the records that have the same first frame identifier, finding a record in the database accessible by the tracking server, wherein the record comprises the first frame identifier, a second network address from the first frame provided to the client computer by the content server, and a second time, wherein, for the first frame identifier, the second time precedes the first time; and

generating a first entry for a table in the database that includes the first frame identifier, the first network address, the second network address, and a third time, wherein the tracking computer performs the generating.

23. The tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the first time and the third time are substantially same or close in time.

24. The tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions are configured to further cause the data processing system to perform:

displaying a second view corresponding to the first network address to the user.

25. The tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the second time is closest in time to the first time for the first frame identifier.

26. The tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions are configured to further cause the data processing system to perform:

receiving a second request for a third network address from the user at the client computer, wherein the second request is generated by the user activating a second object within the second frame;

sending the second frame identifier and the third network address at a fourth time to the tracking server;

finding a record in the database having the second frame identifier, a fourth network address, and a fifth time, wherein, for the second frame identifier, the fifth time precedes and is closest in time to the fourth time; and

generating a second entry for the table in the database that includes the second frame identifier, the third network address, the fourth network address, and a sixth time.

27. A system comprising:

a client computer configured to request content over a network and provide views to a user;

a tracking computer coupled to the client computer by the network, the tracking computer comprising a processor and at least one tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium storing computer instructions; and

a database accessible by the tracking computer;

wherein the tracking computer is configured to;

receive a request for a first network address at a first time over the network based on a view request made at the client computer, wherein the first network address is from a first frame within the views, wherein the request contains a first frame identifier for the first frame;

in a database accessible by the tracking server, search records that include the first frame identifier for the first frame;

find a record in the database, wherein the record comprises the first frame identifier, a second network address, and a second time, wherein the second time precedes the first time; and

generate an entry in the database that includes the first frame identifier, the first network address, the second network address, and a third time.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising a content server configured to:

receive the first network address from the tracking server; and

return content to the client computer over the network, wherein the content is based on the first network address.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the tracking computer receives the first frame identifier and the first network address from the client computer.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the tracking computer is further configured to:

receive a second frame identifier, a third network address and a fourth time based on a subsequent view request made at the client computer;

find a record in the database having the second frame identifier, a fourth network address, and a fifth time, wherein for the second frame identifier, the fifth time precedes and is closest in time to the fourth time;

generate a second entry for the table in the database that includes the second frame identifier, the third network address, the fourth network address and a sixth time.

31. A computer program product comprising at least one tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium storing a set of instructions executable to perform:

providing a receiving element, a record finding element and a database modification element running on one or more computers;

receiving a first frame identifier and a first network address at a first time over a network, where in the receiving is performed by the receiving element;

finding a record in a database accessible by a tracking server, wherein the record comprises the first frame identifier, a second network address, and a second time, wherein the second time precedes the first time, wherein the finding is performed using the tracking server, wherein the finding is performed by the record finding element using the first frame identifier received using the receiving element; and

generating an entry for a table in the database that includes the first frame identifier, the first network address, the second network address, and a third time, wherein the generating is performed using the tracking server, wherein the database modification element performs the generating.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the first time and the third time are substantially same or close in time.

33. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the at least one tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium further comprises instructions executable to perform:

sending a view to a user before receiving the first frame and the first network address, wherein the view includes the first frame and a second frame having a second frame identifier.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the at least one tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium further comprises instructions executable to perform:

providing a node diagram generating element; and

generating a node diagram illustrating a sequence of network addresses that originated from the first frame but not the second frame, wherein the generating is performed by the node diagram generating element.

35. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the at least one tangible non-transitory data processing system readable storage medium further comprises instructions executable to perform:

in response to receiving, sending a view corresponding to the first network address to a computer that requested the first network address.