Network device for monitoring and modifying network traffic between an end user and a content provider
First Claim
1. A network device for monitoring data traffic between a client device and a server device, the network device comprising:
- a network interface having a bypass switch, the interface being coupled to a network and configured to intercept or bypass data packets transmitted between a user device and a web server;
an activity monitor configured to monitor a predetermined signal and causing the network interface to bypass data packets;
a dispatcher implemented in a processing unit, coupled to the network interface, examining the intercepted data packets to identify any advertising opportunity in the intercepted data packets; and
an analysis processor having a storage device for storing targeted commercial information and a processing unit configured to modify the intercepted data packets being identified by the dispatcher as having an advertisement opportunity to include the targeted commercial information in one or more of the intercepted data packets without altering head portions thereof.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network device for monitoring and modifying data traffic between a client device and a server device is disclosed. The network device is configured to provide targeted advertisements to a user based on some or all of the data traffics generated the user. Different from a proxy server, the network device operates transparently from both perspectives of a computer being used by the user and a website being visited by the user. The network device is disposed in line between the computer and the network so that all data traffics are examined. The data packets exchanged between a computer and a website being visited are altered or modified in such a way that the head of the packets remains largely intact while the payloads of the packets are changed to suit the need of delivering transparently the targeted commercial information.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A network device for monitoring data traffic between a client device and a server device, the network device comprising:
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a network interface having a bypass switch, the interface being coupled to a network and configured to intercept or bypass data packets transmitted between a user device and a web server; an activity monitor configured to monitor a predetermined signal and causing the network interface to bypass data packets; a dispatcher implemented in a processing unit, coupled to the network interface, examining the intercepted data packets to identify any advertising opportunity in the intercepted data packets; and an analysis processor having a storage device for storing targeted commercial information and a processing unit configured to modify the intercepted data packets being identified by the dispatcher as having an advertisement opportunity to include the targeted commercial information in one or more of the intercepted data packets without altering head portions thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for monitoring and modifying data traffic between a client device and a server device by a computer-equipped network device situation between the client device and the server device, the method comprising computer-implemented steps of:
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monitoring a predetermined signal for determining whether to bypass or to intercept a flow of data packets at a network interface, each data packet having a destination address; bypassing a data packet upon an indication by the predetermined signal; intercepting only data packets determined ought to be intercepted; detecting whether the intercepted data packets satisfy predetermined selection criteria; modifying payloads of the intercepted data packets to include targeted commercial information stored in a storage device without altering head portions of the intercepted data packets; and forwarding the flow of the modified data packets to the destination address. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification