System and method for modifying internet traffic and controlling search responses

• US 8,112,435 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiFiFee LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WiFiFee LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Epstein, Brian D., Hodge, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Shahid
• Assistant Examiner(s): LODHI, ANDALIB FT
• Application Number:
  US12/057,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20080270237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 707/706, 707/769, 707/770, 707/709
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search

Abstract

A system, method and program product for modifying data packets being communicated between a client and a Web application to enhance the Web experience of a user. A system is disclosed for enhancing searches being performed by a search engine application, and monitoring data packets passing through a network node to identify a data packet containing an original search query; modifying the data packet containing the original search query to create a modified search query; and forwarding the modified search query to the search engine application in place of the original search query.

Claims

1. A system for enhancing searches, comprising,

a processor and memory;

an administrative interface for configuring a shaping logic, wherein the shaping logic includes a set of key words and an associated modification action to be taken for each key word in the set of key words;

a system for monitoring data packets passing through a network node to different websites on the web, wherein the system for monitoring examines data packets to identify only search-related data packets that include an original search query being directed to a general purpose search engine website;

a system for selectively modifying a search-related data packet when a key word is detected in the original search query to create a modified search query based on the associated modification action, wherein the search-related data packet is modified at the network node before being forwarded to, and independent of, the general purpose search engine website; and

a system for forwarding the search-related data packet containing the modified search query to the general purpose search engine website in place of the original search query.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system for monitoring determines if the data packet contains a predetermined uniform resource locator (URL).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system for monitoring determines if the data packet contains a key word.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the network node is a router.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the network node is selected from the group consisting of a firewall and proxy server.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the modified search query includes an appended term relative to the original search query.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the modified search query includes a removed term relative to the original search query.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system for modifying the data packet resides at the network node.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system for modifying the data packet modifies search queries for data packets bound for anyone of a plurality of different general purpose search engines.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a system for notifying a user that search querying activities are being modified and allowing the user to opt out.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising an advertising system that allows an advertiser to add an advertiser-selected term to the original search query.

12. A method for enhancing searches being performed by a search engine application, comprising,

providing an interface for configuring a shaping logic using a computer device, wherein the shaping logic includes a set of key words and an associated modification action to be taken for each key word in the set of key words;

monitoring data packets passing through a network node to different websites on the web, wherein the system for monitoring examines data packets to identify only search-related data packets that include an original search query being directed to a general purpose search engine website;

modifying the search-related data packet using the computing device when a key word is detected in the original search query to create a modified search query based on the associated modification action, wherein the search-related data packet is modified before being forwarded to the general purpose search engine website; and

forwarding the search-related data packet containing the modified search query to the general purpose search engine website in place of the original search query.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the monitoring determines if the data packet contains a predetermined uniform resource locator (URL) or if the data packet contains a key word.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein network node is selected from the group consisting of a router, firewall and proxy server.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the modified search query includes an appended or removed term relative to the original search query.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the modifying of the data packet occurs at the network node.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the modifying of the data packet occurs at a remote node away from the network node, and wherein the remote node processes and modifies search queries for data packets bound for a plurality of different general purpose search engines.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising notifying a user that search querying activities are being modified, and allowing the user to opt out.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the modifying of the data packet is influenced by an advertiser by allowing the advertiser to add an advertiser-selected term to the original search query.

20. A program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, which when executed, causes a computer system to enhance a result of a web application, the program product comprising:

program code for monitoring data packets passing through a network node to different websites on the web, wherein the monitoring examines data packets to specifically identify search-related data packets that include an original search query being directed to a general purpose search engine website;

program code for selectively modifying a search-related data packet to create a modified data packet based on a predetermined modification action, wherein the search-related data packet is modified before being forwarded to, and independent of, the general purpose search engine website; and

program code for forwarding the modified data packet to the general purpose search engine website in place of the search-related data packet to effectuate an enhanced result from the web application.

21. The program product of claim 20, wherein the modified data packet includes a modified hyperlink.

22. The program product of claim 20, wherein the program code for modifying the search-related data packet includes program code for analyzing a profile of a user.

23. The program product of claim 20, wherein the program code for modifying the search-related data packet is influenced by an advertising process.

24. The program product of claim 20, wherein the program code for modifying the search-related data packet is executed at a remote computing system apart from the network node.