Method and apparatus for internet traffic monitoring by third parties using monitoring implements transmitted via piggybacking HTTP transactions

• US 8,510,431 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Front Porch, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Front Porch, Inc.
• Inventors: Britton, Zachary Edward, Maxson, Derek Stephen, Blocher, Brian Mathew, Fletcher, Thabo Husayn, Smith, Scott Kenneth, Vazquez, Carlos Alberto
• Primary Examiner(s): GOODCHILD, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US12/410,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20090216882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2895 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data provider application, e.g. reverse proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata

Abstract

Disclosed is an internet traffic monitoring method that includes a network service provider analyzing an HTTP transaction involving an internet user client. The network service provider responds to the HTTP transaction by forwarding, to the internet user client, a modified web object including a monitoring implement. After forwarding the modified web object to the internet user client, the network service provider forwards a web object, originally associated with the HTTP transaction, to the internet user client.

Claims

1. An internet traffic monitoring method, comprising:

a network service provider analyzing an HTTP transaction involving an internet user client and web content from the internet, wherein the internet user client has a connection to the internet through the network service provider;

the network service provider responding to the HTTP transaction by forwarding, to the internet user client, a modified web object including at least a first monitoring implement associated with a first advertisement selection service for causing the internet user client to forward at least one user parameter to the first advertisement selection service and including at least a second monitoring implement associated with a second advertisement selection service for causing the internet user client to forward at least one user parameter to the second advertisement selection service; and

after forwarding the modified web object to the internet user client, the network service provider forwarding an embedded web object, originally associated with the HTTP transaction, to the internet user client;

wherein the first advertisement selection service selects targeted advertising web content for presentation to the internet user client based on the at least one user parameter forwarded based on the first monitoring implement included in the modified web object forwarded by the network service provider, and based on at least one user parameter from a monitoring implement included in a modified web object forwarded by another network service provider in response to a separate HTTP transaction.

2. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 1, wherein the HTTP transaction involves a web content request that includes search terms directed to an internet search engine, and wherein each monitoring implement causes the internet user client to forward the search terms to each respective advertisement selection service.

3. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second monitoring implements comprise at least first and second web bugs.

4. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 3, wherein the first web bug is referenced with a URL having embedded parameters related to the user associated with the internet user client.

5. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second monitoring implements comprise at least first and second cookies.

6. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first monitoring implement comprises a web bug associated with the first advertisement selection service, and the second monitoring implement comprises a cookie associated with the second advertisement selection service.

7. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first advertisement selection service is separate from the second advertisement selection service.

8. A network service provider having an internet traffic monitoring system, comprising:

computer means for analyzing an HTTP transaction involving an internet user client and web content from the internet, wherein the internet user client has a connection to the internet through a network service provider;

computer means for responding to the HTTP transaction by forwarding, to the internet user client, a modified web object including at least a first monitoring implement associated with a first advertisement selection service for causing the internet user client to forward at least one user parameter to the first advertisement selection service and including at least a second monitoring implement associated with a second advertisement selection service for causing the internet user client to forward at least one user parameter to the second advertisement selection service; and

computer means for forwarding an embedded web object, originally associated with the HTTP transaction, to the internet user client after forwarding the modified embedded web object;

wherein the first advertisement selection service selects targeted advertising web content for presentation to the internet user client based on the at least one user parameter forwarded based on the first monitoring implement included in the modified web object forwarded by the network service provider, and based on at least one user parameter from a monitoring implement included in a modified web object forwarded by another network service provider in response to a separate HTTP transaction.

9. A network service provider as defined in claim 8, wherein the first advertisement selection service is separate from the second advertisement selection service.

10. A network service provider as defined in claim 8, wherein the HTTP transaction involves a web content request that includes search terms directed to an internet search engine, and wherein each monitoring implement causes the internet user client to forward the search terms to each respective advertisement selection service.

11. A network service provider as defined in claim 8, wherein the first and second monitoring implements comprise at least first and second web bugs.

12. A network service provider as defined in claim 11, wherein the first web bug is referenced with a URL having embedded parameters related to the user associated with the internet user client.

13. A network service provider as defined in claim 8, wherein the first and second monitoring implements comprise at least first and second cookies.

14. A network service provider as defined in claim 8, wherein the first monitoring implement comprises a web bug associated with the first advertisement selection service, and the second monitoring implement comprises a cookie associated with the second advertisement selection service.

15. A computer program product, comprising:

non-transitory computer readable medium including;

code for causing a computer to analyze an HTTP transaction involving an internet user client and web content from the internet, wherein the internet user client has a connection to the internet through a network service provider;

code for causing a computer to respond to the HTTP transaction by forwarding, to the internet user client, a modified web object including at least a first monitoring implement associated with a first advertisement selection service for causing the internet user client to forward at least one user parameter to the first advertisement selection service and including at least a second monitoring implement associated with a second advertisement selection service for causing the internet user client to forward at least one user parameter to the second advertisement selection service; and

code for causing a computer to forward an embedded web object, originally associated with the HTTP transaction, to the internet user client after forwarding the modified web object;

wherein the first advertisement selection service selects targeted advertising web content for presentation to the internet user client based on the at least one user parameter forwarded based on the first monitoring implement included in the modified web object forwarded by the network service provider, and based on at least one user parameter from a monitoring implement included in a modified web object forwarded by another network service provider in response to a separate HTTP transaction.

16. A computer program product as defined in claim 15, wherein the first advertisement selection service is separate from the second advertisement selection service.

17. A computer program product as defined in claim 15, wherein the HTTP transaction involves a web content request that includes search terms directed to an internet search engine, and wherein each monitoring implement causes the internet user client to forward the search terms to each respective advertisement selection service.

18. A computer program product as defined in claim 15, wherein the first and second monitoring implements comprise at least first and second web bugs.

19. A computer program product as defined in claim 18, wherein the first web bug is referenced with a URL having embedded parameters related to the user associated with the internet user client.

20. A computer program product as defined in claim 15, wherein the first and second monitoring implements comprise at least first and second cookies.

21. A computer program product as defined in claim 15, wherein the first monitoring implement comprises a web bug associated with the first advertisement selection service, and the second monitoring implement comprises a cookie associated with the second advertisement selection service.

22. An internet traffic monitoring method, comprising:

a network service provider analyzing an embedded web object request from an internet user client directed to the internet, wherein the internet user client has a connection to the internet through the network service provider;

the network service provider intercepting a requested embedded web object associated with the analyzed request, and customizing the requested embedded web object, wherein the customized web object includes the requested embedded web object which has been modified by the network service provider to include at least a first monitoring implement associated with a first advertisement selection service and to include at least a second monitoring implement associated with a second advertisement selection service; and

the network service provider forwarding the customized web object to the internet user client for causing the internet user client to forward at least one user parameter to the first advertisement selection service based on the first monitoring implement and for causing the internet user client to forward at least one user parameter to the second advertisement selection service based on the second monitoring implement;

wherein the first advertisement selection service selects targeted advertising content for presentation to the internet user client based on the at least one user parameter forwarded based on the first monitoring implement, and based on at least one user parameter from a monitoring implement included in a customized web object forwarded by another network service provider in response to a separate embedded web object request.

23. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 22, wherein the embedded web object request includes search terms directed to an internet search engine, and wherein each monitoring implement causes the internet user client to forward the search terms to each respective advertisement selection service.

24. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 22, wherein the first and second monitoring implements comprise at least first and second web bugs.

25. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 24, wherein the first web bug is referenced with a URL having embedded parameters related to the user associated with the internet user client.

26. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 22, wherein the first and second monitoring implements comprise at least first and second cookies.

27. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 22, wherein the first monitoring implement comprises a web bug associated with the first advertisement selection service, and the second monitoring implement comprises a cookie associated with the second advertisement selection service.

28. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 22, wherein the embedded web object request is a request for a javascript object.

29. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 22, wherein the first advertisement selection service is separate from the second advertisement selection service.

30. A network service provider having an internet traffic monitoring system, comprising:

computer means for analyzing an embedded web object request from an internet user client directed to the internet, wherein the internet user client has a connection to the internet through a network service provider;

computer means for intercepting a requested embedded web object associated with the analyzed request, and customizing the requested embedded web object, wherein the customized web object includes the requested embedded web object which has been modified by the network service provider to include at least a first monitoring implement associated with a first advertisement selection service and to include at least a second monitoring implement associated with a second advertisement selection service; and

computer means for forwarding the customized web object to the internet user client for causing the internet user client to forward at least one user parameter to the first advertisement selection service based on the first monitoring implement and for causing the internet user client to forward at least one user parameter to the second advertisement selection service based on the second monitoring implement;

wherein the first advertisement selection service selects targeted advertising content for presentation to the internet user client based on the at least one user parameter forwarded based on the first monitoring implement, and based on at least one user parameter from a monitoring implement included in a customized web object forwarded by another network service provider in response to a separate embedded web object request.

31. A network service provider as defined in claim 30, wherein the first advertisement selection service is separate from the second advertisement selection service.

32. A network service provider as defined in claim 30, wherein the embedded web object request includes search terms directed to an internet search engine, and wherein each monitoring implement causes the internet user client to forward the search terms to each respective advertisement selection service.

33. A network service provider as defined in claim 30, wherein the first and second monitoring implements comprise at least first and second web bugs.

34. An internet traffic monitoring method as defined in claim 33, wherein the first web bug is referenced with a URL having embedded parameters related to the user associated with the internet user client.

35. A network service provider as defined in claim 30, wherein the first and second monitoring implements comprise at least first and second cookies.

36. A network service provider as defined in claim 30, wherein the first monitoring implement comprises a web bug associated with the first advertisement selection service, and the second monitoring implement comprises a cookie associated with the second advertisement selection service.

37. A network service provider as defined in claim 30, wherein the embedded web object request is a request for a javascript object.

38. A computer program product, comprising:

non-transitory computer readable medium including;

code for causing a computer to analyze an embedded web object request from an internet user client directed to the internet, wherein the internet user client has a connection to the internet through a network service provider;

code for causing a computer to intercept a requested embedded web object associated with the analyzed request, and to customize the requested embedded web object, wherein the customized web object includes the requested embedded web object which has been modified by the network service provider to include at least a first monitoring implement associated with a first advertisement selection service and to include at least a second monitoring implement associated with a second advertisement selection service; and

code for causing a computer to forward the customized web object to the internet user client for causing the internet user client to forward at least one user parameter to the first advertisement selection service based on the first monitoring implement and for causing the internet user client to forward at least one user parameter to the second advertisement selection service based on the second monitoring implement;

wherein the first advertisement selection service selects targeted advertising content for presentation to the internet user client based on the at least one user parameter forwarded based on the first monitoring implement, and based on at least one user parameter from a monitoring implement included in a customized web object forwarded by another network service provider in response to a separate embedded web object request.

39. A computer program product as defined in claim 38, wherein the first advertisement selection service is separate from the second advertisement selection service.

40. A computer program product as defined in claim 38, wherein the embedded web object request includes search terms directed to an internet search engine, and wherein each monitoring implement causes the internet user client to forward the search terms to each respective advertisement selection service.

41. A computer program product as defined in claim 38, wherein the first and second monitoring implements comprise at least first and second web bugs.

42. A computer program product as defined in claim 41, wherein the first web bug is referenced with a URL having embedded parameters related to the user associated with the internet user client.

43. A computer program product as defined in claim 38, wherein the first and second monitoring implements comprise at least first and second cookies.

44. A computer program product as defined in claim 38, wherein the first monitoring implement comprises a web bug associated with the first advertisement selection service, and the second monitoring implement comprises a cookie associated with the second advertisement selection service.

45. A computer program product as defined in claim 38, wherein the embedded web object request is a request for a javascript object.