Modifying browser requests to track browsing activities

• US 8,694,581 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Arsenault, David
• Primary Examiner(s): BOUTAH, ALINA A
• Application Number:
  US13/614,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20130173694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709223-224
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/247 using M:N active or standby paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams

Abstract

Processing a browser request that specifies a destination network resource generally includes intercepting a browser request that specifies a selected destination network resource and redirecting the browser request to a network server that differs from the destination resource specified by the browser request. Processing a browser request also may include intercepting a browser request received from a client computer at a proxy server when the browser request specifies a selected destination network resource and performing instructions associated with and in addition to instructions performed to download the selected destination network resource.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

processing a browser request, wherein the browser request specifies a destination network resource;

modifying, using at least one processor, the browser request to enable evaluation of web browsing activities, wherein modifying the browser request comprises referring to an instruction list and executing one or more instructions specified by the instruction list to modify the browser request; and

tracking the web browsing activities of a client based on the modified browser request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the instruction list specifies a series of domain names and related processing instructions.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining a domain associated with the destination network resource.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein executing one or more instructions specified in the instruction list to modify the browser request further comprises:

locating the associated domain in the series of domains; and

executing the related processing instructions for the associated domain.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying, using at least one processor, the browser request to enable evaluation of web browsing activities comprises changing a domain name included in the browser request to a different domain name that enables evaluation of browser activities.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the different domain name enables tracking of browser activities with respect to a specified website.

7. A computer program product for use at a computer system, the computer program product comprising one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed at a processor, cause the computer system to:

process a browser request, wherein the browser request specifies a destination network resource;

modify the browser request to enable evaluation of web browsing activities, wherein modifying the browser request comprises referring to an instruction list and executing one or more instructions specified by the instruction list to modify the browser request; and

track the web browsing activities of client based on the modified browser request.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the instruction list specifies a series of domain names and related processing instructions.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to determine a domain associated with the destination network resource.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to:

locate the associated domain in the series of domains; and

execute the related processing instructions for the associated domain.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to modify the browser request to enable evaluation of web browsing activities comprise computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to change a domain name included in the browser request to a different domain name that enables evaluation of browser activities.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the different domain name enables tracking of browser activities with respect to a specified website.

13. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the computer system is selected from among:

a proxy server and a jump server.

14. A method comprising:

processing a browser request, wherein the browser request specifies a domain for a destination website;

modifying the browser request, using at least one processor, to reroute the browser request to a different domain that enables evaluation of web browsing activities;

using filtering techniques to identify the browser request for additional processing prior to modifying the browser request; and

tracking the web browsing activities of a client based on the modified browser request.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein processing a browser request comprises processing a web browser request sent from a web browser.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein modifying the browser request, using at least one processor, to reroute the browser request to the different domain further comprises:

matching the browser request against information in the instruction list to identify a set of instructions appropriate for the browser request; and

performing one or more instructions included in the set of instructions to change the domain to the different domain in the browser request.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein modifying the browser request, using at least one processor, to reroute the browser request to different domain comprises rerouting the browser request to a domain that enables tracking browser activities for the destination web site.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein processing the browser request comprises processing a browser request that includes a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

19. The method of claim 14, wherein using filtering techniques to identify the browser request for additional processing comprises using filtering criteria to identify the browser request for additional processing, the filtering criteria including domain extensions.