Use of browser history file to determine web site reach
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- accessing, with a processor, Web site access history information stored at a client computer, the Web site access history information including access history information for at least a first Web site of a first internet domain and a second Web site of a second internet domain different than the first internet domain;
accessing a user setting corresponding to a duration of time for retention of the Web site access history information, the user setting stored at the client computer for a browser executed by the client computer, wherein Web site access history information that exceeds the duration is removed from the Web site access history information while the user setting and Web site access history information that does not exceed the duration set by the user setting are retained;
sending the user setting to a collection computer different from the client computer; and
repeatedly sending the Web site access history information to the collection computer, wherein the collection computer receives Web site access history information from a plurality of client computers for a plurality of users, the Web site access history information from the plurality of client computers arranged in a common format.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for using a browser history file to determine web site reach are disclosed. An example method includes accessing Web site access history information stored at a client computer, accessing a user setting corresponding to a duration of time for retention of the Web site access history information, and sending the Web site access history information and the user setting to a collection computer different from the client computer.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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accessing, with a processor, Web site access history information stored at a client computer, the Web site access history information including access history information for at least a first Web site of a first internet domain and a second Web site of a second internet domain different than the first internet domain; accessing a user setting corresponding to a duration of time for retention of the Web site access history information, the user setting stored at the client computer for a browser executed by the client computer, wherein Web site access history information that exceeds the duration is removed from the Web site access history information while the user setting and Web site access history information that does not exceed the duration set by the user setting are retained; sending the user setting to a collection computer different from the client computer; and repeatedly sending the Web site access history information to the collection computer, wherein the collection computer receives Web site access history information from a plurality of client computers for a plurality of users, the Web site access history information from the plurality of client computers arranged in a common format. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
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accessing, with a processor, Web site access history information stored at a client computer, the Web site access history information including access history information for at least a first Web site of a first internet domain and a second Web site of a second internet domain different than the first internet domain; accessing a user setting corresponding to a duration of time for retention of the Web site access history information, the user setting stored at the client computer for a browser executed by the client computer, wherein Web site access history information that exceeds the duration is removed from the Web site access history information while the user setting and Web site access history information that does not exceed the duration set by the user setting are retained; and sending the user setting to a collection computer different from the client computer; and repeatedly sending the Web site access history information to the collection computer, wherein accessing the Web site access history information stored at the client computer, accessing the user setting corresponding to the duration of time for retention of the Web site access history information, and sending the Web site access history information and the user setting to the collection computer different from the client computer are performed by an application different than the browser, wherein the collection computer receives Web site access history information from a plurality of client computers for a plurality of users, the Web site access history information from the plurality of client computers arranged in a common format.
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9. A method comprising:
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monitoring, with a processor, a Web site browser at a first computer to determine when the Web site browser stores Web site access history information in a history file, the Web site access history information including access history information for at least a first Web site of a first internet domain and a second Web site of a second internet domain different than the first internet domain; intercepting the Web site access history information when it is determined that the Web site access history information is being stored in the history file; accessing a user setting corresponding to a duration of time for retention of the Web site access history information, the user setting stored at the first computer for the Web site browser executing on the first computer, wherein Web site access history information that exceeds the duration is removed from the Web site access history information while the user setting and Web site access history information that does not exceed the duration set by the user setting are retained; communicating the user setting to a second computer different from the first computer; and repeatedly communicating the intercepted Web site access history information to the second computer, wherein the second computer receives Web site access history information from a plurality of client computers for a plurality of users, the Web site access history information from the plurality of client computers arranged in a common format. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A tangible machine readable storage disk or storage device comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to at least:
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access Web site access history information stored at a client computer, the Web site access history information including access history information for at least a first Web site of a first internet domain and a second Web site of a second internet domain different than the first internet domain; access a user setting corresponding to a duration of time for retention of the Web site access history information, the user setting stored at the client computer for a browser executing on the client computer, wherein Web site access history information that exceeds the duration is removed from the Web site access history information while Web site access history information that does not exceed the duration is retained; transmit the user setting to a central facility; and repeatedly transmit the Web site access history information to the central facility, wherein the central facility receives Web site access history information from a plurality of client computers for a plurality of users, the Web site access history information from the plurality of client computers arranged in a common format. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification