User logging of web traffic on non-browser based devices

• US 9,313,080 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2012
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Rowe, Simon Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hwang, Joon H
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALRIYASHI, ABDULKADER MOHAMED
• Application Number:
  US13/660,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20140122715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-229, 709238-244, 345/1.1, 726 2- 4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method for associating a web event with a member of a group of users is implemented at a first computing device. The method includes: receiving a data access request from a second computing device; determining whether the second computing device provides a user login service; if so, causing the second computing device to render the user login service so that the user can provide an instruction of whether or not to associate the data access request with the user of the second computing device; if not, identifying a third computing device that is physically proximate the second computing device; and causing the third computing device to output an alert signal prompting the user of the second computing device to respond; and in response to the user'"'"'s response through the third computing device, generating a data record to associate the data access request with the user of the second computing device.

Claims

1. A method for metering web traffic, comprising:

receiving, at a first computing device, a request from a second computing device to access data from a remote server;

determining, by a processor of the first computing device, that the request includes no user-specific information;

directing, by the first computing device responsive to the determination, the second computing device to render a user login interface comprising a visual list of possible users for selection;

receiving, by the first computing device from the second computing device, a user login comprising user-specific information associated with a selected user of the list of possible users;

generating, by the processor, a data record associating the request with the user login;

receiving, at the first computing device, a second request from a third computing device to access data from the remote server;

determining, by the processor, that the second request includes no user-specific information;

determining, by the processor, that the third computing device is unable to render a user login interface;

identifying, by the processor, that the second computing device is in proximity to the third device, responsive to the determination that the third computing device is unable to render the user login interface; and

directing the second computing device to render the user login interface, responsive to the identification that the second computing device is in proximity to the third device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the second device to render the user login interface includes directing the second device to emit an alert signal comprising at least one of a sound signal and a light signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the first computing device from the second computing device, a second user login;

generating, by the processor, a second data record associating the second request with the second user login.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second computing device is one of a game console, a smart TV, or a TV set top box.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-specific information includes an identifier of the selected user and one or more identifiers of computing devices available to the selected user for accessing data at remote servers.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more identifiers of computing devices includes one or more of an IP address and a MAC address.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

determining, by the processor, that the second computing device is able to render the user login interface comprising the visual list of possible users for selection; and

directing, by the first computing device responsive to the determination, the second computing device to render the user login interface.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining that the second computing device is able to render the user login interface further comprises:

extracting, by the first computing device, an identifier of the second computing device from the request to access data from the remote server;

identifying, by the first computing device, a computing device record corresponding to the identifier;

identifying, by the first computing device, a device type corresponding to the computing device record; and

determining, by the first computing device based on the device type, that the second computing device is able to render the user login interface.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining, by the first computing device, that the computing device record indicates that the user of the second computing device allows the association of the request with the user-specific information associated with the selected user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computing device, the second computing device, and the third computing device are located within one household such that the first computing device is configured to process requests for data from the second computing device and the third computing device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the third computing device is one of a game console, a smart TV, or a TV set top box and the second computing device is one of a personal computer, a tablet computer, or a smart phone.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computing device is a network router.

13. A system for metering web traffic comprising a first computing device including:

one or more processors;

a memory; and

one or more program modules stored in the memory, the one or more program modules containing instructions to be executed by the one or more processors that cause the one or more processors to;

receive a request from a second computing device to access data from a remote server,

determine that the request includes no user-specific information,

direct, responsive to the determination, the second computing device to render a user login interface comprising a visual list of possible users for selection,

receive, from the second computing device, a user login comprising user-specific information associated with a selected user of the list of possible users,

generate a data record associating the request with the user login,

receive a second request from a third computing device to access data from the remote server,

determine that the second request includes no user-specific information,

determine that the third computing device is unable to render a user login interface,

identify that the second computing device is in proximity to the third device, responsive to the determination that the third computing device is unable to render the user login interface, and

direct the second computing device to render the user login interface, responsive to the identification that the second computing device is in proximity to the third device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the user-specific information includes an identifier of the user and one or more identifiers of computing devices available to the user for accessing data at remote servers.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more identifiers of computing devices includes one or more of an IP address and a MAC address.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the second computing device is one of a game console, a smart TV, or a TV set top box.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein execution of the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

determine that the second computing device is able to render the user login interface comprising the visual list of possible users for selection; and

direct, responsive to the determination, the second computing device is able to render the user login interface.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein execution of the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

extract an identifier of the second computing device from the request;

identify a computing device record corresponding to the identifier;

identify a device type corresponding to the computing device record; and

determine, based on the device type, that the second computing device is able to render the user login interface.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein execution of the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

determine that the computing device record indicates that the user of the second computing device allows the association of the request with the user-specific information associated with the selected user.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a first computing device that includes one or more processors and a memory storing the one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

receiving, at a first computing device, a request from a second computing device to access data from a remote server;

determining, by the first computing device, that the request includes no user-specific information;

directing, by the first computing device responsive to the determination, the second computing device to render a user login interface comprising a visual list of possible users for selection;

receiving, by the first computing device from the second computing device, a user login comprising user-specific information associated with a selected user of the list of possible users;

generating, by the first computing device, a data record associating the request with the user login;

receiving, at the first computing device, a second request from a third computing device to access data from the remote server;

determining, by the first computing device, that the second request includes no user-specific information;

determining, by the first computing device, that the third computing device is unable to render a user login interface;

identifying, by the first computing device, that the second computing device is in proximity to the third device, responsive to the determination that the third computing device is unable to render the user login interface; and

directing the second computing device to render the user login interface, responsive to the identification that the second computing device is in proximity to the third device.