NETWORK DEVICE FOR MONITORING AND MODIFYING NETWORK TRAFFIC BETWEEN AN END USER AND A CONTENT PROVIDER
First Claim
1. A network device for monitoring data traffic between a client device and a server device, the network device comprising:
- an activity monitor to intercept data packets being exchanged between the client device and the server device, the activity monitor configured to cause the data packets to bypass the network device when there is a need;
a dispatcher, coupled to the activity monitor, receiving the data packets and determining whether any of the data packets provide a suitable advertising opportunity, wherein the intercepted data packets are unmodified and delivered to a destination identified therein, if there is no such an opportunity, andan analysis processor receiving the intercepted data packets and modifying the intercepted data packets to include targeted commercial information without altering head portions of the data packets, when the dispatcher identifies that there is an opportunity to include the commercial information in some or all of the intercepted data packets.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network device for monitoring and modifying data traffic between a client device and a server device is disclosed. The network device is configured to provide targeted advertisements to a user based on some or all of the data traffics generated the user. Different from a proxy server, the network device operates transparently from both perspectives of a computer being used by the user and a website being visited by the user. The network device is disposed in line between the computer and the network so that all data traffics are examined. The data packets exchanged between a computer and a website being visited are altered or modified in such a way that the head of the packets remains largely intact while the payloads of the packets are changed to suit the need of delivering transparently the targeted commercial information.
185 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A network device for monitoring data traffic between a client device and a server device, the network device comprising:
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an activity monitor to intercept data packets being exchanged between the client device and the server device, the activity monitor configured to cause the data packets to bypass the network device when there is a need; a dispatcher, coupled to the activity monitor, receiving the data packets and determining whether any of the data packets provide a suitable advertising opportunity, wherein the intercepted data packets are unmodified and delivered to a destination identified therein, if there is no such an opportunity, and an analysis processor receiving the intercepted data packets and modifying the intercepted data packets to include targeted commercial information without altering head portions of the data packets, when the dispatcher identifies that there is an opportunity to include the commercial information in some or all of the intercepted data packets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for monitoring data traffic between a client device and a server device, the method comprising:
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intercepting a flow of data packets, each having a destination address; detecting whether the data packets satisfying predetermined selection criteria; modifying payloads of the data packets to include targeted commercial information; and forwarding the flow of the modified data packets to the destination address. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification