Method for continous, frame-specific click-stream recording

• US 7,155,506 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2001
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ip Ot Sub Ulc
• Original Assignee: Vignette Corporation (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: McCullough, Sean M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIDDIQI, MOHAMMAD A
• Application Number:
  US09/681,758
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 705/14
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/44 Distributed routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/74 Address processing for routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

A data processing system-implemented method can be used to better track a user'"'"'s movements between network addresses. The method can comprise sending a frame identifier and a requested (current) network address at a first time. The method can also comprise finding a record including the frame identifier that has a prior network address and a time prior to the current time. The method can further comprise generating an entry for a table that includes the frame identifier, the current network address, the prior network address, and time. A server computer or a client computer can generate the entry. Improved accountability and improved user profile accuracy can be obtained with the method. A data processing system readable medium can comprise code that includes instructions for carrying out the method.

Claims

1. A data processing system-implemented method of tracking movement between network addresses comprising:

receiving a first frame identifier and a first network address at a tracking location at a first time, wherein the first frame identifier is associated with a first frame of a view provided by a location distinct from the tracking location and the first frame identifier is assigned in code executable to present the view, wherein the view has been sent to a user before receiving the first frame identifier and the first network address, and the view includes the first frame and a second frame having a second frame identifier;

finding a record including the first frame identifier, a second network address, and a second time, wherein the second time precedes the first time;

generating an entry for a table that includes the first frame identifier, the first network address, the second network address, and a third time; and

generating a statement of activity, wherein the first network address is significantly owned or controlled by a first party, the second network address is significantly owned or controlled by a second party, the first party is not significantly owned or controlled by the second party, the second party is not significantly owned or controlled by the first party and the statement indicates that a user activated the second network address from the first network address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time and the third time are substantially a same time.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a node diagram illustrating a sequence of network addresses that originated from the first frame but not the second frame.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to receiving, sending the view corresponding to the first network address to a computer that requested the first network address.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving further comprises receiving a user identifier; and

the second time is closest in time to the first time for the user identifier and frame identifier.

6. A data processing system-implemented method of tracking movement between network addresses comprising:

displaying a first view provided by a location to a user, wherein the first view includes a first frame having a first frame identifier and a second frame having a second frame identifier, and the first frame identifier is assigned in code executable to present the first view;

receiving a first request for a first network address from the user, wherein the first request is generated by the user activating a first object within the first frame, wherein the first view has been sent to the user before receiving the first frame identifier and the first network address;

sending the first frame identifier and the first network address to a tracking location distinct from the location at a first time;

finding a record including the first frame identifier, a second network address, and a second time, wherein, for the first frame identifier, the second time precedes the first time

generating a first entry for a table that includes the first frame identifier, the first network address, the second network address, and a third time; and

generating a statement of activity, wherein the first network address is significantly owned or controlled by a first party, the second network address is significantly owned or controlled by a second party, the first party is not significantly owned or controlled by the second party, the second party is not significantly owned or controlled by the first party and the statement indicates that a user activated the second network address from the first network address.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first time and the third time are substantially a same time.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying a second view corresponding to the first network address to the user.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the second time is closest in time to the first time for the first frame identifier.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a second request for a third network address from the user, wherein the second request is generated by the user activating a second object within the second frame;

sending the second frame identifier and the third network address at a fourth time;

finding a record having the second frame identifier, a fourth network address, and a fifth time, wherein, for the second frame identifier, the fifth time precedes and is closest in time to the fourth time; and

generating a second entry for the table that includes the second frame identifier, the third network address, the fourth network address, and a sixth time.

11. A data processing system readable medium having code embodied therein, the code including instructions executable by a data processing system, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the data processing system to perform a method of tracking movement between network addresses, the method comprising:

receiving a first frame identifier and a first network address at a tracking location at a first time, wherein the first frame identifier is associated with a first frame of a view provided by a location distinct from the tracking location and the first frame identifier is assigned in code executable to present the view, wherein the view has been sent to a user before receiving the first frame identifier and the first network address, and the view includes the first frame and a second frame having a second frame identifier;

finding a record including the first frame identifier, a second network address, and a second time, wherein the second time precedes the first time

generating an entry for a table that includes the first frame identifier, the first network address, the second network address, and a third time; and

generating a statement of activity, wherein the first network address is significantly owned or controlled by a first party, the second network address is significantly owned or controlled by a second party, the first party is not significantly owned or controlled by the second party, the second party is not significantly owned or controlled by the first party and the statement indicates that a user activated the second network address from the first network address.

12. The data processing system readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first time and the third time are substantially a same time.

13. The data processing system readable medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises generating a node diagram illustrating a sequence of network addresses that originated from the first frame but not the second frame.

14. The data processing system readable medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises, in response to receiving, sending a view corresponding to the first network address to a computer that requested the first network address.

15. The data processing system readable medium of claim 11, wherein:

receiving further comprises receiving a user identifier; and

the second time is closest in time to the first time for the user identifier and frame identifier.

16. A data processing system readable medium having code embodied therein, the code including instructions executable by a data processing system, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the data processing system to perform a method of tracking movement between network addresses, the method comprising:

displaying a first view to a user, wherein the first view includes a first frame having a first frame identifier and a second frame having a second frame identifier, wherein the first frame identifier is associated with a first frame provided by a location distinct from the tracking location and the first frame identifier is assigned in code executable to present the first view;

receiving a first request for a first network address from the user, wherein the first request is generated by the user activating a first object within the first frame wherein the first view has been sent to the user before receiving the first request for the first network address;

sending the first frame identifier and the first network address at a first time;

finding a record including the first frame identifier, a second network address, and a second time, wherein, for the first frame identifier, the second time precedes the first time;

generating a first entry for a table that includes the first frame identifier, the first network address, the second network address, and a third time; and

generating a statement of activity, wherein the first network address is significantly owned or controlled by a first party, the second network address is significantly owned or controlled by a second party, the first party is not significantly owned or controlled by the second party, the second party is not significantly owned or controlled by the first party and the statement indicates that a user activated the second network address from the first network address.

17. The data processing system readable medium of claim 16, wherein the first time and the third time are substantially a same time.

18. The data processing system readable medium of claim 16, further comprising displaying a second view corresponding to the first network address to the user.

19. The data processing system readable medium of claim 16, wherein the second time is closest in time to the first time for the first frame identifier.

20. The data processing system readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a second request for a third network address from the user, wherein the second request is generated by the user activating a second object within the second frame;

sending the second frame identifier and the third network address at a fourth time;

finding a record having the second frame identifier, a fourth network address, and a fifth time, wherein, for the second frame identifier, the fifth time precedes and is closest in time to the fourth time; and

generating a second entry for the table that includes the second frame identifier, the third network address, the fourth network address, and a sixth time.

21. A method of tracking the origin of a request for a network address, comprising:

receiving a first frame identifier and a requested network address at a tracking location at a first time, wherein the first frame identifier is associated with a first frame and the requested network address was requested from the first frame, the first frame was provided by a location distinct from the tracking location and the first frame identifier is assigned in code executable to present a view, wherein the view has been sent to a user before receiving the first frame identifier and the requested network address;

finding a record including the first frame identifier, an originating network address and a second time, wherein the second time precedes the first time and the originating network address is associated with a page containing the first frame;

generating an entry for a table that includes the first frame identifier, the originating network address, the requested network address, and a third time; and

generating a statement of activity, wherein the requested network address is significantly owned or controlled by a first party, the originating network address is significantly owned or controlled by a second party, the first party is not significantly owned or controlled by the second party, the second party is not significantly owned or controlled by the first party and the statement indicates that a user activated the originating network address from the requested network address.

22. A method of tracking the origin of a request for a network address, comprising:

receiving a first frame identifier and a requested network address at a tracking location at a first time, wherein the first frame identifier is associated with a first frame and the requested network address was requested from the first frame, wherein the first frame is associated with a view associated with a location remote from the tracking location and the first frame identifier is assigned in code executable to present the view, wherein the view has been sent to a user before receiving the first frame identifier and the requested network address;

finding a record including the first frame identifier, an originating network address and a second time, wherein the second time precedes the first time and the originating network address is associated with a page containing the first frame;

generating an entry for a table that includes the first frame identifier, the originating network address, the requested network address, and a third time; and

generating a statement of activity, wherein the requested network address is significantly owned or controlled by a first party, the originating network address is significantly owned or controlled by a second party, the first party is not significantly owned or controlled by the second party, the second party is not significantly owned or controlled by the first party and the statement indicates that a user activated the originating network address from the requested network address.

23. A method of tracking network addresses, comprising:

receiving a first frame identifier and a first network address at a tracking location at a first time, wherein the first frame identifier is associated with a first frame of a first view provided from a first location associated with a second network address, the first frame was selected at a second location, the first frame is associated with data at a third location associated with the first network address, and the first location, second location, third location and tracking location all distinct from one another, wherein the first view has been sent to a user before receiving the first frame identifier and the first network address;

finding a record including the first frame identifier, a fourth network address, and a second time, wherein the second time precedes the first time;

generating an entry for a table that includes the first frame identifier, the first network address, the fourth network address, and a third time; and

generating a statement of activity, wherein the first network address is significantly owned or controlled by a first party, the second network address is significantly owned or controlled by a second party, the first party is not significantly owned or controlled by the second party, the second party is not significantly owned or controlled by the first party and the statement indicates that a user activated the second network address from the first network address.