Monitoring of individual internet usage

Claim 1

A method of monitoring web browsing by a user, wherein the user browses by means of a browser application on a client computer, the client computer comprising a display and an input device, the browser application for generating a browser window on the display and for requesting web pages, the browser window including a display pane and an address bar, the display pane comprising a first region of the browser window wherein the browser application causes web pages obtained by the browser application to be displayed, the address bar comprising a second region of the browser window through which the browser application displays resource locator strings corresponding to displayed web pages, the method comprising the steps of: (a) activating a client monitoring application on the client computer; (b) the browser application activating on the client computer; (c) the user using the input device and the browser application to request a first web page desired by the user from a web server; (d) the browser application displaying a first resource locator string corresponding to the first web page in the address bar; (e) the client monitoring application obtaining the first resource locator string from the address bar; and (f) the client monitoring application transmitting monitoring information derived from the first resource locator string to a monitoring server; whereby browsing by the user is monitored without interfering with the user's use of the browser application.

Claim 2

A method of monitoring web browsing by a user, wherein the user browses by means of a browser application on a client computer, the client computer comprising a display and an input device, the browser application for generating a browser window on the display and for requesting web pages, the browser window including a display pane and an address bar, the display pane comprising a first region of the browser window wherein the browser application causes web pages obtained by the browser application to be displayed, the address bar comprising a second region of the browser window through which the browser application displays resource locator strings corresponding to displayed web pages, the method comprising the steps of: (a) activating a client monitoring application on the client computer; (b) the browser application activating on the client computer; (c) the user using the input device and the browser application to request a first web page desired by the user from a web server; (d) the browser application displaying a first resource locator string corresponding to the first web page in the address bar; (e) the client monitoring application obtaining the first resource locator string from the address bar; and (f) the client monitoring application transmitting monitoring information derived from the first resource locator string to a monitoring server; whereby browsing by the user is monitored without interfering with the user's use of the browser application.

Claim 9

A method of monitoring web browsing by a user, wherein the user browses by means of a browser application on a client computer, the client computer comprising a display and an input device, the browser application for generating a browser window on the display, the browser window including a display pane, the browser application further for requesting web pages and displaying web pages in the display pane, wherein the user causes the browser application to request web pages through use of the input device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) activating a client monitoring application on the client computer; (b) the browser application activating on the client computer; (c) the user using the input device to identify to the browser application a desired first web page; (d) the browser application transmitting a first resource locator string corresponding to the desired first web page to a first web server; (e) the client monitoring application obtaining the first resource locator string from the transmission by the browser application of the first resource locator string to the first web server; and (f) the client monitoring application transmitting monitoring information derived from the copied first resource locator string to a monitoring server; whereby browsing by the user is monitored without interfering with the user's use of the browser application.

Claim 10

A method of monitoring web browsing by a user, wherein the user browses by means of a browser application on a client computer, the client computer comprising a display and an input device, the browser application for generating a browser window on the display, the browser window including a display pane, the browser application further for requesting web pages and displaying web pages in the display pane, wherein the user causes the browser application to request web pages through use of the input device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) activating a client monitoring application on the client computer; (b) the browser application activating on the client computer; (c) the user using the input device to identify to the browser application a desired first web page; (d) the browser application transmitting a first resource locator string corresponding to the desired first web page to a first web server; (e) the client monitoring application obtaining the first resource locator string from the transmission by the browser application of the first resource locator string to the first web server; and (f) the client monitoring application transmitting monitoring information derived from the copied first resource locator string to a monitoring server; whereby browsing by the user is monitored without interfering with the user's use of the browser application.

Claim 18

A method of monitoring web browsing by a user, wherein the user browses by means of a browser application on a client computer, the client computer comprising a display and an input device, the browser application for generating a browser window on the display, the browser window including a display pane, the browser application further for requesting web pages and displaying web pages in the display pane, wherein the user causes the browser application to request web pages through use of the input device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) activating a client monitoring application on the client computer; (b) the browser application activating on the client computer; (c) the browser application receiving a first web page from a first web server, the first web page comprising a data entry field; (d) the browser application displaying the first web page in the display pane; (e) the user using the input device to enter a keyword into the data entry field; (f) the client monitoring application obtaining the keyword from the displayed first web page; and (g) the client monitoring application transmitting an identifier of the keyword to a predetermined server; whereby browsing by the user is monitored without interfering with the user's use of the browser application.

Claim 19

A method of monitoring web browsing by a user, wherein the user browses by means of a browser application on a client computer, the client computer comprising a display and an input device, the browser application for generating a browser window on the display, the browser window including a display pane, the browser application further for requesting web pages and displaying web pages in the display pane, wherein the user causes the browser application to request web pages through use of the input device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) activating a client monitoring application on the client computer; (b) the browser application activating on the client computer; (c) the browser application receiving a first web page from a first web server, the first web page comprising a data entry field; (d) the browser application displaying the first web page in the display pane; (e) the user using the input device to enter a keyword into the data entry field; (f) the client monitoring application obtaining the keyword from the displayed first web page; and (g) the client monitoring application transmitting an identifier of the keyword to a predetermined server; whereby browsing by the user is monitored without interfering with the user's use of the browser application.

Claim 24

A method of monitoring a user's usage of the Internet using a client monitoring application on a local device, the local device including an input device and an output device, the local device accessing the Internet and providing interaction with the Internet using a browser application operative on the local device, the browser application for generating a browser window on the output device and for requesting web pages, the browser window including a display pane and an address bar, the display pane comprising a first region of the browser window wherein the browser application causes web pages obtained by the browser application to be displayed, the address bar comprising a second region of the browser window through which the browser application displays resource locator strings corresponding to displayed web pages in the display pane, the method comprising the steps of: (a) the user causing the local device to connect to a web server; (b) the client monitoring application establishing a communication link to a monitoring server; (c) the client monitoring application transmitting identifying information to the monitoring server; (d) the user identifying to the browser application a first web page to be retrieved, wherein a first resource locator string is associated with the first web page; (e) the client monitoring application obtaining the first resource locator string from the address bar; (f) the client monitoring application deriving monitoring information from the copy of the resource locator string; and (g) the client monitoring application transmitting the monitoring information to the monitoring server.

Claim 25

A method of monitoring a user's usage of the Internet using a client monitoring application on a local device, the local device including an input device and an output device, the local device accessing the Internet and providing interaction with the Internet using a browser application operative on the local device, the browser application for generating a browser window on the output device and for requesting web pages, the browser window including a display pane and an address bar, the display pane comprising a first region of the browser window wherein the browser application causes web pages obtained by the browser application to be displayed, the address bar comprising a second region of the browser window through which the browser application displays resource locator strings corresponding to displayed web pages in the display pane, the method comprising the steps of: (a) the user causing the local device to connect to a web server; (b) the client monitoring application establishing a communication link to a monitoring server; (c) the client monitoring application transmitting identifying information to the monitoring server; (d) the user identifying to the browser application a first web page to be retrieved, wherein a first resource locator string is associated with the first web page; (e) the client monitoring application obtaining the first resource locator string from the address bar; (f) the client monitoring application deriving monitoring information from the copy of the resource locator string; and (g) the client monitoring application transmitting the monitoring information to the monitoring server.

Claim 28

A method of monitoring a user's usage of the Internet using a client monitoring application on a local device, the local device including an input device and an output device, the local device accessing the Internet and providing interaction with the Internet using a browser application operative on the local device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) the user causing the local device to connect to a first web server; (b) the client monitoring application establishing a communication link to a monitoring server; (c) the client monitoring application transmitting identifying information to the monitoring server; (d) the user using the input device, the output device and the browser application to interact with the first web server, wherein the browser application transmits resource locator strings to the first web server to request specific data from the first web server; (e) concurrently with the user interacting with the first web server, the client monitoring application monitoring the resource locator strings transmitted to the first web server; (f) the client monitoring application deriving monitoring information from each such resource locator string; and (g) the client monitoring application transmitting the monitoring information to the monitoring server.

Claim 29

A method of monitoring a user's usage of the Internet using a client monitoring application on a local device, the local device including an input device and an output device, the local device accessing the Internet and providing interaction with the Internet using a browser application operative on the local device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) the user causing the local device to connect to a first web server; (b) the client monitoring application establishing a communication link to a monitoring server; (c) the client monitoring application transmitting identifying information to the monitoring server; (d) the user using the input device, the output device and the browser application to interact with the first web server, wherein the browser application transmits resource locator strings to the first web server to request specific data from the first web server; (e) concurrently with the user interacting with the first web server, the client monitoring application monitoring the resource locator strings transmitted to the first web server; (f) the client monitoring application deriving monitoring information from each such resource locator string; and (g) the client monitoring application transmitting the monitoring information to the monitoring server.

Claim 32

A method of monitoring a user's usage of the Internet using a client application on a local device, the local device including an input device and an output device, the local device accessing the Internet and providing interaction with the Internet using a browser application operative on the local device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) the user causing the local device to connect to a first web server; (b) the client monitoring application establishing a communication link to a monitoring server; (c) the client monitoring application transmitting identifying information to the monitoring server; (d) the browser application displaying a first web page in the display pane, the first web page comprising a data entry field; (e) the user using the input device to enter a keyword into the data entry field; (f) the browser application transmitting a first resource locator string to the first web server, wherein the first resource locator string includes the keyword; (g) the client monitoring application obtaining the first resource locator string from the transmission by the browser application of the first resource locator string to the first web server; (h) the client monitoring application testing whether the first resource locator includes a predefined second string; and (i) if the first resource locator string includes the predefined second string, then: (1) the client monitoring application parsing the first resource locator string and deriving the keyword from the first resource locator string; and (2) the client monitoring application transmitting monitoring information to the monitoring server, the monitoring information comprising at least a part of the first resource locator string.

Claim 33

A method of monitoring a user's usage of the Internet using a client application on a local device, the local device including an input device and an output device, the local device accessing the Internet and providing interaction with the Internet using a browser application operative on the local device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) the user causing the local device to connect to a first web server; (b) the client monitoring application establishing a communication link to a monitoring server; (c) the client monitoring application transmitting identifying information to the monitoring server; (d) the browser application displaying a first web page in the display pane, the first web page comprising a data entry field; (e) the user using the input device to enter a keyword into the data entry field; (f) the browser application transmitting a first resource locator string to the first web server, wherein the first resource locator string includes the keyword; (g) the client monitoring application obtaining the first resource locator string from the transmission by the browser application of the first resource locator string to the first web server; (h) the client monitoring application testing whether the first resource locator includes a predefined second string; and (i) if the first resource locator string includes the predefined second string, then: (1) the client monitoring application parsing the first resource locator string and deriving the keyword from the first resource locator string; and (2) the client monitoring application transmitting monitoring information to the monitoring server, the monitoring information comprising at least a part of the first resource locator string.

Claim 38

A method of monitoring web browsing by a user, wherein the user browses by means of a browser application on a client computer, the client computer comprising a display and an input device, the browser application for generating a browser window on the display and for requesting web pages, the browser window including a display pane and an address bar, the display pane comprising a first region of the browser window wherein the browser application causes web pages obtained by the browser application to be displayed, the address bar comprising a data object in which a resource locator string corresponding to a displayed web page is stored, the method comprising the steps of: a client monitoring application activating on the client computer; the browser application activating on the client computer; the user using the input device and the browser application to request a first web page desired by the user from a web server; storing a first resource locator string corresponding to the first web page in the address bar; the client monitoring application obtaining the first resource locator string from the address bar; the client monitoring application transmitting monitoring information derived from the first resource locator string to a monitoring server; whereby browsing by the user is monitored without interfering with the user's use of the browser application.

Claim 39

A method of monitoring web browsing by a user, wherein the user browses by means of a browser application on a client computer, the client computer comprising a display and an input device, the browser application for generating a browser window on the display and for requesting web pages, the browser window including a display pane and an address bar, the display pane comprising a first region of the browser window wherein the browser application causes web pages obtained by the browser application to be displayed, the address bar comprising a data object in which a resource locator string corresponding to a displayed web page is stored, the method comprising the steps of: a client monitoring application activating on the client computer; the browser application activating on the client computer; the user using the input device and the browser application to request a first web page desired by the user from a web server; storing a first resource locator string corresponding to the first web page in the address bar; the client monitoring application obtaining the first resource locator string from the address bar; the client monitoring application transmitting monitoring information derived from the first resource locator string to a monitoring server; whereby browsing by the user is monitored without interfering with the user's use of the browser application.

Claim 46

A method of monitoring a user's usage of the Internet using a client monitoring application on a local device, the local device including an input device and an output device, the local device accessing the Internet and providing interaction with the Internet using a browser application operative on the local device, the browser application for generating a browser window on the output device and for requesting web pages, the browser window including a display pane and an address bar, the display pane comprising a first region of the browser window wherein the browser application causes web pages obtained by the browser application to be displayed, the address bar comprising a data object in which a resource locator string corresponding to a displayed web page is stored, the method comprising the steps of: the local device connecting to a web server; the client monitoring application establishing a communication link to a monitoring server; the client monitoring application transmitting identifying information to the monitoring server; the user identifying to the browser application a first web page to be retrieved, wherein a first resource locator string is associated with the first web page; the client monitoring application obtaining the first resource locator string from the address bar; the client monitoring application deriving monitoring information from the copy of the resource locator string; the client monitoring application transmitting the monitoring information to the monitoring server.

Claim 47

A method of monitoring a user's usage of the Internet using a client monitoring application on a local device, the local device including an input device and an output device, the local device accessing the Internet and providing interaction with the Internet using a browser application operative on the local device, the browser application for generating a browser window on the output device and for requesting web pages, the browser window including a display pane and an address bar, the display pane comprising a first region of the browser window wherein the browser application causes web pages obtained by the browser application to be displayed, the address bar comprising a data object in which a resource locator string corresponding to a displayed web page is stored, the method comprising the steps of: the local device connecting to a web server; the client monitoring application establishing a communication link to a monitoring server; the client monitoring application transmitting identifying information to the monitoring server; the user identifying to the browser application a first web page to be retrieved, wherein a first resource locator string is associated with the first web page; the client monitoring application obtaining the first resource locator string from the address bar; the client monitoring application deriving monitoring information from the copy of the resource locator string; the client monitoring application transmitting the monitoring information to the monitoring server.