US6643696B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for tracking client interaction with a network resource and creating client profiles and resource database
Assignee: Nielsen Co US LLC
•
Filing: 1998-12-11
•
Granted: 2003-11-04
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Expires: 2018-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A method for monitoring client interaction with a resource downloaded from a server in a computer network includes the steps of using a client to specify an address of a resource located on a first server, downloading a file corresponding to the resource from the first server in response to specification of the address, using the client to specify an address of a first executable program located on a second server, the address of the first executable program being embedded in the file downloaded from the first server, the first executable program including a software timer for monitoring the amount of time the client spends interacting with and displaying the file downloaded from the first server, downloading the first executable program from the second server to run on the client so as to determine the amount of time the client interacts with the file downloaded from the first server, using a server to acquire client identifying indicia from the client, and uploading the amount of time determined by the first executable program to a third server.
Inventors
- 👤 Owen Davis
- 👤 Vidyut Jain
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/30; G06F11/34; G06F11/3466; G06F11/3495; G06F11/3438; H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/30; H04L61/35; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/02; H04L67/2866; H04L67/30; H04L67/306; H04L67/34; H04L67/50; H04L67/535; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; G06F11/3409; G06F11/3419; G06F2201/00; G06F2201/86; G06F2201/875; H04L67/10; H04L67/1001; H04L67/10015; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 65
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
In a network having one or more servers connectable to one or more clients, a method of monitoring interaction through a first client of the one or more clients with a first resource, the first resource comprising a plurality of components and having a resource identifier associated therewith, the method comprising: downloading to the first client a first component of the first resource from a first server; executing on the first client an executable program to download one or more second components of the first resource; monitoring interaction through the first client with the first component of the first resource and with the one or more second components of the first resource; generating resource use data; and transmitting from the first client to a second server information comprising resource use data and the resource identifier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
In a network having one or more servers connectable to one or more clients, a method of monitoring interaction through a first client of the one or more clients with a first resource, the first resource comprising a plurality of components and having a resource identifier associated therewith, the method comprising: downloading to the first client a first component of the first resource from a first server; executing on the first client an executable program to download one or more second components of the first resource; monitoring interaction through the first client with the first component of the first resource and with the one or more second components of the first resource; generating resource use data; and transmitting from the first client to a second server information comprising resource use data and the resource identifier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring is performed by one or more executable elements of the one or more second components.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more executable elements transfer resource use data to the executable program upon use of the one or more second components.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more executable elements store resource use data upon use of the one or more second components and transfer the stored resource use data to the executable program upon receipt of a request from the executable program.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 2 , comprising the executable program transferring the resource identifier to the one or more executable elements, and wherein the step of transmitting the resource use data and resource identifier is performed by the one or more executable elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the resource use data comprises data generated in response to predetermined interactions with the first component of the first resource and predetermined interactions with the one or more second components of the first resource.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the predetermined interactions with the first component comprise interactions with the first component other than interactions with the first component used by the first component or the one or more second components.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the predetermined interactions with the one or more second components comprise interactions with the one or more second components other than interactions with the one or more second components used by the first component or by the one or more second components.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of transmitting the resource use data and resource identifier is performed by the executable program.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the monitoring is performed by one or more executable elements of the one or more second resources, and comprising the one or more executable elements transferring the resource use data to the executable program.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the resource use data comprises data other than data used by the first component.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the resource use data comprises data other than data used by the second or more components.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the resource use data comprises data other then data used by the first resource.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first program is downloaded from the first server.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first program is downloaded to the first client as part of the first component of the first resource.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first component of the first resource comprises the first program.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , comprising downloading the executable program from a third server.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , comprising downloading the executable program from the second server.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the executable program is a part of the first component of the first resource.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the executable program is implemented in the Java programming language.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more second components are implemented in the Java programming language.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the resource use data comprises data representative of a duration of time for which the first resource was used by the first client.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the resource use data comprises data representative of a duration of time for which the first component, or a part or parts thereof, was used by the first client.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the resource use data comprises data representative of a duration of time for which the one or more second components, or a part or parts thereof, were used by the first client.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the resource use data comprises data indicative of whether the first user used the resource.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the network comprises a computer network.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the network comprises a communications network.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
240 words
In a computer network comprising one or more servers and one or more clients, a method of monitoring interaction through a first client of the one or more clients with a first resource or at least one component thereof obtained by the first client from at least one first server of the one or more servers, the method comprising: downloading the first resource in a series of one or more components from the at least one first server to the first client; downloading a tracking program from a server of the one or more servers to the first client, wherein the downloading of the first resource or at least one of the components thereof causes the downloading of the tracking program; executing the tracking program on the client computer to monitor interaction through the client computer with at least one of the first resource, at least one of the components thereof, and one or more second resources, the one or more second resources having been obtained by the first client from at least one server of the one or more servers as a result of interaction through the first client with at least one of the first resource, at least one of the components thereof, and a second resource of the one or more second resources; storing resource use data associated with the monitored interaction; and communicating the resource use data to a server of the one or more servers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
240 words
In a computer network comprising one or more servers and one or more clients, a method of monitoring interaction through a first client of the one or more clients with a first resource or at least one component thereof obtained by the first client from at least one first server of the one or more servers, the method comprising: downloading the first resource in a series of one or more components from the at least one first server to the first client; downloading a tracking program from a server of the one or more servers to the first client, wherein the downloading of the first resource or at least one of the components thereof causes the downloading of the tracking program; executing the tracking program on the client computer to monitor interaction through the client computer with at least one of the first resource, at least one of the components thereof, and one or more second resources, the one or more second resources having been obtained by the first client from at least one server of the one or more servers as a result of interaction through the first client with at least one of the first resource, at least one of the components thereof, and a second resource of the one or more second resources; storing resource use data associated with the monitored interaction; and communicating the resource use data to a server of the one or more servers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein downloading the first resource comprises downloading a Web page.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein the tracking program is embedded in the Web page.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 28 , comprising storing the resource use data in a server of the one or more servers.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 31 , comprising storing the resource use data in a database.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein monitoring user interaction comprises monitoring input device events.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the input device events comprise at least one of keyboard events and mouse events.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 28 , comprising downloading the first resource as a result of a request initiated by input from a user of the first client.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 28 , comprising downloading the tracking program from a second server of the one or more servers.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 28 , comprising monitoring details of choices made by a user of the first client using an input device of the first client, the choices being associated with at least one of the first resource, at least one of the one or more components thereof, and the one or more second resources.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 28 , comprising storing the resource us data in the client computer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 28 , comprising communicating the resource use data from the first client to a server of the one or more servers.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a network having one or more servers connectable to one or more clients, a method of monitoring interaction through a client of the one or more clients with a first resource which is stored on a first server and which may be stored in a cache, the method comprising: downloading from one or more source servers one or more files containing embedded references to the first resource and a second resource; the client requesting or using the first resource one or more times from the first server or from the cache; downloading the second resource from a second server to the client, the first server and second server comprising two servers and the second resource not being part of the first resource; and using the second resource to monitor interaction through the client with the first resource.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a network having one or more servers connectable to one or more clients, a method of monitoring interaction through a client of the one or more clients with a first resource which is stored on a first server and which may be stored in a cache, the method comprising: downloading from one or more source servers one or more files containing embedded references to the first resource and a second resource; the client requesting or using the first resource one or more times from the first server or from the cache; downloading the second resource from a second server to the client, the first server and second server comprising two servers and the second resource not being part of the first resource; and using the second resource to monitor interaction through the client with the first resource.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the second resource is an applet.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 41 , wherein the applet is implemented in the Java programming language.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the step of requesting or using one or more files comprises requesting from one or more source servers a plurality of files each containing embedded references to the first resource and a second resource.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein the step of the client requesting or using the first resource comprises the client retrieving the first resource from cache for one or more files following a first file in the plurality of files.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein the step of requesting a plurality of files comprises requesting the files from a plurality of source servers.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the step of requested the second resource comprises requesting the second resource each time the one or more files is requested.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 46 , wherein the step of using the second resource to monitor the number of times the first resource is requested or used comprises monitoring at the second server the number of times the second resource is requested to thereby monitor the number of times a file containing an embedded reference to the first resource is requested or used.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the second resource is an executable program, comprising using the second resource to monitor a number of times the first resource is requested or used, wherein using the second resource comprises executing the second resource on the client to monitor each time the first resource is retrieved from the first server or from the cache.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the network comprises a computer network.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the network comprises a communications network.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a network having one or more servers connectable to one or more clients, a method of monitoring interaction through a first client of the one or more clients with a first resource by a user, the first resource comprising a plurality of components and having a resource identifier associated therewith, the method comprising: downloading to the first client a first component of the first resource from a first server; executing on the first client an executable program to download one or more second components of the first resource; monitoring interaction through the first client with the first component of the first resource and interaction through the first client with the one or more second components of the first resource; generating resource use data; and transmitting from the first client to a second server information comprising resource use data and the resource identifier.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a network having one or more servers connectable to one or more clients, a method of monitoring interaction through a first client of the one or more clients with a first resource by a user, the first resource comprising a plurality of components and having a resource identifier associated therewith, the method comprising: downloading to the first client a first component of the first resource from a first server; executing on the first client an executable program to download one or more second components of the first resource; monitoring interaction through the first client with the first component of the first resource and interaction through the first client with the one or more second components of the first resource; generating resource use data; and transmitting from the first client to a second server information comprising resource use data and the resource identifier.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 51 wherein the resource use data comprises data representative of a plurality of preferences of the user.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 51 wherein the resource use data comprises data representative of a plurality of interests of the user.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 51 wherein the resource use data comprises data which does not affect the user's contemporaneous experience of the resource.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 51 wherein the step of generating resource use data does not require the active participation of a user.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 51 wherein the step of generating resource use data comprises the automatic determination of a user's preferences.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a network having one or more servers connectable to one or more clients, a method of monitoring interaction through a first client of the one or more clients with a first resource comprising a plurality of components, the first resource having a resource identifier associated therewith, the method comprising: downloading to the first client a first component of the first resource from a first server; monitoring interaction through the first client with the first component of the first resource to generate resource use data; and transmitting from the first client to a second server the resource use data and the resource identifier.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a network having one or more servers connectable to one or more clients, a method of monitoring interaction through a first client of the one or more clients with a first resource comprising a plurality of components, the first resource having a resource identifier associated therewith, the method comprising: downloading to the first client a first component of the first resource from a first server; monitoring interaction through the first client with the first component of the first resource to generate resource use data; and transmitting from the first client to a second server the resource use data and the resource identifier.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 57 , comprising downloading the executable program from a third server.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a network having one or more servers connectable to one or more clients, a method of monitoring interaction through a first client of the one or more clients with a first resource comprising a plurality of components, the first resource having a resource identifier associated therewith, the method comprising: downloading to the first client a first component of the first resource from a first server; executing on the first client an executable program to download one or more second components of the first resource; monitoring interaction through the first client with the first component of the first resource to generate resource use data; monitoring interaction through the first client with the one or more second components to generate resource use data; executing on the first client one or more of the second components to download one or more third components of a second resource; monitoring interaction through the first client with the one or more third components to generate resource use data; and transmitting from the first client to a second server the resource use data and the resource identifier.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a network having one or more servers connectable to one or more clients, a method of monitoring interaction through a first client of the one or more clients with a first resource comprising a plurality of components, the first resource having a resource identifier associated therewith, the method comprising: downloading to the first client a first component of the first resource from a first server; executing on the first client an executable program to download one or more second components of the first resource; monitoring interaction through the first client with the first component of the first resource to generate resource use data; monitoring interaction through the first client with the one or more second components to generate resource use data; executing on the first client one or more of the second components to download one or more third components of a second resource; monitoring interaction through the first client with the one or more third components to generate resource use data; and transmitting from the first client to a second server the resource use data and the resource identifier.
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