Network Intermediary for Unobtrusive Traffic Data Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data collection methods for network traffic are limited by the need for code installation on servers or clients, leading to compatibility issues, inability to handle complex interactions, and a lack of context-dependent data, which impairs understanding of website function and user behavior.
Innovation Solution
The DataTrendz system intercepts and processes network requests and responses to capture both structure and function, allowing for context-dependent data collection without client or server-side code, enabling tracking across multiple websites and supporting advanced analytics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If code is installed on the customer's server to collect data, then data collection capability is improved, but software compatibility issues and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network intermediary system that sits between clients and servers to collect data. This intermediary captures network traffic and extracts usage statistics without requiring code installation on either client or server systems, thereby avoiding software compatibility issues while maintaining data collection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the data collection function from the server or client systems and places it in a separate network intermediary. This extraction removes the complexity and compatibility burdens from the original systems while preserving the ability to collect comprehensive data
2Measurement precision
If code is installed on the client's machine to capture interactions, then client interaction tracking is improved, but ease of operation and loss of time increase due to installation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The network intermediary system captures client interactions by monitoring network traffic between clients and servers, eliminating the need to install code on client machines. This approach maintains precise tracking of client interactions while avoiding any impact on client ease of operation or time usage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of installing code on client machines with a network-based interception approach. The intermediary system passively monitors and captures interaction data through network traffic analysis, eliminating the need for client-side installation while maintaining tracking precision
3Device complexity
If server-side caching is used for tracking, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to handle complex client-side interactions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The network intermediary system provides a centralized location for capturing and analyzing complex client-side interactions without requiring complex code on servers or clients. The intermediary can process and adapt to various interaction types while maintaining relative system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic content management in the intermediary system that can adapt to different types of client interactions in real-time. This dynamic approach allows the system to handle complex interactions without requiring pre-programmed rules on servers or clients, balancing simplicity with adaptability
4Adaptability or versatility
If third-party cookies are used for cross-site tracking, then adaptability across websites is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to browser restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The network intermediary system enables cross-site tracking by monitoring network traffic across multiple domains without requiring third-party cookies. The intermediary captures and correlates data from different websites naturally occurring in network traffic, achieving cross-site adaptability without triggering browser restrictions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the cross-site tracking function from the browser environment (where cookies are restricted) and places it in the network intermediary. This allows comprehensive cross-site tracking capability while avoiding browser-imposed limitations on third-party cookies
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates generally to unobtrusive methods and systems for collecting information transmitted over a network utilizing a data collection system residing between an originator system and a responding system. In one embodiment the Originator System can be a web browser and the Responding System can be a web server. In another embodiment the Originator System can be a local computer and the Responding System can be another computer on the network. Both these and other configurations are considered to be within the domain of this invention. The Data Collection System acts in a hybrid peer-to-peer/client-server manner in responding to the Originating System as a Responding System while acting as an Originating System to the Responding System. This configuration enables real-time acquisition and storage of network traffic information in a completely unobtrusive manner without requiring any server- or client-side code.