System and method for monitoring computer usage

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring computer usage is disclosed. A computer operator specifies discrete moments of a computer's usage at which screen captures are executed and saved to a log. The operator, such as a parent or employer, can later retrieve the screen images to provide a graphical record of the activities, such as that of their child or employees, on that computer. The system and method of the present invention gives full authority of determining what type of computer usage is inappropriate or offensive to the computer operator. Through the use of the present invention, an operator may determine not only whether or not a user's computer activity was inappropriate, but may also simply determine if the computer was operated in any manner. By employing the system and method of the disclosed invention, a record of a user's activity or inactivity is created that, in addition to being highly simple to evaluate, is an irrefutable account of the user's computer usage. Variations of the system and method allow the operator to direct monitoring events toward online or off-line activities.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for monitoring usage activities of a user on a computer system, said method comprising the steps of: 
 intercepting a data transmission within said computer system, said data transmission corresponding to the image being displayed on a display connected to said computer system;    storing, within a memory, said intercepted data transmission; and    viewing said intercepted data transmission on a display device connected to said computer system.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to said step of intercepting, the step of: 
 defining at least one time at which said interception of said data transmission occurs.    
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said step of defining is performed by an operator of said computer system.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein, in said step of defining, a multiplicity of discrete times are defined for intercepting a respective multiplicity of data transmissions, the respective data transmissions corresponding to the respective images being displayed on said display at said discrete times.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said multiplicity of discrete times correspond to discrete positions within a given time interval.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said given time interval is an hour.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein, in said step of defining, said multiplicity of discrete times are randomly defined, said interceptions of the data transmissions over a given time interval being randomly spaced apart.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said interceptions of the data transmissions over a second time interval are also randomly spaced apart.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to said steps of intercepting and storing, the step of: 
 detecting a download data transmission to said computer system, said download data transmission detection triggering said step of intercepting.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said download data transmission is via a modem.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said step of storing further comprises the step of appending time and date information of said intercepted data transmission.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein statistical information on said intercepted data transmission in view during said viewing step.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a multiplicity of data transmissions are intercepted and stored, a plurality of said transmissions being subsequently simultaneously viewed on said display.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein at least two of said data transmissions are viewed on said display.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least two data transmissions correspond to respective images of the usage activities of said user on said computer system on at least two times.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, in said step of viewing, an operator selectively views a multiplicity of intercepted data transmissions stored within said memory.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, in said step of intercepting, said computer system intercepts a data transmission within a remote computer system, said intercepted data transmission being stored within said memory in said computer system.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said computer system is a server.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to said step of intercepting, the step of: 
 selectively activating said monitoring of usage activities, said intercepting and storing steps being deactivated by an operator for a given time interval.    
     
     
         20 . A monitor for monitoring usage activities of a user on a computer system, said monitor comprising: 
 interception means for intercepting a data transmission within said computer system, said data transmission corresponding to the image being displayed on a display connected to said computer system;    storage means, connected to said interception means, for storing said data transmission; and    viewing means, connected to said storage means, for viewing said data transmission.    
     
     
         21 . The monitor according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 time defining means for defining at least one time at which said interception means intercepts said data transmission.    
     
     
         22 . The monitor according to  claim 21 , wherein a multiplicity of discrete times are defined by said time defining means, the respective data transmissions corresponding to the respective images being displayed on said display at said discrete times.  
     
     
         23 . The monitor according to  claim 22 , wherein said multiplicity of discrete times correspond to discrete positions within a given time interval.  
     
     
         24 . The monitor according to  claim 23 , wherein said given time interval is an hour.  
     
     
         25 . The monitor according to  claim 22 , wherein said multiplicity of discrete times are randomly defined, said interceptions by said interception means being randomly spaced apart over a given time interval.  
     
     
         26 . The monitor according to  claim 20 , wherein said interception means intercepts said data transmission after detecting a download data transmission.  
     
     
         27 . The monitor according to  claim 26 , wherein said download data transmission is via a modem.  
     
     
         28 . The monitor according to  claim 20 , wherein said viewing means displays statistical information on said intercepted data transmission.  
     
     
         29 . The monitor according to  claim 28 , wherein said statistical information is selected from the group consisting of download sites, times, dates, file names, file sizes, and applications running at a particular time.  
     
     
         30 . The monitor according to  claim 20 , wherein said interception means intercepts a multiplicity of data transmissions and said storage means stores said multiplicity of data transmission, said viewing means subsequently and simultaneously displaying a plurality of said data transmissions on said display.  
     
     
         31 . The monitor according to  claim 30 , wherein at least two of said data transmissions are viewed on said display.  
     
     
         32 . The monitor according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a remote computer system, connected to said computer system, said interception means intercepting a data transmission within said remote computer system, said intercepted data transmission being stored within said storage means in said computer system.    
     
     
         33 . The monitor according to  claim 32 , wherein said computer system is a server.  
     
     
         34 . The monitor according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 deletion means, within said computer system, for deleting at least one said data transmission stored on said storage means, said deleting means having a multiplicity of informational requests prior to deletion.    
     
     
         35 . A program storage device readable by a machine and encoding a program of instructions for executing the method steps of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         36 . An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied thereon for monitoring usage activities of a user on a computer system, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising: 
 (a) computer readable program code for intercepting a data transmission within said computer system, said data transmission corresponding to the image being displayed on a display connected to said computer system;    (b) computer readable program code for storing, within a memory, said intercepted data transmission; and    (c) computer readable program code for viewing said intercepted data transmission on a display device within said computer system.