System and method for generating and reporting cookie values at a client node

Abstract

A method and apparatus for tracking and reporting traffic activity on a web site whereby cookie data is compiled at the visitor computer using cookie processing script embedded within the web page downloaded over the Internet and operable on the visitor computer. Data mining code within the downloaded web page is operable on the visitor computer to obtain web browsing data. The cookie processing script operates in consideration of this web browsing data and an old cookie previously stored on the visitor computer and associated with the visited web page to obtain new cookie values. These new cookie values are then stored on the visitor computer and also attached to an image request sent to a data collection server where they are processed and posted for viewing by the web page owner. As cookie processing and writing occurs completely within the visitor computer, cookie-blocking technologies are circumvented.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for tracking and reporting traffic activity on a web site comprising the steps of: 
 storing a web page on a first server coupled to a wide area network, said web page having web page code and data mining code including a cookie processing script;    uploading the web page to a visitor computer responsive to a request over the wide area network from the visitor computer;    operating the data mining code on the visitor computer to obtain web browsing data; and    operating the cookie processing script on the web browsing data to obtain new cookie values; and    storing the new cookie on the visitor computer including the new cookie values.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving the new cookie values at a second server.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further including the steps of: 
 attaching the new cookie values to an image request associated with a designated URL source; and    sending the image request to the URL source.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further including the step of decoding the new cookie values to obtain the web browsing data.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further including the steps of: 
 compiling the web browsing data into a web page traffic report; and    posting the report for viewing over the wide area network.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating a new cookie includes the step of operating the cookie processing script on an old cookie associated with the web page and previously stored on the visitor computer.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further including the step of overwriting the old cookie with the new cookie.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the steps of: 
 detecting that an old cookie exists on the visitor computer associated with the web site;    tracking events on the visitor computer;    processing the old cookie using cookie processing code in view of the tracked events to obtain new cookie values; and    replacing the old cookie values with the new cookie values.    
     
     
         9 . A method for analyzing activity on a web page of a web site comprising the steps of: 
 embedding data mining script within a web page;    embedding cookie processing script within the web page;    sending the web page to a client node;    operating the data mining script on the client node;    operating the cookie processing script on the client node; and    returning data resulting from the operation steps.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of operating the cookie processing script on the client node includes: 
 reading a cookie value from the client node;    tracking events on the client node;    processing cookie value based on the tracked events to obtain a new cookie value; and    writing a new cookie value to the client node.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of returning data includes the steps of: 
 embedding data within an image request associated with a designated URL source; and    sending the image request to the URL source.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further including the steps of: 
 compiling the data into a web page traffic report; and    posting the report for viewing over the wide area network.    
     
     
         13 . An article comprising: 
 a computer—readable modulated carrier signal;    means embedded in the signal for mining data from a client node; and    means embedded in the signal for processing a cookie on the client node.