Importance

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Abstract

A system and method for the monitoring and collection of all inbound/outbound information activity and communications activity at a particular user location, for example, a household equipped with a variety of devices having communication capabilities. The real-time interaction between a user and an external information service is monitored and specific data are collected regarding that real-time interaction. Connectivity data (e.g., date/time of interactive session, number of packets sent/received, application file name) are collected. In addition, other substantive data (e.g., type of service, type and number of inquiries made) regarding the real-time interaction are collected. A connectivity and desktop activity monitor comprises a set of client software modules, including executable files and virtual device drivers that capture and log targeted operating system modem connectivity and desktop activity data. The connectivity monitor includes a connectivity infiltration module (CIM) and a connectivity monitor interface program. The CIM functions as a stub module that monitors the bi-directional data stream at the virtual device driver level between software modules of the operating system. It utilizes the hooking functions provided by the operating system to set hooks for selected function calls from the application to the communications drivers. The desktop activity monitor includes a desktop infiltration module and a desktop monitor interface program which monitor activity from the keyboard and pointing devices used to interface with the client computer. The invention provides the capability to monitor a number of attributes at the data stream level in a bi-directional, real-time fashion. With regard to the connectivity data monitor, such attributes include the phone number dialed, data packets sent, bytes sent, data packets received, bytes received, the URL visited and the recognition of an outgoing fax call. With regard to the desktop activity monitor, such attributes include the length of time an application is active, resident in memory, inactive or suspended.

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First Claim