Importance

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Abstract

A system and method for detecting trigger events in datastreams received over a computer communication network is disclosed. The system includes an interceptor for intercepting datastreams from a computer network intended for an application program; a scanner for scanning the intercepted datastream for trigger events, such as cookie data, script commands, and applet programs; and an event response generator for processing detected trigger events. Configuration data is used to identify a response for trigger events such as disabling script commands or programs and deleting or modifying cookie data. The event indicators and an action menu are generated by the event response generator and delivered with the processed datastream to the application program. The application program displays the event indicators so the user is made aware of the trigger events and the action menu allows a user to respond to the detected trigger events. In the preferred implementation, the user may respond by obtaining information about the site which transmitted the datastream having the trigger events and then send e-mail to the administrator of the site. Other actions include modifying the configuration data so subsequent datastreams with the trigger event is passed by the system. Outbound messages from the application program are also intercepted and scanned for trigger events. In the preferred implementation, the configuration data are exchanged between the system and the application program so the user may modify the operation of the system. The configuration data are deleted from the outbound datastream before it is transmitted in the preferred implementation. The system and method of the present invention allow a user to view detected trigger events which otherwise would occur without the user's knowledge and provides the user with sufficient information so the user can make an informed decision as to whether to accept trigger events in a datastream from another site.

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First Claim