Apparatus and method for identifying clients accessing network sites

An apparatus for identifying a client accessing a first network site, the client being in communication with the first network site and a control site via a network, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiver for receiving a request from the client to access the first network site;
• means for determining, in response to receipt of the request, if the client includes a first site data block;
• means for controlling the control site to produce a control site data block having control site identification data and a client identifier if it is determined that the client does not include the first site data block;
• means for transmitting the control site data block from the control site to the client;
• means for transmitting the client identifier from the control site to the first network site;
• and
• means for controlling the first network site to transmit the first site data block to the client after receipt of the client identifier by the first network site, the first site data block having both the client identifier and first site identification data.

A computer program product for use on a computer system for identifying a client accessing a first network site, the client being in communication with the first network site and a control site via a network, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code comprising:

• program code for receiving a request from the client to access the first network site;
• program code for determining, in response to receipt of the request, if the client includes a first site data block;
• program code for controlling the control site to produce a control site data block having control site identification data and a client identifier if it is determined that the client does not include the first site data block;
• program code for transmitting the control site data block from the control site to the client;
• program code for transmitting the client identifier from the control site to the first network site;
• and
• program code for controlling the first network site to transmit the first site data block to the client after receipt of the client identifier by the first network site, the first site data block having both the client identifier and first site identification data.

A method of identifying a client accessing a first network site, the client being in communication with the first network site and a control site via a network, the control site receiving a first message from the first network site, the first message indicating that the client does not include a first site data block, the method comprising:

• after receipt of the first message, controlling the control site to produce a control site data block having control site identification data and a client identifier;
• transmitting the control site data block from the control site to the client;
• and
• generating a second message for transmission from the control site to the first network site, the second message having the client identifier and commands for execution by the first to network site, the commands being selected so that after the commands are read by the first network site, the first network site transmits the first site data block to the client, the first site data block having both the client identifier and first site identification data.

An apparatus for identifying a client accessing a first network site, the client being in communication with the first network site and a control site via a network, the control site receiving a first message from the first network site, the first message indicating that the client does not include a first site data block, the apparatus comprising:

• means for controlling the control site to produce a control site data block having control site identification data and a client identifier after receipt of the first message;
• means for transmitting the control site data block from the control site to the client;
• and
• means for generating a second message for transmission from the control site to the first network site, the second message having the client identifier and commands for execution by the first network site, the commands being selected so that after the commands are read by the first network site, the first network site transmits the first site data block to the client, the first site data block having both the client identifier and first site identification data.

A computer program product for use on a computer system for identifying a client accessing a first network site, the client being in communication with the first network site and a control site via a network, the control site receiving a first message from the first network site, the first message indicating that the client does not include a first site data block, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code comprising:

• program code for controlling the control site to produce a control site data block having control site identification data and a client identifier after receipt of the first message;
• program code for transmitting the control site data block from the control site to the client;
• and
• program code for generating a second message for transmission from the control site to the first network site, the second message having the client identifier and commands for execution by the first network site, the commands being selected so that after the commands are read by the first network site, the first network site transmits the first site data block to the client, the first site data block having both the client identifier and first site identification data.

A method of identifying a client accessing a first network site, the client being in communication with the first network site and a control site via a network, the method comprising:

• receiving a request from the client to access the first network site;
• in response to receipt of the request, determining if the client includes a first site data block;
• if it is determined that the client does not include the first site data block, then generating an initial message with control commands for execution by the control site, the control commands being selected so that when executed by the control site, the control site first produces a control site data block having control site identification data and a client identifier, and then transmits the control site data block to the client;
• receiving the client identifier from the control site;
• and
• upon receipt of the client identifier, transmitting the first site data block to the client, the first site data block having both the client identifier and first site identification data.

An apparatus for identifying a client accessing a first network site, the client being in communication with the first network site and a control site via a network, the apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving a request from the client to access the first network site;
• means for determining if the client includes a first site data block in response to receipt of the request;
• means for generating an initial message with control commands for execution by the control site if it is determined that the client does not include the first site data block, the control commands being selected so that when executed by the control site, the control site first produces a control site data block having control site identification data and a client identifier, and then transmits the control site data block to the client;
• means for receiving the client identifier from the control site;
• and
• means for transmitting the first site data block to the client upon receipt of the client identifier, the first site data block having both the client identifier and first site identification data.

A computer program product for use on a computer system for identifying a client accessing a first network site, the client being in communication with the first network site and a control site via a network, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code comprising:

• program code for receiving a request from the client to access the first network site;
• program code for determining if the client includes a first site data block in response to receipt of the request;
• program code for generating an initial message with control commands for execution by the control site if it is determined that the client does not include the first site data block, the control commands being selected so that when executed by the control site, the control site first produces a control site data block having control site identification data and a client identifier, and then transmits the control site data block to the client;
• program code for receiving the client identifier from the control site;
• and
• program code for transmitting the first site data block to the client upon receipt of the client identifier, the first site data block having both the client identifier and first site identification data.

A method of identifying a client accessing a first network site, the client being in communication with the first network site and a control site via a network, the first network site receiving a request to access the first network site and responsively determining that the client does not include a first network site data block, the method comprising:

• A. determining if the client includes a control site data block;
• B. if it is determined that the client does not include the control site data block, then controlling the control site to produce a control site data block having a client identifier, and then transmitting the control site data block from the control site to the client;
• C. if it is determined that the client includes the control site data block, then extracting the client identifier from the control site data block;
• D. transmitting the client identifier from the control site to the first network site;
• and
• E. upon receipt of the client identifier by the first network site, controlling the first network site to transmit the first site data block to the client, the first site data block having the client identifier.

A method of identifying a client accessing a first network site, the client being in communication with the first network site and a control site via a network, the first network site receiving a request to access the first network site and responsively determining that the client does not include a first network site data block, the method comprising:

• A. determining if the client includes a control site data block;
• B. if it is determined that the client does not include the control site data block, then controlling the control site to produce a control site data block having a client identifier, and then transmitting the control site data block from the control site to the client;
• C. if it is determined that the client includes the control site data block, then extracting the client identifier from the control site data block;
• D. transmitting a message from the control site to the first network site, the message including the client identifier and commands that, when executed by the first network site, control the first network site to transmit the first site data block to the client, the first site data block having the client identifier.