Unobtrusive methods and systems for collecting information transmitted over a network

摘要

The present invention relates generally to unobtrusive methods and systems for collecting information transmitted over a network utilizing a data collection system residing between an originator system and a responding system. In one embodiment the Originator System can be a web browser and the Responding System can be a web server. In another embodiment the Originator System can be a local computer and the Responding System can be another computer on the network. Both these and other configurations are considered to be within the domain of this invention. The Data Collection System acts in a hybrid peer-to-peer/client-server manner in responding to the Originating System as a Responding System while acting as an Originating System to the Responding System. This configuration enables real-time acquisition and storage of network traffic information in a completely unobtrusive manner without requiring any server- or client-side code.