System, method and program product for determining if a user has received a redirected web page

Abstract

System, method and program product determine redirection of a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”) sent by a web browser to an application. A first URL is sent to the application, and in response, a first web page is received from the application. A second URL is created by appending one or more characters to the first URL. The second URL is unrecognizable by the application. A request for the second URL is sent to the application, and in response, a second web page is received. The content of the second web page is compared to the content of the first web page. If the content of the second web page matches the content of the first web page, a record is made indicating that the first web page is a redirected web page.

1 . A method for determining redirection of a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”) sent by a web browser to an application, said method comprising the steps of:
 sending a first URL to said application, and in response, receiving a first web page from said application;   creating a second URL by appending one or more characters to said first URL, said second URL being unrecognizable by said application;   sending a request to said application for said second URL, and in response, receiving a second web page;   comparing content of said second web page to content of said first web page; and   responsive to determining that said content of said second web page matches said content of said first web page, making a record indicating that the first web page is a redirected web page.   
   
   
       2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 responsive to determining that said content of said second web page does not match said content of said first web page, making a record indicating that said first web page was not determined to be a redirected web page.   
   
   
       3 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said one or more characters are chosen such that said second URL is not likely to be recognized by said application. 
   
   
       4 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the comparing step comprises comparing text of said second web page to text of said first web page. 
   
   
       5 . The method as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the comparing step further comprises comparing graphics of said second web page to graphics of said first web page. 
   
   
       6 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the comparing step comprises comparing graphics of said second web page to graphics of said first web page. 
   
   
       7 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of scanning content of said first web page for a text phrase indicative of a redirected web page. 
   
   
       8 . The method as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said text phrase indicative of a redirected web page includes at least one of “page not found,” “page does not exist,” “bad request” and “404”. 
   
   
       9 . A system for determining redirection of a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”), said system comprising:
 an application;   a web browser communicatively coupled to the application, the web browser operating to:
 send a first URL to said application, and in response, receive a first web page from said application; and 
 send a request to said application for a second URL, said second URL being unrecognizable by said application, and in response, receive a second web page; and 
   a processor communicatively coupled to the web browser, said processor operating to:
 create said second URL by appending one or more characters to said first URL; 
 compare content of said second web page to content of said first web page; and 
 responsive to determining that said content of said second web page matches said content of said first web page, make a record indicating that the first web page is a redirected web page. 
   
   
   
       10 . The system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein responsive to determining that said content of said second web page not match said content of said first web page, said processor is further operable to make a record indicating that said first web page was not determined to be a redirected web page. 
   
   
       11 . The system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said one or more characters are chosen such that said second URL is not likely to be recognized by said application. 
   
   
       12 . The system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the processor compares text of said second web page to text of said first web page. 
   
   
       13 . The system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the processor further operates to compare graphics of said second web page to graphics of said first web page. 
   
   
       14 . The system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the processor further operates to scan content of said first web page for a text phrase indicative of a redirected web page. 
   
   
       15 . The system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said text phrase indicative of a redirected web page includes at least one of “page not found,” “page does not exist,” “bad request” and “404”. 
   
   
       16 . A computer program product for determining redirection of a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”) sent by a web browser to an application, said computer program product comprising program instructions stored on a computer readable medium, the program instructions comprising:
 first program instructions to send a first URL to said application, and in response, receive a first web page from said application;   second program instructions to create a second URL by appending one or more characters to said first URL, said second URL being unrecognizable by said application;   third program instructions to send a request to said application for said second URL, and in response, receive a second web page;   fourth program instructions to compare content of said second web page to content of said first web page; and   responsive to determining that said content of said second web page matches said content of said first web page, fifth program instructions to make a record indicating that the first web page is a redirected web page.   
   
   
       17 . The computer program product as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said one or more characters are chosen such that said second URL is not likely to be recognized by said application. 
   
   
       18 . The computer program product as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising responsive to said content of said second web page not matching said content of said first web page, sixth program instructions to make a record that said first web page was not determined to be a redirected web page. 
   
   
       19 . The computer program product as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising sixth program instructions to scan content of said first web page for a text phrase indicative of a redirected web page. 
   
   
       20 . The computer program product as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said text phrase indicative of a redirected web page includes at least one of “page not found,” “page does not exist,” “bad request” and “404”.