A method and system for tracking hits of a requested network file includes
embedding an instruction within the file that directs the requesting
device to transmit an indicator to a processor for counting subsequent to
the requesting device receiving the requested file. The request for the
network file is made by a requesting device (e.g., client of an end-user)
and may be made over the Internet. The instruction is executed by a Web
browser at the requesting device. The instruction is embedded within the
Internet file, so that if the file is cached by a proxy server, the
instruction is also cached. Thus, the instruction will reach the end-user
regardless of whether the file is downloaded from the proxy server or
from an originating server. When the file reaches the end-user, the
instruction triggers the transmission of the indicator that is send to
the processor for counting.