Anonymous Identifier Recognition for Network Traffic Analysis

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in effectively identifying and managing network devices using anonymous identifiers, particularly in detecting malicious activity and providing targeted content without exposing users' personal information.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an anonymous identifier recognition application that monitors network traffic, verifies character strings as anonymous identifiers, and associates them with unique device identifiers, allowing for the determination of user interests and tailored content delivery while maintaining user privacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If device-specific identifiers (serial numbers) are stored in device memory for tracking purposes, then device documentation and tracking capability is improved, but user privacy is compromised as these identifiers can be used for profiling without permission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice tracking capabilityVSAvoiduser privacy violation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system (the server and matching algorithm) that decouples the direct link between device identifiers and user profiles. Anonymous identifiers are used as intermediaries that can be matched to device identifiers through controlled server-side operations, preventing direct access to personal information while enabling tracking functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the identifying information from the device identifier itself by using anonymous identifiers that are stripped of direct personal information. The connection between anonymous identifiers and device identifiers is maintained through server-side storage and matching, removing the harmful direct exposure of personal information while preserving tracking capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If anonymous identifiers are used instead of device-specific identifiers, then user privacy is protected, but the ability to detect malicious activity and provide targeted content is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser privacy protectionVSAvoidmalicious activity detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where anonymous identifiers are monitored and matched against device identifiers through server-side operations. The system receives feedback from network traffic containing anonymous identifiers, matches them to device identifiers, and uses this information to detect malicious activity patterns while maintaining user privacy throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of direct identifier exposure with an information processing system. Instead of directly using device identifiers for tracking and detection, the system uses anonymous identifiers processed through server-side matching algorithms, substituting physical/direct identification with computational indirect identification that preserves privacy while enabling detection capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If device identifiers are provided to marketing companies for advertising purposes, then advertising efficiency is improved, but user consent requirements are violated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadvertising efficiencyVSAvoiduser permission compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses anonymous identifiers as intermediaries between users and marketing companies. These identifiers enable advertising delivery and efficiency while acting as a barrier that prevents direct access to personal device identifiers, thereby maintaining user consent requirements without sacrificing advertising productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs anonymous identifiers that can be changed or reset by users, making them effectively disposable or temporary. This allows marketing companies to use these identifiers for advertising purposes efficiently, while users can discard or change them if they no longer consent to tracking, maintaining compliance with permission requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS11599673B2Ascertaining network devices used with anonymous identifiers

Publication Date: 2023.03.07 T MOBILE US INC

AI summary

Techniques for identifying certain types of network activity are disclosed, including parsing network traffic to automatically recognize anonymous identifiers. Such techniques may be used to identify and eliminate malicious and/or undesirable network traffic, and to identify topics relevant to a user of a particular network device so that communications to such a user are more likely to relate to a topic of interest to the user.