Anonymous Query Clustering for User Session Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Internet search engines, such as domain name suggestion tools, struggle to identify unique users and user sessions due to obfuscation techniques, preventing them from providing customized and effective suggestions based on user interactions.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for clustering queries and responses to identify user sessions by processing logged interactions using membership rules and similarity functions, allowing for the grouping of queries and responses into clusters that represent unique user sessions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If obfuscation techniques are used to protect user identity, then user privacy is protected, but the ability to identify user sessions and provide customized suggestions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser privacy protectionVSAvoiduser session identification

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary clustering system that processes anonymous query data without requiring direct user identification. The system uses membership rules and similarity functions as mediators to infer user sessions from patterns in the anonymous data, thereby protecting privacy while still enabling session identification and customized suggestions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the clustering results are used to improve future clustering accuracy. By analyzing patterns in anonymous queries and suggestions over time, the system learns to better identify user sessions and provide customized suggestions without compromising user privacy through direct identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If user identity is obfuscated, then anonymity is maintained, but the quality of customized suggestions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveanonymityVSAvoidsuggestion quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameters used for identification from direct user identifiers to pattern-based features derived from query behavior, timing, and suggestion interactions. By transforming the identification problem into a pattern recognition task, the system maintains anonymity while improving suggestion quality through customized recommendations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of direct user identification with a computational system based on similarity functions and clustering algorithms. This substitution enables the system to infer user sessions from anonymous data patterns, maintaining anonymity while achieving high-quality customized suggestions through computational analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If clustering algorithms are used to identify user sessions, then user session identification improves, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser session identification accuracyVSAvoidcomputational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the clustering process into distinct components: membership rule evaluation, similarity function computation, and cluster formation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and processed in a structured manner, reducing overall computational complexity while maintaining high identification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-computing similarity metrics and establishing membership rules before the actual clustering process. This preliminary preparation reduces the computational burden during real-time operation, enabling accurate user session identification without excessive computational complexity during query processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12536453B1Systems and methods for identifying a user session

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 VERISIGN INC

AI summary

Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media for identifying a user session are provided. The method can include receiving a plurality of queries from a query server; providing, to the query server, a corresponding response to each query of the plurality of queries; grouping a plurality of clusters, wherein each cluster of the plurality of clusters comprises one or more queries of the plurality of queries and the corresponding response to each of the one or more queries of the plurality of queries, wherein each cluster of the plurality of clusters indicates a different user session.