Online Activity Monitoring via Beacon-Based Cookie Mapping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for tracking Internet usage by media measurement entities are limited in monitoring online activities on non-metered secondary devices, such as work computers and mobile devices, where installing meters is prohibited or not feasible due to IT policies and software restrictions.
Innovation Solution
The use of media tagging techniques and comparative URL analyses to identify and map secondary device cookie IDs to panelists, allowing for the collection of online activity data through beacon requests and IP address registration processes, even without installed meters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If meters are installed on panelist computers to track Internet usage, then online activity data can be collected, but the method cannot be applied to non-metered secondary devices where installing meters is prohibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses beacon requests as an intermediary mechanism to bridge the gap between non-metered secondary devices and the media measurement entity. Instead of installing meters directly on these devices, beacons embedded in web content act as intermediaries that automatically send activity data to the measurement entity, enabling tracking without direct meter installation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual representation of metered device functionality through beacon-based tracking on non-metered devices. By copying the essential tracking capability through beacons that mimic meter behavior, the system extends monitoring to devices where actual meters cannot be installed
2Adaptability or versatility
If media tagging techniques are used to track online activity on non-metered devices, then tracking capability is extended to these devices, but complexity in identifying and mapping device cookies to panelists increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by establishing cookie mapping relationships before full tracking begins. By pre-associating device cookies with panelist identifiers through initial beacon interactions, the system simplifies subsequent tracking operations and reduces the complexity of real-time identification
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where beacon requests provide continuous information about device-cookie relationships. This feedback loop allows the media measurement entity to refine and update cookie-to-panelist mappings dynamically, reducing identification complexity over time through learned patterns
3Adaptability or versatility
If beacon requests are used to collect online activity data without installed meters, then non-metered devices can be monitored, but the precision and accuracy of user identification may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple identification signals from beacon requests, including device cookies, IP addresses, and browsing behavior patterns, to create a composite user identification system. By combining these multiple data sources, the system compensates for the lack of direct meter-based identification and maintains acceptable precision through multi-factor verification
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to monitory online activity. An example apparatus includes at least one memory, instructions, and processor circuitry to execute the instructions to generate a first database to store first uniform resource locators collected from first client devices, the first client devices associated with panelists, generate a second database to store second uniform resource locators collected from second client devices, one or more of the second client devices associated with one or more unidentified users, associate at least one of the second uniform resource locators as online activity of a first panelist of the panelists based on at least a portion of one of the first uniform resource locators matching at least a portion of the one of the second uniform resource locators, and store an association of the online activity and an identifier, the identifier to identify the first panelist.