Beacon Data Visitor Counting with Cookie Persistence Adjustment

The patent segments the visitor counting problem into multiple device categories (personal devices, mobile devices, shared use devices) and applies different measurement methodologies to each segment. This allows the system to handle the diverse challenges of cookie persistence and IP address stability across different device types, thereby improving overall measurement accuracy while maintaining operational simplicity.

The patent changes the measurement parameters based on device type. For personal devices with reliable cookies, it uses cookie-based tracking. For mobile devices with unreliable cookie acceptance, it uses alternative identification methods. For shared use devices, it applies overlap adjustment factors. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by matching the identification method to the device's cookie reliability characteristics.

The patent divides the beacon data collection process into device-type-specific processing streams. Each stream applies appropriate complexity levels: simple counting for personal devices, cookie persistence analysis for mobile devices, and overlap factor calculations for shared use devices. This segmentation maintains overall system manageability while achieving accurate measurements through targeted complexity application.

The patent implements dynamic processing complexity that adapts to the device type being measured. The system automatically adjusts the level of analysis and calculation complexity based on the device category, applying more sophisticated methods only where necessary. This dynamic approach balances measurement precision requirements with operational complexity constraints.