Anonymous User Tracking via Behavioral Profile IDs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing targeted advertising methods rely on unique user identifiers, which can lead to user behavior being linked to identifying information, causing user resistance and making it difficult for advertisers to utilize targeted advertising effectively.
Innovation Solution
A software facility that tracks user actions using behavioral profile IDs, which do not uniquely identify individual users, allowing for anonymous user behavior tracking and targeted advertising without linking to specific user identities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If unique user identifiers are used to track user behavior for targeted advertising, then advertising effectiveness is improved, but user privacy is compromised and user resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third-party service provider that acts as an intermediary between the publisher and the user. This intermediary collects behavioral information and provides it to advertisers without revealing the user's identity. The service provider uses anonymous identifiers and aggregated data to enable targeted advertising while maintaining user privacy, thus resolving the contradiction between advertising effectiveness and privacy protection.
2Measurement precision
If unique user identifiers are stored and transmitted, then user behavior tracking precision is improved, but device complexity and data security requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using unique user identifiers that directly trace back to individuals, the patent creates copies of user behavior patterns using aggregated anonymized data. The system tracks and stores behavioral information in an anonymized form, creating a profile that represents user behavior without containing personally identifiable information. This approach maintains tracking precision while reducing the complexity and security risks associated with managing unique identifiers.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer memory attached to a user computer system that is used by a user is described. The memory contains an advertising characterization data structure that can be used to select advertising for the user. The data structure contains a identifier passed to the user computer system by a remote computer system. The identifier is mapped by a dictionary that is resident on the remote computer system to a set of actions performed by the user.