Browser Identifier for Accurate User Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing online systems face challenges in accurately tracking user interactions due to the need for frequent login credentials and inaccuracies in user identity determination using client-side cookies, especially when multiple users share devices or browsers.

Innovation Solution

An online system generates a browser identifier that is stored on client devices, allowing for accurate user identification even across shared browsers or multiple browser usage, by using a user identity matching module that associates browser identifiers with user identifiers based on historical interactions and additional parameters like location and IP addresses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If users are required to log in and provide credentials for every interaction, then user identity identification accuracy is improved, but user experience deteriorates and interaction frequency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser identity identification accuracyVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a browser identifier as an intermediary mechanism to bridge user identity and browser usage. Instead of requiring direct credential entry, the system uses the browser identifier (stored in local storage) as a mediator to associate users with their browsers, enabling automatic identification without repeated login requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically generating and storing browser identifiers in the user's local storage. The browser itself serves the dual purpose of both providing content and identifying the user, eliminating the need for manual credential entry while maintaining identification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If cookies are used to store user information on client devices, then ease of operation is improved by eliminating login requirements, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inaccurate user identity determination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoiduser identity determination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by storing the browser identifier specifically in the browser's local storage rather than using general cookies. This localized storage mechanism ensures that the identifier is available to the browser for identification purposes while maintaining security and accuracy, addressing the limitations of conventional cookie-based approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the same browser is shared by multiple users, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates because the system cannot distinguish between different users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoiduser identity distinction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces dynamic user identification by associating browser identifiers with user identities through temporal and contextual data. The user identity matching module dynamically determines which user is currently using the browser based on login history, time stamps, and usage patterns, enabling accurate user distinction even when the same browser is shared.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If browser identifiers are made accessible to all web pages, then ease of operation is improved, but security and data protection deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of browser identifierVSAvoidsecurity and data protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by restricting browser identifier access to specific contexts. The identifier is stored in the browser's local storage and is only accessible to the browser itself and the user identity matching module, rather than being universally accessible to all web pages. This localized access control maintains security while enabling the identification function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10097654B2Identifying users of client devices for tracking user interactions with content distributed by content provider systems

Publication Date: 2018.10.09 META PLATFORMS INC

AI summary

An online system tracks identities of users that interact with the online system. The online system sends a browser identifier for storing on a client device that interacts with the online system. The browser identifier uniquely identifies a browser of the client device used for interacting with the online system. A content provider system receives the browser identifier from the client device and uses the browser identifier for logging user actions associated with content provided by the content provider system. The content provider system sends user action logs to the online system and the online system determines users that used the client device at a timestamp associated with the user action log. The online system provides the user identifiers to the content provider system. The content provider system uses the user identifiers to generate reports.