Browser Identification via Server-Side Unique Identifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for monitoring users within a communications network, such as cookies and browser fingerprinting, face issues with privacy concerns and lack of uniqueness in identifying individual browsers, especially when multiple users share the same IP address or browser configuration.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a monitoring server that calculates a unique identifier for each browser based on monitoring elements and cache duration values, transmitted without explicitly traveling on the network, using a counter and cache duration values to distinguish between browsers, and employing redirect mechanisms to reduce resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If cookies are used for user identification, then user identification capability is improved, but privacy concerns increase and browsers may block transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the identification capability from traditional cookies and implements it through a different mechanism: the server generates a unique identifier for each browser instance and stores it server-side, eliminating the need for client-side cookie storage while maintaining identification functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the server acts as the sole authority for generating and managing browser identifiers, rather than relying on client-side cookies. The server mediates the identification process by matching browser requests to stored identifiers without requiring persistent client-side storage
2Device complexity
If browser fingerprinting based on IP address and browser type is used, then identification mechanism is simplified, but uniqueness is lost when multiple users share same IP or configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the identification problem into two parts: using simple browser characteristics (IP address, browser type) for initial grouping, then assigning unique identifiers to each browser instance within those groups. This segmentation allows the system to maintain both simplicity and uniqueness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the identification parameters from relying solely on public browser characteristics to including server-generated unique identifiers that are tied to specific browser instances. This parameter change enables differentiation between multiple browsers sharing the same IP and configuration
3Measurement precision
If monitoring elements are transmitted to each browser, then browser identification capability is improved, but network transmission volume and server resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by generating and storing browser identifiers on the server side before any monitoring is needed. When a browser makes a request, the server already has the identifier ready, eliminating the need to transmit monitoring elements with each request
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by storing the browser identifier once on the server and reusing it for all subsequent monitoring operations. Instead of transmitting monitoring elements repeatedly, the system copies the identifier reference across multiple interactions without additional transmission overhead
Data Source
AI summary
A method for monitoring browsers (B) for a communications network (N), wherein a monitoring server contains a set of monitoring elements, and implements: ⋅—a step (E1) of receiving a monitoring element request from a browser (B), ⋅—a step (E2) of determining whether the request is a first request from the browser, ⋅—if so, a step (E3) of calculating an identifier for the browser, then a step (E4) of determining a cache duration value associated with each monitoring element of the set, and a step (E5) of transmitting the set of monitoring elements and associated values to the browser; ⋅—if not, a step (E6) of determining the browser's identifier based on the monitoring elements requested in the request.