Cache Cookies for Privacy-Safe User Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cookies raise privacy concerns as they are stored on users' devices without consent and can be shared between companies, leading to potential loss of customized experiences and security issues when blocked or cleared.
Innovation Solution
Implementing cache cookies stored in the browser's history cache and Temporary Internet Files area, which can be written and read by servers to identify client devices without the need for user consent, providing a privacy-enhanced alternative for user identification and authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cookies are stored in browser storage area, then user identification and authentication are achieved, but privacy concerns arise due to storage without consent and potential sharing between companies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (cache cookie storage in Temporary Internet Files area) that mediates between the need for user identification and privacy concerns. Instead of storing cookies in the traditional browser storage area where they are easily accessible and shareable, the invention uses the Temporary Internet Files area as an intermediary storage location that is less susceptible to unauthorized access and sharing, thus maintaining identification reliability while reducing privacy risks
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the cookie storage function from the traditional browser storage area and relocates it to the Temporary Internet Files area. This separation removes the harmful aspect (easy access and sharing) while preserving the useful function (user identification), effectively taking out the problematic storage mechanism and replacing it with a more secure alternative
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cookies are blocked or cleared by users, then privacy is protected, but customized web experiences and authentication are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a cushioning mechanism by storing multiple cache cookies in the Temporary Internet Files area that can serve as backups. If one cookie is blocked or cleared, other cached versions remain available to maintain authentication functionality. This beforehand cushioning ensures that privacy protection actions by users do not completely eliminate authentication capabilities, as alternative cookie instances are already in place
3Adaptability or versatility
If cookies are shared between companies, then business interests are served, but user data security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating different storage characteristics for different types of data. Cache cookies stored in the Temporary Internet Files area have restricted accessibility compared to traditional browser storage, making them suitable for security-sensitive information. This localized storage quality enhancement protects user data security while still allowing controlled sharing when necessary, as the storage location itself enforces access limitations
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for performing steps to cause encoded information to be stored at a client device during a first network session between a server and the client device. To cause encoded information to be stored at a client device, the server first determines a set of network resource requests that encode the information. These network resource requests may include requests for one or more specific URLs and/or requests for one or more files. The server then causes the client device to initiate the network resource requests. The server may cause this initiation by, for example, redirecting the client device to the network resources. The client device initiating the network resource requests causes data representative of the network resource requests to be stored at the client device.