Device Identification via Time-Domain Feature Decay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current device identification algorithms fail to accurately identify user devices with changing attributes, leading to increased misjudgment rates and the creation of multiple IDs for the same device, due to their assumption of consistent attributes and difficulty in determining similarity weights with limited feature information.

Innovation Solution

A method that calculates time-domain feature information, including leap time and stable time, to determine difference values of changed attributes, using a decay function to adjust similarity weights based on these values, thereby precisely identifying whether device records belong to the same device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current device identification algorithms use fixed similarity measurement functions to compare device attributes, then the identification process is simple and fast, but the misjudgment rate increases when device attributes change due to system updates or malicious modifications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice identification accuracyVSAvoidsimilarity weight determination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from fixed similarity measurement functions to dynamic similarity weight determination. The system continuously adjusts similarity weights based on time-domain feature information (leap time and stable time) extracted from device attribute change sequences, allowing the identification algorithm to adapt to attribute changes while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using time-domain feature information derived from observed attribute changes to adjust similarity weights. The system extracts leap time (time between attribute changes) and stable time (time attribute remains unchanged) from device records, then feeds this information back to modify the similarity measurement process, creating a self-adjusting identification system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the system creates a new device ID whenever device attributes change, then the identification process is straightforward, but multiple IDs are generated for the same device increasing the misjudgment rate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice ID assignment simplicityVSAvoiddevice identity recognition precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-extracting time-domain feature information (leap time and stable time) from device attribute change sequences before making identification decisions. This preliminary extraction of temporal patterns allows the system to prepare similarity weight adjustments in advance, enabling more precise device identity recognition without complicating the overall assignment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If the system uses limited device attribute feature information for identification, then the implementation is simpler, but determining accurate similarity weights becomes difficult due to constant attribute changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeature information requirementsVSAvoidsimilarity weight determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the determination of similarity weights from a static process to a dynamic one based on temporal parameters. Instead of relying on fixed weights, the system uses leap time and stable time as changing parameters to calculate difference values, which then determine similarity weights. This allows accurate weight determination even with limited attribute features by leveraging temporal patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3270316B1Method and system for user device identification
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LTD
  • EP3270316B1 patent drawingFigure 1
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  • EP3270316B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application provides a method and a system for identifying a user device. The method comprises acquiring multiple device records ranked in chronological order; calculating time-domain feature information of a changed attribute value in the device records; calculating a difference value between values of an attribute before and after change according to the time-domain feature information of the changed attribute value in the device records; calculating a similarity of the device records according to difference values of all attributes in the device records; and identifying whether the device records belong to an identical device according to the similarity of the device records. As compared with current systems, the identification of a user device is done based on all the attributes of a device in which a similarity of device records is precisely calculated through a similarity weight that is constantly adjusted time sequences, thereby effectively reducing the misjudgment rate.