First-party cookie setting via domain redirection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Web browsers that block third-party cookies hinder ad systems from setting necessary data, as they require users to directly visit the ad system's domain for cookie setting, limiting ad personalization and targeting capabilities.

Innovation Solution

The method employs redirection to set first-party cookies by sending handler instructions to user devices, which detect link activations and rewrite URLs to redirect users to the ad system's domain, allowing cookie setting transparently to the end user.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If third-party cookies are blocked by the browser, then user privacy and security are improved, but ad systems cannot set necessary tracking data for personalization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecookie setting capabilityVSAvoidthird-party cookie blocking
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a first-party domain as an intermediary between the third-party ad system and the user's browser. The ad system embeds content on the first-party domain, which then sets cookies as a first-party. This intermediary allows cookie setting to succeed while maintaining the ad system's ability to track and personalize ads, effectively bypassing the third-party cookie block without requiring changes to browser security policies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If users must directly visit the ad system's domain for cookie setting, then cookie setting reliability is improved, but user convenience and automation are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecookie setting success rateVSAvoiduser intervention requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by embedding the ad system's content on a first-party domain before the user interacts with it. The cookie setting mechanism is prepared in advance on the first-party domain, so when the user visits the domain (even unintentionally), the cookie is already set as a first-party cookie. This eliminates the need for users to manually visit the ad system's domain, maintaining high reliability while preserving user convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If redirection is used to set first-party cookies, then ad personalization capability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvead personalization capabilityVSAvoidredirection mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the first-party domain serve multiple functions: it acts as a content delivery platform for ad systems, a cookie-setting intermediary, and a redirection hub. By making this domain universal and multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate specialized components, thereby managing complexity while enabling ad personalization through first-party cookie setting and redirection capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2838061B1Setting first-party cookies by redirection
Publication Date: 2024.07.03 CRITEO TECH SAS
  • EP2838061B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2838061B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2838061B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A first request on a second domain associated with the computing device is received, by the computing device, from a user device, in response to the user device processing a webpage associated with a first domain. Handler instructions are sent, by the computing device, to the user device. A second request including a target URL is received, by the computing device, from the user device. Setting instructions to set a first cookie on the second domain associated with the computing device and redirection instructions to redirect the user device to the target URL are sent, by the computing device, to the user device.