Geolocation Method Cross-Checking IP and Browser Data

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current geolocation methods for internet users based on IP addresses are imprecise, leading to irrelevant advertisements being displayed to users far from the advertiser's location, and result in empty zones where users are actually present, due to grouped geolocation of IP addresses.

Innovation Solution

A method that cross-checks geolocation data from multiple sources, including IP addresses and other geolocation methods, to assign a precise territory to internet users, ensuring that advertisements are targeted to users closer to their actual location, thereby minimizing the probability of empty zones and avoiding high user density in overlapping territories.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If geolocation is performed using IP address database matching, then geolocation can always be obtained for any Internet user, but the geolocation precision is low and users are located at grouped points that may be far from their actual location

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeolocation availabilityVSAvoidgeolocation precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple geolocation methods (IP address geolocation, browser geolocation, and user-specified geolocation) into a unified system. By merging these different approaches, the system achieves both high availability (through IP address fallback) and high precision (through browser and user inputs), resolving the contradiction between reliable geolocation acquisition and accurate location determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the geolocation parameters based on data quality. When precise geolocation data is available from browsers or users, it uses those precise coordinates. When only IP address data is available, it uses the less precise but still functional IP-based location, thus adapting the precision parameter to match data availability while maintaining system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If Internet users are geolocated by their IP address at a single point, then advertising can be targeted to that point, but zones may appear empty of users even when users are actually present in those zones

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadvertising targeting efficiencyVSAvoiduser distribution accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the user distribution by creating multiple geolocation points within a territory instead of using a single grouped IP address point. This segmentation allows the system to represent the actual distributed nature of users in a zone, preventing empty zones from appearing in advertising campaigns and improving the accuracy of user distribution representation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary layer between IP address grouping and actual user location. By using browser geolocation and user-specified locations as intermediate data sources, the system bridges the gap between the coarse IP address-level geolocation and the fine actual user locations, thereby recovering lost information about user distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Area of stationary object

If multiple territories overlap for Internet users with grouped IP addresses, then more users can be covered, but high density of users concentrates in overlapping regions creating imbalance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoiduser density distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by adjusting the territory characteristics based on local user density conditions. In overlapping regions where user density becomes too high, the system modifies the territory parameters or user assignment to distribute users more evenly, while in non-overlapping regions it maintains full coverage. This local adaptation resolves the contradiction between comprehensive coverage and balanced distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2938045B8Geopositioning method
Publication Date: 2016.09.07 PROXISTORE SA

AI summary

A geolocation method that assigns a user a geolocation (1410, 1420, 1430) within a territory (1110, 1120, 1130) determined based on the geolocation of their IP address. A method for displaying advertisements using geolocation.