Hyperlink Manipulation for Anonymous Data Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internet-based information systems fail to provide a user-friendly and efficient method for determining data recipient-specific data records without compromising user anonymity or increasing operational effort for data providers and portal server operators.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a hyperlink detection and manipulation device within the central information server that automatically recognizes and manipulates hyperlinks in data emails, triggering a query routine only after the hyperlink is selected, allowing for the determination of data recipient-specific data records without requiring effort from data providers or portal server operators, and enabling anonymous access for data recipients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If common user registration concepts are implemented to obtain data recipient-specific information, then data provider and portal operator can receive detailed data records, but data recipients must leave their anonymity and operational effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating and inserting tracking hyperlinks into data emails before they are sent to recipients. These hyperlinks are pre-configured to trigger query routines that collect data recipient-specific information without requiring the recipient to knowingly register or provide personal information. The tracking infrastructure is established in advance, enabling seamless information collection while preserving user anonymity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary tracking mechanism that acts as a mediator between data providers and data recipients. Instead of direct interaction requiring user registration, the system uses automated query routines triggered by hyperlink selection as an intermediary process. This intermediary layer collects necessary information automatically in the background, eliminating the need for users to consciously engage in registration processes while still providing data providers with recipient-specific information.
2Loss of information
If mandatory user registration is implemented, then data providers can obtain complete data records, but part of the target audience is deprived of access to offers
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically collecting data recipient-specific information through the query routine triggered when recipients interact with hyperlinks in data emails. The tracking mechanism serves itself by autonomously gathering information without requiring user intervention or registration. This self-service approach ensures that all recipients, regardless of their willingness to register, can access offers while the system simultaneously collects necessary data in the background.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated query routine acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between anonymous recipients and data providers needing information. The intermediary process automatically executes information collection during normal email interaction, ensuring that no recipient is blocked from accessing offers while still capturing data recipient-specific information for providers who need it.
3Loss of information
If data recipients are prompted to enter information, then complete data records can be obtained, but user-friendliness decreases and anonymity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs self-service mechanisms where the automated query routine independently collects data recipient-specific information without requiring users to manually enter data. The tracking hyperlink automatically initiates information gathering processes in the background, eliminating the need for users to fill out forms or provide information consciously. This maintains user-friendliness while still obtaining complete data records.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring tracking hyperlinks that automatically execute query routines upon interaction. Instead of requiring users to enter information when prompted, the system has already prepared the tracking infrastructure that automatically collects information in the background during normal email interaction, preserving both user-friendliness and information completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
An internet-based information system for selectively presenting data e-mails (8) from a multiplicity of data providers (X, Y), said presentation being able to be called up for a multiplicity of data recipients (E), comprises a central information server (1) having an e-mail interface unit (4), a web interface unit (10), a memory device (6), which has at least one supply memory unit (7) for storing data e-mails (8) from the data providers (X, Y), and a selection device (13), a multiplicity of data processing installations (2), which are respectively associated with a provider (X, Y) and which have an e-mail interface (5X, 5Y) which is capable of communicating with at least one provider-specific e-mail address (4X,A, 4X,B, 4Y,B, 4Y,C) for the e-mail interface unit (4) of the central information server (1), and a multiplicity of portal servers (3), which respectively have a web interface (11A, 11B, 11C) and which can be connected to the web interface unit (10) of the central information server (1). In this case, the portal servers (3) have access to specific data e-mails (8X,A, 8X,B, 8Y,B, 8Y,C) which are stored in the supply memory unit (7) and which are automatically ascertained by the selection device (13) on the basis of the identity of the respective portal server (3A, 3B, 3C), and are then able to present these data via a link on a homepage (16A, 16B, 16C), wherein the central information server (1) also has a hyperlink-identification and manipulation device (17) which can be used to automatically identify hyperlinks (18) which are present within the data e-mails (8) and to automatically manipulate said hyperlinks such that selection of a manipulated hyperlink (19) which is present in a data e-mail (8) presented via a portal server (3) first of all triggers an interrogation routine (20) for ascertaining a data-recipient-specific data record (21), the data recipient (E) being forwarded to the URL of the hyperlink (18) originally present in the data e-mail only when the interrogation routine (20) has been successfully terminated.