Intermediary Server HTTP Traffic Interception for User Preference Persistence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods fail to persistently store and apply user preferences for anonymous users on mobile devices, as IP addresses change frequently, leading to confusion and incorrect preference application.
Innovation Solution
An intermediate network device intercepts HTTP traffic to store and apply user preference information, using a session cache to manage user settings and generate new cookies, allowing preferences to be applied across multiple domains and sessions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user preferences are stored using IP address for anonymous users, then preferences can be stored and retrieved, but the IP address changes over time causing preferences to be applied to wrong users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a domain-specific cookie as an intermediary identifier between the user agent and the intermediate network device. Instead of directly using the changing IP address to identify users, the system uses cookies that remain constant for each domain, thereby mediating the identification process and ensuring reliable preference persistence without losing user identification accuracy.
2Reliability
If domain-specific cookies are used to identify users, then preferences can be persisted across sessions, but the solution becomes complex to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The user agent automatically manages domain-specific cookies through standard HTTP protocols without requiring complex manual configuration or intervention. The cookie is set by the intermediate network device and automatically sent with subsequent requests to the same domain, allowing the system to self-manage user identification and preference persistence through existing web infrastructure.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional database methods are used for anonymous users, then storage is simple, but preferences cannot be applied across different sessions due to IP address changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the identification parameter from IP address (which changes over time) to domain-specific cookie (which remains constant). This parameter change allows the system to maintain simple storage mechanisms while extending the duration of preference applicability across multiple sessions and visits, as the cookie persists on the user agent rather than relying on the transient IP address.
Data Source
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AI summary
A network device transparently intercepts HTTP transmissions between a user device and a web server. The network device stores user preference information, which allows the intermediate network device to apply the user preference information to retrieved content that is directed to the user's mobile device.