ISP Intermediary for Offline Data Targeting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for targeting online advertising are limited to using only online activity data, failing to incorporate offline activities and characteristics, and require opt-in for personally identifiable information, which restricts the scale and effectiveness of data utilization.

Innovation Solution

A method involving an ISP that receives an IP address and time/date, determines the allocated subscriber, and automatically transmits offline data from an offline data provider to a requesting server, without sharing personally identifiable information, enabling targeted online advertising in an opt-out arrangement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If offline data is used for targeting online advertising, then advertising effectiveness is improved, but user privacy protection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadvertising effectivenessVSAvoiduser privacy exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system that receives offline data from offline data providers, processes it by removing personally identifiable information, and delivers only anonymized data to online advertisers. This intermediary structure enables the use of offline data for advertising while protecting user privacy through automated de-identification and controlled data delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If personally identifiable information is collected for advertising, then targeting precision is improved, but data utilization scale deteriorates due to opt-in requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadvertising targeting precisionVSAvoiddata utilization scale
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional opt-in model by implementing an opt-out approach. Instead of requiring users to explicitly consent to data collection, the system automatically collects and processes offline data while providing users with the option to opt out. This inversion dramatically increases the scale of available data while still respecting user privacy choices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts personally identifiable information from offline data before delivering it to advertisers. By removing PII and retaining only anonymized characteristics, the system maintains advertising precision through demographic and behavioral data while eliminating privacy concerns associated with identifiable information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If offline data is integrated with online advertising systems, then commercial viability is improved, but system complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommercial viabilityVSAvoiddata integration system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automated processes for data collection, processing, and delivery. The system automatically receives offline data from providers, performs de-identification using predefined rules and algorithms, matches anonymized data with online advertising campaigns, and delivers relevant data sets. This self-service automation reduces manual intervention and manages system complexity through standardized workflows.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8204965B2Requesting offline profile data for online use in a privacy-sensitive manner
Publication Date: 2012.06.19 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

A method, performed using one or more servers under the control of an ISP, comprises: (a) receiving an electronic transmission from a requesting server of an IP address and a time and date; (b) automatically determining to which subscriber of the ISP the received IP address was allocated at the received time and date; and (c) automatically transmitting an electronic communication that causes delivery to the requesting server of offline data originating from an offline data provider. The delivered offline data concern the subscriber determined to have been allocated the received IP address at the received time and date. The communication does not convey to the offline data provider the subscriber's history of online activity, and the delivery does not convey to the requesting server a personal identity of the subscriber.