Mobile Device Identification via Application Feature Similarity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for identifying mobile devices struggle to accurately determine if multiple applications are installed on the same device without violating user privacy, as unique identification codes like IMEI and UDID are increasingly restricted.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that connect an analysis device to mobile devices via a network, using a features database to compare the similarity of information features from different applications to determine if they belong to the same mobile device, allowing for anonymous tracking and identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If unique identification codes (IMEI, UDID) are used to identify mobile devices, then device identification accuracy is improved, but user privacy protection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful unique identification codes (IMEI, UDID) from the identification system, replacing them with non-privacy-intrusive information features such as application lists, device models, and operating system versions. This extraction eliminates the privacy harm while maintaining identification functionality through alternative means.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces information features (application lists, device models, OS versions) as intermediary elements that mediate between the need for device identification and user privacy protection. These intermediaries enable indirect identification without directly exposing sensitive unique identifiers, thus resolving the contradiction between identification accuracy and privacy protection.
2Productivity
If advertising tracking is performed across multiple applications, then advertising effectiveness analysis is improved, but identification accuracy deteriorates due to inability to distinguish same device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the device identification problem into multiple information features (application lists, device models, OS versions) that can be independently collected and compared. By segmenting the identification criteria, the system can accurately distinguish whether multiple applications belong to the same device without relying on single-point unique identifiers, thus maintaining both tracking productivity and identification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the identification parameters from unique identification codes to multiple information features including application lists, device models, and operating system versions. This parameter transformation enables the system to maintain device distinction accuracy while continuing to perform advertising effectiveness analysis across multiple applications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If information features are collected from applications, then device identification capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the information features serve multiple functions: they are used for device identification, device fingerprinting, and advertising tracking. By making these features universal and multi-functional, the system avoids the need for separate mechanisms for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining enhanced identification capability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method and a system for identifying mobile device according to information feature of applications of the mobile device. In an analysis device, obtaining a first information feature related to a first application and a second information feature related to a second application, wherein the first information feature is corresponding to one of the mobile devices, the second information feature is corresponding to one of the mobile devices. The analysis device compares the degree of similarity between the first information feature and the second information feature, and a comparison result determines whether the corresponding mobile device with the first information feature and the corresponding mobile device with the second information feature are the same mobile device. Thus, the method and the system can identify whether or not certain applications are already installed to the same mobile device.