Network-Based Content Tracking via Watermark Interception
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In mobile communication networks, advertisers face challenges in tracking user responses to advertising content due to forwarding of advertisements, making it difficult to identify the original recipient and optimize user segmentation, especially in anonymous internet environments.
Innovation Solution
A tracking system that intercepts messages in mobile communication networks, compares content with identifying information stored in a database, and updates user profiles without requiring persistent mappings between recipients and content, allowing for terminal-independent tracking and resistance to malicious use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If persistent mappings between recipients and content are maintained for tracking, then tracking accuracy is improved, but device complexity and storage overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tracking functionality from the terminal device and relocates it to the network side (service provider's network element). The terminal only needs to include a watermark in the forwarded content, while the complex mapping and tracking operations are performed remotely by the network element that intercepts and analyzes forwarded messages, thereby reducing terminal complexity while maintaining tracking accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a watermark as an intermediary element embedded in the content. This watermark serves as a unique identifier that enables tracking without requiring complex persistent mappings between recipients and content. The watermark acts as a mediator that carries tracking information through multiple forwarding operations, simplifying the overall system architecture
2Measurement precision
If terminal-specific functionality is implemented for tracking, then tracking capability is improved, but adaptability to different terminals decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tracking functionality from the terminal device and relocates it to the network side (service provider's network element). The terminal only needs to include a watermark in the forwarded content, while the complex mapping and tracking operations are performed remotely by the network element that intercepts and analyzes forwarded messages, thereby reducing terminal complexity while maintaining tracking accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking system is designed to be universal and applicable to all terminals without requiring terminal-specific implementations. The network-based tracking mechanism works with any terminal that can forward messages, making the system highly adaptable and versatile across different device types and platforms
3Measurement precision
If detailed content mapping is maintained for all recipients, then user segmentation precision is improved, but storage overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses watermarks as lightweight copies or representations of content identifiers. Instead of storing complete content mappings for all recipients, the system uses compact watermark data that can be easily embedded and transmitted. These watermarks serve as sufficient proxies for identifying and tracking content distribution, dramatically reducing storage requirements while maintaining segmentation precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the representation parameter from complete content mappings to compact watermark identifiers. This parameter transformation reduces the amount of data that needs to be stored and processed, while still providing sufficient information for accurate user segmentation and tracking purposes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed is a method and a tracking system for tracking content in a mobile communication network. The method comprises maintaining predefined identifying information pertaining to content to be tracked, the identifying information being independent of user information associated with the content, intercepting a message originated from a user, comparing content of the message with said predefined identifying information, and responsive to obtaining at least partial match in said comparing, concluding that said message comprises content to be tracked.