Network Edge Ad Relay System Bypassing Source-Based Blockers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current targeted advertising is often clumsy and unwelcome due to reliance on large amounts of user data and tracking cookies, leading to ineffective ad targeting and user opt-outs, while ad blockers can easily identify and block ads based on source indicia, limiting the reach of advertising content.
Innovation Solution
A system intercepts and modifies digital advertising content at the network edge, allowing access service operators to change the source indicia and technical properties of ads, enabling targeted and personalized advertising that can bypass ad blockers and virus scanning, ensuring relevant content reaches users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If targeted advertising relies on large amounts of user data and tracking cookies, then advertising targeting accuracy is improved, but user privacy concerns increase and users opt out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (ad server or network element) that sits between advertisers and end users. This intermediary collects and processes advertising content and user matching information without requiring direct access to user devices or personal data storage, thereby achieving targeted advertising while reducing privacy intrusion at the user endpoint
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the targeting mechanism from the user device dimension (where cookies and tracking data are stored) to the network dimension (where ad servers and network elements operate). By moving the data collection and processing to the network infrastructure, the system achieves targeting accuracy without burdening user devices with extensive tracking code
2Ease of operation
If ad blockers identify and block ads based on source indicia, then user control over advertising is improved, but advertising content reach deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically changes the source indicia parameters of advertising content based on the destination and context. By modifying the apparent source of ads at network elements closer to the end user, the system bypasses ad blockers that filter based on traditional advertiser domain names, thereby improving ad reach while maintaining user control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces network intermediaries (ad servers, proxy servers, or network elements) that mediate between advertisers and end users. These intermediaries serve as the apparent source of advertising content, masking the original advertiser identity from ad blockers while still delivering targeted ads to appropriate users
3Reliability
If access service operators intercept and modify advertising content at network edge, then advertising effectiveness is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing network elements (ad servers, proxy servers, caching servers) perform multiple functions: serving advertising content, modifying source indicia, selecting targeted ads based on user profile, and bypassing ad blockers. By making these existing components multi-functional rather than adding dedicated new infrastructure, the system achieves advertising effectiveness without proportionally increasing complexity
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional targeted advertising uses tracking cookies to build user profiles, then advertising personalization is improved, but data security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces network-based intermediaries that handle user profile data and advertising content matching without storing sensitive user information on user devices. The intermediary system maintains user profiles and performs matching operations centrally, reducing the attack surface for data breaches while still enabling personalized advertising
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the user profile data storage and processing functionality from the user device environment (where it is vulnerable to local attacks and breaches) and relocates it to secure network infrastructure. By taking out the sensitive data handling from the endpoint, the system reduces data security risks while maintaining personalization capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
A method for relaying advertising content may include intercepting, at a network providing communication between an end user device and one or more servers capable of responding to requests from the end user device, a request from the end user device and transmitted via the network, determining whether a response to the request will include advertizing content based on a destination of the request, intercepting the response based on the determination, modifying the response to modify source indicia of the advertizing content in a modified response, and enabling the modified response to be provided to the end user device to effectively relay the advertizing content from a different source.