Persistent Master Identifier for Cross-Device User Clustering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to maintain a persistent identifier for users across multiple devices due to the volatility of user device identifiers, which hinders accurate advertising metrics and cross-device user recognition.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that maintain a persistent master identifier by clustering user device identifiers, comparing them across different environments, and assigning a unique identifier based on overlap and attribute matching, ensuring consistent user identification across devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user device identifiers are used to identify users across devices, then user identification can be implemented, but the identifiers are volatile and have limited lifespan making them unreliable for persistent tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple volatile user device identifiers into a single persistent master identifier through clustering. The system groups related UIDs that belong to the same user across different devices and environments, then assigns a stable master identifier to represent the entire cluster, thereby achieving persistent user identification despite individual UID volatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The master identifier acts as an intermediary between multiple volatile UIDs. Instead of directly tracking individual UIDs that change frequently, the system uses the persistent master identifier as a mediator to maintain continuous user identification across device changes, app reinstalls, and environmental transitions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple user device identifiers are tracked separately, then device-specific identification is accurate, but cross-device user recognition cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The master identifier serves multiple functions simultaneously: it identifies individual devices through their UIDs while also representing the entire user across all devices. This universal identifier enables both device-specific tracking and cross-device recognition, allowing the system to adapt to different identification needs without losing user identity continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges information from multiple device identifiers and their attributes into a unified cluster representation. By combining UIDs, device attributes, and environmental context into clusters associated with a single master identifier, the system preserves user identity continuity while enabling cross-device recognition and versatile user tracking.
3Measurement precision
If user identifiers change frequently across devices and environments, then device-specific accuracy is maintained, but advertising metrics and measurements become inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary clustering of user device identifiers before advertising campaigns begin. By pre-grouping UIDs into clusters and assigning master identifiers in advance, the system establishes stable user representations that can be consistently used for advertising metrics and measurements throughout the campaign, eliminating the need to track individual volatile UIDs during the measurement period.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a stable copy of user identification information in the form of master identifiers that replicate user identity across multiple devices. Instead of relying on the original volatile UIDs, the system uses these persistent master identifier copies to maintain identifier consistency for advertising measurements, ensuring that user data remains attributable across device changes while maintaining measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for maintaining a persistent master identifier includes receiving a first plurality of clusters including a first plurality of user device identifiers and at least one first cluster attribute associated with the first plurality of identifiers. The first plurality of user device identifiers is stored as separate entries in a master table. Each entry includes at least a persistent master identifier, a user device identifier contained within the identified cluster, and the at least one attribute associated with the identifier. A second plurality of clusters including a second plurality of user device identifiers and at least one attribute associated with the second plurality of identifiers is received. Persistence of each entry in the master table is determined based on a comparison between the second plurality of clusters and the master table. The second plurality of clusters is selectively associated with a persistent master identifier based on the comparison.