Propagation Server Cross-Domain First-Party Cookie Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

The disabling of third-party cookies by web browsers poses challenges for legitimate online activities that rely on user tracking and targeted advertising, as it compromises user privacy and security, leading to adverse consequences on personalized content delivery.

Innovation Solution

A mechanism using a propagation server to facilitate the propagation of recorded information between first-party data structures across different domains, allowing user identification and tailored content delivery without setting third-party cookies, by generating and communicating propagation information based on user-defined rules and encryption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If third-party cookies are disabled to improve user privacy and security, then user privacy and security are improved, but legitimate tracking activities and personalized content delivery are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser privacy and securityVSAvoiduser identification information

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a propagation server as an intermediary that facilitates the transfer of cookie data between first-party cookies of different domains. This mediator enables tracking functionality without requiring third-party cookies, thus maintaining user privacy while allowing legitimate tracking activities. The propagation server receives requests from web browsers, retrieves data from first-party cookies, and propagates it to other domains through controlled data structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the tracking functionality by separating the cookie data storage (first-party cookies) from the coordination mechanism (propagation server). Instead of using a single third-party cookie that all domains access directly, the system divides the tracking infrastructure into domain-specific first-party cookies that are coordinated through a centralized propagation server, enabling privacy-preserving tracking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If third-party cookies are used to enable tracking across different websites, then user identification and targeted advertising are improved, but user privacy and security are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecross-domain tracking capabilityVSAvoiduser privacy and security

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional cookie architecture by making first-party cookies (domain-specific) the primary storage mechanism instead of third-party cookies. The propagation server retrieves data from these first-party cookies and propagates it to other domains, reversing the conventional approach where third-party cookies directly store and share data across domains. This inversion maintains tracking capability while improving privacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a propagation server is introduced to enable first-party cookie propagation, then user privacy is maintained, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser privacyVSAvoidsystem architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The propagation server performs multiple functions: it receives requests from web browsers, determines the presence of propagation data structures, retrieves data from first-party cookies, generates propagation information, and communicates it back to browsers. This multi-functional design consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining privacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11960628B2Method and system for propagating data between different domains in a privacy focused way

Publication Date: 2024.04.16 ADFIXUS PTE LTD

AI summary

A propagation server for facilitating propagation of recorded information between first-party data structures associated with different domains, the propagation server arranged for data communication via a network with web browsers of client devices, wherein the propagation server is associated with a propagation domain being a web domain, wherein the propagation server is configured to: receive a first request from a first web browser, said first web browser associated with a first client device, wherein the first request identifies a first domain being a web domain different to the propagation domain; determine, via data communication with the first web browser, whether a propagation data structure, being a first party data structure associated with the propagation domain, is present on the first web browser; in a case where the propagation data structure is present: determine an identifier from information stored with the propagation data structure; generate first propagation information in dependence on the identifier, said first propagation information enabling determination of the identifier by the propagation server in a subsequent data communication instance between the first web browser and the propagation server, wherein said subsequent data communication instance is identified as being associated with the first domain; and communicate the first propagation information to the first web browser.