Pseudo DNS Server Device Identification Shared IP
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to accurately identify individual media presentation devices within a network using a shared public IP address, making it difficult for media monitoring companies to collect and analyze usage statistics and demographic data for audience measurement studies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with multiple DNS servers, where each media presentation device is assigned to a separate DNS server, allowing for the tracking of DNS queries and identification of devices within a household by redirecting queries through pseudo-DNS servers, enabling the collection of media presentation device information and correlating it with demographic data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a shared public IP address is used for multiple media presentation devices, then network connectivity and resource sharing are improved, but device identification precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the identification process by introducing multiple DNS servers, where each DNS server is associated with a specific media presentation device. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between devices that share the same public IP address by routing their DNS queries to different servers, thereby resolving the identification precision problem while maintaining shared network connectivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces DNS servers as intermediary elements between media presentation devices and the network. These intermediary DNS servers act as mediators that can identify and track individual devices by processing their DNS queries, enabling precise device identification without compromising the shared network infrastructure
2Measurement precision
If multiple DNS servers are deployed for device identification, then device identification precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the DNS servers multi-functional by having them serve both their traditional role of resolving domain names to IP addresses and the additional function of device identification and tracking. This universality allows the system to achieve precise device identification without adding separate specialized hardware, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the device identification function with the existing DNS server infrastructure. By combining these functions, the system achieves precise device identification while avoiding the complexity of implementing a completely separate identification system, as the DNS servers already exist in the network architecture
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify media presentation devices are disclosed. An example method includes associating a domain name service query received at a pseudo DNS server with a media exposure measurement location based on a public Internet Protocol address of the received domain name service query, wherein the pseudo DNS server does not provide domain name-to-IP address translation, and wherein the pseudo DNS server is to receive the domain name service query and transmit a redirect message identifying a conventional DNS server. The example method further includes crediting the media exposure measurement location with accessing media identified based on the domain name service query.