Remote User Identification via Device Fingerprinting and Navigation Behavior
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for identifying remote users of websites, such as cookies and IP addresses, are ineffective due to user privacy concerns and inability to accurately differentiate between individuals and groups sharing the same connection, leading to inaccurate user profiling and advertising issues.
Innovation Solution
A method that detects and combines multiple configuration parameters of terminal equipment, including hardware, software, identification, and navigation data, using a hierarchical decision tree to attribute a probability of user identity, allowing for more accurate user identification and analysis of navigation behavior without storing URL data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If cookies are used to identify remote users, then user identification can be achieved, but user privacy is compromised and users may manually clear cookies rendering the technique ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple identification techniques (cookies, IP addresses, hardware configuration parameters, software configuration parameters, and navigation behavior parameters) into a unified identification system. This merging approach ensures that even if one method fails or raises privacy concerns, the combined fingerprint provides robust user identification through the aggregation of multiple device and behavior characteristics.
2Measurement precision
If IP address is used to identify remote users, then identification can be achieved, but it cannot differentiate between individuals sharing the same connection point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the identification process into multiple independent components: hardware configuration parameters (screen resolution, processor type, memory), software configuration parameters (operating system, browser version, installed plugins), and navigation behavior parameters. This segmentation allows the system to capture individual characteristics that differentiate users even when they share the same IP address, as each user's device and behavior profile becomes a unique fingerprint.
3Measurement precision
If multiple configuration parameters are detected and combined, then user identification accuracy is improved, but computing resources and processing time are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection of hardware and software configuration parameters when the user first accesses the website, before any navigation behavior analysis. This preliminary action captures static device characteristics that serve as a baseline fingerprint. Subsequent identification can rely on this pre-collected data combined with simpler navigation metrics, reducing the need for continuous heavy processing and lowering overall computing resource consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of identifying a remote user connecting to a website from terminal equipment is described. The method includes a step of detecting a set of values each corresponding to one of a plurality of configuration parameters of the terminal equipment and a step of comparing the set of values to at least one previously stored set of values, characterized in that: —the at least one previously stored set of values corresponds to one user profile; —the step of comparing comprises the sub steps of —defining a tree of decision wherein each node is a comparison step between one detected value of one of the configuration parameters and the value of said configuration parameter within a previously stored set of values; —hierarchically comparing the set of detected values of the configuration parameters to the previously stored sets of values of the configuration parameters according to the tree of decision; —the step of detecting comprises a detection sub step of detecting the value of at least one navigation configuration parameter from behavioral data gathered on the way the remote user is navigating the website, said navigation detection sub step comprising: —defining a plurality of behaving types; —associating a behaving type to at least some pages of the website; —detecting the behaving type of pages of the website downloaded by the remote user.