SDK-Less Mobile App Installation Tracking via Protocol Handlers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for tracking user activities on Apple iOS devices, which involve unique device identifiers, face limitations as only UDID is accessible through a provisioning profile, hindering the association of app-based activities with browser-based activities due to lack of access to UDID by app-based activities.
Innovation Solution
A data processing method that involves a first app requesting advertisements from an ad server, displaying and selecting them, and installing a second app with an app-specific software unit, allowing for the determination of installed apps without an identification module, and communicating with a server to receive rewards, using protocol handlers and SDKs to manage device identification and app interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If app-based activities use UDID for tracking, then user identification accuracy is improved, but app compatibility and installation ease deteriorate because UDID is only accessible through provisioning profiles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism using protocol handlers and custom URL schemes as mediators between the ad server and apps without UDID access. The ad server uses these intermediaries to pass identification data and launch apps, enabling tracking without direct UDID access in the app.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the UDID dependency from the app-based tracking mechanism. By removing the requirement for UDID access in apps and using alternative identification methods through protocol handlers and server-side processing, the system achieves tracking functionality without this constraint.
2Loss of information
If apps integrate SDK for tracking, then user activity monitoring is improved, but device complexity and installation requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the SDK integration requirement from the tracking mechanism. Instead of requiring apps to integrate SDK code, the system uses protocol handlers and server-side processing to achieve user activity monitoring, thereby reducing device complexity and installation requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses protocol handlers and custom URL schemes as intermediaries to enable tracking without SDK integration. These intermediaries facilitate communication between the ad server and apps, allowing user activity monitoring while avoiding the complexity of SDK integration.
3Measurement precision
If apps require UDID access for rewards tracking, then reward attribution accuracy is improved, but app accessibility and distribution ease worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses protocol handlers and server-side processing as intermediaries to track app installations and attribute rewards. This mechanism enables accurate reward attribution without requiring apps to have UDID access, thereby maintaining app accessibility and distribution ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the UDID access requirement from the reward tracking mechanism. By using alternative identification and tracking methods through protocol handlers and server processing, the system achieves accurate reward attribution while improving app accessibility and distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a method comprises transmitting, from a mobile computing device to a server computer, first data identifying a selection at the mobile computing device of an app that is not associated with an identification module associated with the server computer that would allow the server computer to identify the device; receiving, at the mobile computing device from the server computer, second data identifying zero or more apps lacking the identification module that have been selected previously using the mobile computing device; determining whether a protocol handler for each of the zero or more apps lacking the identification module is in the mobile computing device; in response to determining that a particular protocol handler for one of the apps is in the mobile computing device, transmitting to the server computer a message specifying that the particular protocol handler is in the mobile computing device; communicating a reward to any of: a particular one of the apps that is associated with the particular protocol handler, or a user account associated with the mobile computing device; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.