Subscriber Identity Retrieval for Mobile Data Traffic Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current web usage mining techniques face challenges in accurately identifying and tracking users over time due to dynamic IP addresses and reliance on browser cookies, which can lead to biased analysis and difficulty in correlating HTTP requests from shared internet connections.
Innovation Solution
A method that analyzes data packets at the interface between a telecommunications network and the Internet to retrieve subscriber identities using allocation functions, stores information with location data, and computes correlations and transition probabilities for URLs, providing an access interface for derived information through a web interface or API.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If IP addresses are used to identify users in web server log files, then user identification is possible, but reliability deteriorates because IP addresses are dynamically changed by ISPs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new identifier system that acts as an intermediary between the user and the web server. Instead of directly using IP addresses (which change), the system uses a combination of device characteristics and network path information to create a stable identifier. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by providing reliable user identification without depending on the unstable IP address alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters used for user identification from static IP addresses to a composite identifier based on device characteristics (user agent, screen resolution, language settings) and network path information. By changing the identification parameters to ones that remain consistent despite IP address changes, the system maintains both measurement precision and reliability.
2Measurement precision
If browser cookies are used to identify users, then user tracking is possible, but reliability deteriorates because not all users allow cookies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service identification mechanism that does not require user permission or installation. Instead of relying on cookies that need user acceptance, the system automatically collects device characteristics and network path information to generate identifiers. This self-service approach ensures reliable user tracking without being subject to user preferences about cookies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses device characteristics and network path information as intermediary identifiers that work independently of user cookie settings. These intermediaries provide a reliable identification mechanism that functions regardless of whether users allow browser cookies, thus resolving the reliability issue.
3Productivity
If data is collected from ISP networks, then web usage analysis is possible, but measurement precision deteriorates because multiple users share the same landline connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the identification process into multiple independent components: device characteristics (user agent, screen resolution, language), network path information (hops, latency, routing), and behavioral patterns. By segmenting the identification into these fine-grained components, the system can distinguish between multiple users sharing the same ISP connection, thus maintaining measurement precision while enabling comprehensive web usage analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using device-specific characteristics (screen resolution, language settings, user agent) that are unique to each user's device. These local qualities differentiate users even when they share the same network connection, allowing precise user behavior correlation without sacrificing analysis capability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic IP addresses are used, then network flexibility is improved, but user identification reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the identification system into multiple independent factors: device characteristics, network path information, and behavioral patterns. This segmentation allows the system to maintain network flexibility with dynamic IP addresses while achieving reliable user identification through the combination of stable identifying factors that remain consistent despite IP changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique for providing information derived from data traffic between a telecommunications network and the Internet is disclosed. The telecommunications network provides mobile Internet access to a plurality of mobile subscribers using IP addresses allocated to the mobile subscribers. Data packets in data traffic are analyzed at an interface between the telecommunications network and the Internet. Each analyzed data packet includes an IP address allocated to one of the plurality of mobile sub-scribers. For each of the analyzed data packets, a subscriber identity is retrieved based on the IP address included therein using an allocation function of the telecommunications network. The allocation function associates sub-scriber identities to IP addresses. Information derived from the analyzed data packets is stored in combination with the retrieved subscriber identities in a storing unit. An access interface for accessing the stored information is also provided.