Token-to-Account Mapping for Multi-Device Attribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to accurately attribute purchases to multiple computing devices, especially when digitized tokens are used instead of traditional account credentials, and are unable to identify computing devices used in in-person transactions, leading to incomplete attribution of advertisements and content.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that involves a processing server to receive attribution requests, identify digital tokens associated with computing devices, link them to primary account numbers and alternative tokens, and transmit attribution messages to third-party entities, enabling the identification of related computing devices and transaction data for accurate platform attribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digitized tokens are used instead of traditional account credentials, then security and privacy are improved, but the ability to identify computing devices and attribute purchases is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a token-to-account mapping system as an intermediary layer between the digitized payment token and the transaction account. This intermediary database stores the relationship between tokens and accounts, enabling device identification through tokens without compromising the security benefits of using tokens instead of direct account credentials. The intermediary resolves the contradiction by maintaining both security (through token-based transactions) and identifiability (through the mapping database).
2Device complexity
If traditional attribution systems are used, then simplicity is maintained, but the ability to attribute purchases to multiple computing devices is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the attribution process into distinct phases: token provisioning to computing devices, transaction processing with token capture, and post-processing attribution analysis. By segmenting these functions and using the token-to-account mapping database, the system can identify multiple devices associated with a single account without requiring complete redesign of existing payment infrastructure, thus maintaining relative simplicity while enabling multi-device attribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by provisioning digitized tokens to computing devices during the account setup phase, storing the device-to-token mappings in advance. This preliminary data collection enables later attribution analysis without requiring real-time complex interactions, simplifying the overall attribution process while capturing multi-device usage information.
3Loss of information
If payment account reference (PAR) is used to identify transaction accounts, then attribution capability is improved, but system complexity and modification requirements are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of introducing a new PAR identifier that requires system-wide adoption, the patent uses existing token data elements that are already copied and stored during normal payment processing. The token-to-account mapping database replicates the identification functionality without requiring changes to payment networks, financial institutions, or merchant systems. This copying approach achieves attribution capability while avoiding the complexity of modifying legacy transaction systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for determining attribution for a computing device, which includes receiving an attribution request, wherein the attribution request includes at least a specific computing device identifier and an indication of an advertisement; identifying a digital token number associated with the specific computing device identifier; identifying a primary account number corresponding to the identified digital token number and one or more alternative digital token numbers also corresponding to the identified digital token number; identifying a transaction data entry related to an electronic transaction, wherein the transaction data entry includes transaction data and one of: the digital token number, the primary account number, and one of the one or more alternative digital token numbers; and electronically transmitting an attribution message to the third party entity, wherein the attribution message includes attribution of the indicated advertisement to the related electronic transaction.