Universal Device Identifier for Cross-Application Mobile Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to reliably and accurately identify mobile devices across multiple applications and users on the same device, as service-specific identifiers are isolated within each application's sandbox environment, preventing cross-application tracking.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that generate and store a universal device identifier (WaferID) in persistent shared storage, accessible by multiple applications, allowing for cross-application identification and tracking of mobile devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If service-specific identifiers are stored in each application's sandbox environment, then application security and isolation are improved, but cross-application device identification capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage system into two segments: sandboxed storage for each application (maintaining security and isolation) and shared storage accessible by multiple applications (enabling cross-application identification). The service-specific identifier is stored in the application's sandbox, while a universal device identifier is stored in shared storage, allowing both security and cross-application tracking to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a universal device identifier as an intermediary that bridges the gap between sandboxed applications. This intermediary identifier is stored in shared storage and can be accessed by multiple applications, enabling cross-application device identification without compromising the security boundaries of individual application sandboxes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If each application generates its own service-specific identifier, then application independence is improved, but device identification consistency across applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal device identifier that serves multiple applications simultaneously. This single identifier is stored in shared storage and can be accessed by any application on the device, providing consistent device identification across all applications while allowing each application to maintain its own service-specific identifier for independent operation.
3Reliability
If sandbox environments isolate application resources, then application security is improved, but information sharing capability between applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is segmented into sandboxed storage for each application and shared storage for common data. The service-specific identifier remains in the application's sandboxed storage, while the universal device identifier is placed in shared storage, enabling information sharing without compromising security isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal device identifier acts as an intermediary piece of information that can be shared across application boundaries through the shared storage mechanism, allowing applications to identify the device consistently without requiring direct access to each other's sandboxed storage areas.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for persistent cross-application mobile device identification. A mobile device may have a plurality of sandboxes in memory containing applications. The mobile device may have a shared storage which may accessible by applications from different sandboxes. A storage location identifier may be used to access information in shared storage. A universal device identifier may be stored in the shared storage to identify the mobile device and may be accessible by multiple applications and updates to applications. The universal device identifier may be used to track the mobile device for advertising, fraud detection, reputation tracking, or other purposes.