Web Visitor Tracking via Cookie Counting Page
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for tracking web page accesses, such as using HTTP cookies, are unreliable due to users disabling cookies, leading to overcounting or undercounting of visitors, as they may not accept or send back tracking cookies.
Innovation Solution
A system that redirects web browsers to a cookie counting web page, providing a tracking cookie if needed, allowing for the computation of unique hits without cookies by using the ratio of hits with and without tracking cookies, enabling accurate estimation of visitor numbers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If HTTP cookies are used to track web page accesses, then visitor tracking capability is improved, but reliability deteriorates because users can disable cookies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cookie counting web page as an intermediary component between the main web page and the cookie tracking mechanism. This separate counting page receives cookie requests independently, allowing the main application to function normally while still enabling tracking for users who accept cookies. The counting page acts as a mediator that separates the tracking function from the primary web application.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking system is segmented into two independent parts: the main web page delivery system and the separate cookie counting web page. This segmentation allows the counting functionality to operate independently without affecting the main application, and enables different tracking strategies for different user groups (those who accept cookies vs. those who don't).
2Measurement precision
If cookies are disabled by users, then privacy control is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to overcounting or undercounting of visitors
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by analyzing the proportion of users who accept cookies versus those who reject them. By monitoring cookie acceptance rates and using this feedback information, the system can estimate total visitor numbers even when some users don't accept cookies. The feedback loop allows continuous refinement of tracking accuracy based on actual user behavior patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the tracking mechanism in the form of a dedicated cookie counting web page. This copy focuses solely on the tracking function, receiving cookie requests and counting responses without the complexity of the main web application. This separation allows for more accurate tracking measurements independent of the main application's functionality.
3Reliability
If a separate cookie counting web page is introduced, then tracking reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cookie counting web page serves multiple functions: it acts as a tracking mechanism, provides statistics about cookie acceptance rates, and enables estimation of total visitors. By making this component multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for additional separate systems, thereby limiting the increase in overall complexity while maintaining improved tracking reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method for tracking the number of hits to a web page is described. In one embodiment, a web browser of a client requests from a server a web page. The server redirects the web browser to a cookie counting web page, where the cookie counting web page provides a tracking cookie to the web browser. The server computes the number of unique hits to the web page without cookies based on the number of hits to the cookie counting web page without tracking cookies, the number of unique hits to the cookie counting web page with tracking cookies, the number of all hits to the cookie counting web page with tracking cookies.