Method and system for identifying valid users operating across a distributed network
First Claim
1. In a content delivery network in which participating content providers offload given content for delivery from content servers managed by a content delivery network service provider, a data collection method comprising:
- tracking a client machine user agent across a plurality of content provider domains being managed by the content delivery network service provider; and
generating a value that represents a confidence of the content delivery network service provider that the client machine user agent represents a human user as opposed to an automated agent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A content delivery network (CDN) service provider extends a content delivery network to gather information on atomically identifiable web clients (called “user agents”) as such computer-implemented entities interact with the CDN across different domains being managed by the CDN service provider. In one embodiment, a set of machines, processes, programs, and data comprise a data system. The data system tracks user agents, preferably via cookies, although one or more passive techniques may be used. A user agent may be a cookie-able device having a cookie store. As the user agent navigates across sites, a CDN-specific unique identifier used by the system to correlate user agents is generated. Preferably, the unique identifier is stored as an encrypted cookie. The unique identifier represents one user agent (and, thus, one cookie-able device'"'"'s store). The system tracks user agent behavior on and across customer sites that are served by the CDN, and these behaviors are classified into identifiable “segments” that may be used to create a profile. CDN customers use the data system to obtain information that characterizes the user agent.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. In a content delivery network in which participating content providers offload given content for delivery from content servers managed by a content delivery network service provider, a data collection method comprising:
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tracking a client machine user agent across a plurality of content provider domains being managed by the content delivery network service provider; and
generating a value that represents a confidence of the content delivery network service provider that the client machine user agent represents a human user as opposed to an automated agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a content delivery network (CDN) in which participating content providers offload given content for delivery from content servers managed by a content delivery network service provider, a method comprising:
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tracking a client machine user agent across a plurality of content provider domains being managed by the content delivery network service provider; and
using information generated by the tracking to provide a first participating content provider with data that is a function of the content delivery network service provider'"'"'s confidence that the client machine user agent is associated with a human user. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification