CLICK DETECTION METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

• US 20090112978A1
• Filed: 07/10/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Little, Herbert, Brown, Michael, Owen, Russell
• Granted Patent: US 8,856,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0246 Traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0421 Anonymous communication, i.e. the party's identifiers are hidden from the other party or parties, e.g. using an anonymizer

Abstract

A click detection method, apparatus and system is provided. An embodiment includes a method that receives a request from a client destined for a server and a unique identifier for the client. The method of the method also includes generating a representation of the unique identifier, and forwarding the unique identifier and the request to the server.

Claims

1. A method for modifying requests from a client device for a server comprising:

receiving a request from said client device for said server;

receiving a unique identifier for said client device;

generating representation of said unique identifier;

forwarding said representation and said request to said server.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said representation is anonymous such that said unique identifier cannot be recovered from said representation.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said representation is generated using a hashing operation on said unique identifier to produce a message digest;

said representation incorporating said message digest.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said representation is generated by:

obtaining a numerical string representing a time period;

concatenating said numerical string with said unique identifier; and

,

performing a hashing operation on said unique identifier to produce a message digest;

said representation incorporating said message digest.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said time period is one of:

one month, one week, one day, every twelve hours, and every hour.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the numerical string is a random number that is associated with the time period client device.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said time period is one day.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said request is for a web-page generated from a web-browser on said client device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said request is generated by selecting a link on one web-page hosted on an additional server other than said server.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prior to said generating, receiving an indication from said client device whether said client device request desires anonymity;

if said indication indicates said client device does not desire anonymity, then as part of said generating, setting said representation to equal said unique identifier such that during said forwarding said request and said unique identifier are forwarded to said server.

11. A method for detecting requests from a client to a server comprising:

receiving a request from a client;

receiving a representation of a unique identifier of said client;

applying at least one criterion based on said request and said representation to determine if said request is permitted;

fulfilling said request if said at least one criterion determines that said request is permitted; and

,

denying said request if said at least one criterion determines that said request is not permitted.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said representation is anonymous such that said unique identifier cannot be recovered from said representation.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said method is performed at an additional server other than said server.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said method is performed at a server hosting a web-page that includes a link such that selection of said link generates said request.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said method is performed at said server.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said criterion includes a maximum number of times that said request can be made in association with said representation, such that if said maximum number of times is exceeded then said request is denied.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the maximum number of times is determined for a particular time period.

18. A computer comprising a processor which connects to a persistent storage device and a volatile storage device via a bus;

said processor also connected to a network interface for communicating with a client device;

said processor configured to receive a request of a client device for a server;

said processor further configured to receive a unique identifier of said client device;

said processor further configured to generate a representation of said unique identifier and to forward said request and said representation for further processing by said server.

19. The computer of claim 18 wherein said representation is anonymous such that said unique identifier cannot be recovered from said representation.

20. The computer of claim 19 wherein said representation is generated using a hashing operation on said unique identifier to produce a message digest, said representation incorporating said message digest.

21. The computer of claim 19 wherein said processor is further configured to generate said representation by concatenating a numerical string representing a time period with said unique identifier;

and performing a hashing operation on said unique identifier to produce a message digest;

said representation incorporating said message digest.

22. The computer of claim 21 wherein said time period is one of:

one month, one week, one day, every twelve hours, and every hour.

23. The computer of claim 22 wherein said time period is one day.

24. The computer of claim 18 wherein said request is for a web-page generated from a web-browser on said client device.

25. The computer of claim 18 wherein said request is generated by selecting a link on one web-page hosted on an additional server other than said server.

26. The computer of claim 18 wherein said request is for a web-service.

27. The computer of claim 18 wherein said computer is independent of said client and said server.

28. A computer readable medium storing plurality of programming instructions;

said programming instructions configured to execute on a computer;

said programming instructions configured to render a processor on said computer operable to;

receive a request from said client device for said server;

receive a unique identifier for said client device;

generate a representation of said unique identifier; and

,

forward said representation and said request to said server.

29. A method of processing requests comprising:

receiving a request and a unique identifier from a client device;

generating a representation of said unique identifier;

recording said representation and said request.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

if said recording step is performed less than a predetermined number of times, generating a charge associated with said request.

31. A method of processing requests comprising:

receiving a request for content and a unique identifier at a service provider engine from a client device;

generating a representation of said unique identifier at said service provider engine;

forwarding said request for content and said representation to a first content server;

said content being hosted on an additional content server other than said first content server.

recording said representation and said request for content at said first content server,

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

if said recording step is performed less than a predetermined number of times, generating a charge to an entity hosting said content associated with said request.

33. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

returning a redirect address to said service provider engine from said first content server;

said redirect address including an identifier for said content.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

returning said redirect address to said client device from said service provider engine.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

using said redirect address to connect with said additional content server.