SYSTEM AND METHOD TO ENABLE TRACKING OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOR AND ACTIVITY
First Claim
1. A method for collecting and analyzing Internet and electronic commerce data, comprising the steps of:
- receiving network access data extracted from individual packets traversing a network element of a communication system and being associated with users of messaging devices, a portion of the network access data extracted from each packet being encrypted to anonymize the received network access data by obscuring information from which an identity of a messaging device user might otherwise be determined and thereby obtaining a respective unique, anonymized identifier correlated to network access data associated with a corresponding messaging device user;
processing received anonymized network access data for analysis, whereby anonymized network access data associated with any messaging device user is distinguishable from anonymized network access data associated with every other messaging device user; and
generating at least one report identifying a pattern of internet access activity, derived from processed, anonymized network access data, by a group of the messaging device users.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for collecting, processing and analyzing Internet and e-commerce data accessed by users of messaging devices such, for example, as mobile terminal users includes receiving network access data extracted from packetized traffic of a communication system. A portion of the extracted network access data is encrypted to anonymize the received network access data, obscuring information from which messaging device users'"'"' identities might otherwise be determined. The encrypted portion constitutes a unique, anonymized identifier that can be correlated to the messaging device user associated with the traffic. Network access data anonymized in this manner, once received, is processed for analysis. By referencing the identifier, anonymized network access data associated with any messaging device user is distinguishuable from anonymized network access data associated with all other messaging device user—allowing patterns of internet access activity of the users to be tracked and reported anonymously. By correlating the identifier to a socio-demographic profile, it is further possible to monitor a sample of users sufficiently large to represent an entire population sharing the same socio-demographic characteristic(s).
231 Citations
44 Claims
-
1. A method for collecting and analyzing Internet and electronic commerce data, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving network access data extracted from individual packets traversing a network element of a communication system and being associated with users of messaging devices, a portion of the network access data extracted from each packet being encrypted to anonymize the received network access data by obscuring information from which an identity of a messaging device user might otherwise be determined and thereby obtaining a respective unique, anonymized identifier correlated to network access data associated with a corresponding messaging device user; processing received anonymized network access data for analysis, whereby anonymized network access data associated with any messaging device user is distinguishable from anonymized network access data associated with every other messaging device user; and generating at least one report identifying a pattern of internet access activity, derived from processed, anonymized network access data, by a group of the messaging device users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A method for collecting and analyzing Internet and electronic commerce data, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving network access data extracted from individual packets traversing a network element of a first communication system and being associated with users of messaging devices, wherein all user-identifying features within said packets are replaced with an anonymizing alias identification whereby received network access data associated with any one messaging device user is anonymously distinguishable from received network access data associated with every other messaging device user; processing received anonymized network access data for analysis; and generating at least one report identifying a pattern of internet access activity, derived from processed, anonymized network access data, by a group of the messaging device users. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
-
Specification