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Determining repeat website users via browser uniqueness tracking

  • US 9,934,310 B2
  • Filed: 01/18/2012
  • Issued: 04/03/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method implemented in a computer infrastructure, comprising:

  • receiving, at a browser tag tool, browser information from a website server, separate from and in communication with the browser tag tool, based on a browser accessing a website which includes the website server, wherein the browser comprises a software application, and wherein the browser information is comprised of;

    a plurality of parameters including an operating system type, a browser type of the browser, and whether cookies are enabled or not, and a respective value for each one of the plurality of parameters;

    receiving, at the browser tag tool, from the website server, data indicating which parameters, among the plurality of parameters of the browser information including the operating system type, the browser type of the browser, and whether cookies are enabled or not, are to be used in creating a browser identifier;

    creating the browser identifier based on the indicated parameters of the browser information which the data indicates are to be used to create the browser identifier;

    determining whether the browser is one of a new visitor and a repeat visitor to the website by comparing the browser identifier to other browser identifiers associated with the website;

    in response to determining that the browser is a repeat visitor, determining whether the browser is attempting multiple registrations at the website;

    transmitting a message to the website server indicating the browser is one of a new visitor and a repeat visitor to the website based on the determining; and

    in response to determining that the browser is a repeat visitor attempting multiple registrations at the website, maintaining a record of the attempted multiple registrations of the browser, permitting the repeat visitor to enter a plurality of votes in polls, and, after permitting the repeat visitor to enter the plurality of votes, analyzing the plurality of votes to limit the browser to a predefined number of votes within a specified time period,wherein the creating comprises accessing a plurality of data structures being comprised of exemplary values for respective ones of the indicated parameters of the browser information;

    each respective one of the plurality of data structures comprises;

    a plurality of possible values associated with the corresponding respective one of the indicated parameters; and

    a plurality of codes associated with the plurality of possible values, andthe creating further comprises;

    determining, for each indicated parameter, a value of the browser corresponding to that parameter;

    comparing the determined value for each indicated parameter with the plurality of possible values in the data structure for each indicated parameter;

    determining a code from the data structure for the browser for each indicated parameter; and

    combining the determined codes for each indicated parameter into a numerical string of data to form the browser identifier which includes the determined codes for the operating system type, the browser type and whether cookies are enabled or not.

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