Data structures for intelligently resolving deterministic and probabilistic device identifiers to device profiles and/or groups

• US 10,728,350 B1
• Filed: 08/27/2018
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The 41st Parameter, Inc. (Experian plc)
• Original Assignee: The 41st Parameter, Inc. (Experian plc)
• Inventors: Khanwalkar, Manoj, Camacho, Adler, Van Lare, Stephen, Winkler, Omer, Tuttle, Luke David, Patel, Surag I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Jungwon
• Application Number:
  US16/114,056
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/335 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles filtering in web context G06F16/9535, G06F16/9536
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/18 for evaluating statistical data , e.g. average values, frequency distributions, probability functions, regression analysis forecasting specially adapted for a specific administrative, business or logistic context G06Q10/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/14 Network analysis or design
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

An electronic device identifier mapping and resolution system are disclosed which may be used to analyze various device identifiers associated with an online event initiated by a particular device in applying a matching algorithm to determine a unique device identifier and/or device profile for the device. Device identifiers provided from disparate sources (such as web browser cookies, network IP addresses, device-specific identifiers, application-specific identifiers, custom identifiers, probabilistic identifiers, etc.), including both deterministic and/or probabilistic identifiers, may be analyzed according to the matching algorithm to determine a device identifier associated with the device. Matching algorithms may be customized and configured to a high degree of complexity for respective entities, such as to analyze disparate device identifiers according to a variety of identifier comparison functions and matching tiers. Matching algorithms may include conditional requirements that streamline execution of such algorithms, e.g., which may reduce processor load and increase execution time, such as conditional requirements that bypass portions of the matching algorithm based on particular identifiers associated with the online event that are initially analyzed.

Claims

1. A computing system for providing a unique device identifier associated with a device profile, the computer system comprising:

a network interface providing electronic communication with;

a first electronic data storage device configured to store a plurality of matching algorithms including a first matching algorithm, the first matching algorithm comprising a first tier condition and a second tier condition, and wherein the first electronic data storage device is further configured to store a preconfigured match accuracy that is based at least in part on the first tier condition and the second tier condition; and

a second electronic data storage device configured to store a plurality of device profiles comprising a first device profile, wherein each of the plurality of device profiles is associated with a different user device, and each of the plurality of device profiles further including;

one or more unique identifiers, wherein each of the unique identifiers is associated with an identifier type; and

one or more non-unique attributes, wherein each of the non-unique attributes is associated with an attribute type;

a third electronic data storage device configured to store computer-executable instructions;

one or more hardware computer processors in communication with the third electronic data storage device, wherein the one or more hardware processors, when executing the computer-executable instructions, are configured to;

receive, from a first requesting entity associated with a first device, online event data comprising at least one unique identifier associated with the first device and at least one non-unique attribute associated with the first device;

access, from the first electronic data storage device, the first matching algorithm associated with the first requesting entity, wherein the first tier condition of the first matching algorithm is;

(1) associated with a first identifier type or a first attribute type, and (2) includes a first comparison function, and wherein the second tier condition of the first matching algorithm is;

(1) associated with a second identifier type or a second attribute type, and (2) includes a second comparison function;

access, from the second electronic data storage device, the plurality of device profiles;

for each device profile of the plurality of device profiles;

determine a first unique identifier or a first non-unique attribute, wherein the first unique identifier is associated with the first identifier type and the first non-unique attribute is associated with the first attribute type;

determine a second unique identifier or a second non-unique attribute, wherein the second unique identifier is associated with the second identifier type and the second non-unique attribute is associated with the second attribute type;

determine, using the first comparison function, whether the first unique identifier or the first non-unique attribute satisfies the first comparison function of the first tier condition; and

determine, using the second comparison function, whether the second unique identifier or the second non-unique attribute satisfies the second comparison function of the second tier condition; and

in response to a determination that the first comparison function is satisfied or the second comparison function is satisfied, provide at least one unique identifier of the device profile to the first requesting entity.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first tier condition and the second tier condition are both identified based at least on a benchmark matching algorithm and a test matching algorithm, and wherein outcomes of the benchmark matching algorithm and outcomes of the test matching algorithm are used to determine the preconfigured match accuracy.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first tier condition comprises a match tier indicating a value or a value range, and wherein the first tier condition is matched when the first unique identifier or the first non-unique attribute of each device profile matches the value or value range.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first comparison function and the second comparison function are each customizable by the first requesting entity.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of matching algorithms include a precondition requirement indicating a device type.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first tier condition and the second tier condition of the first matching algorithm each includes a key window such that if a maximum quantity of device profiles within the plurality of device profiles matching the key window is exceeded, the first tier condition and the second tier condition are not evaluated.

7. The system of claim 1 further configured to, in response to a determination that both the first comparison function and the second comparison function are not satisfied, generate a new device profile associated with at least a portion of the online event data.

8. A method of providing a unique device identifier associated with a device profile, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first requesting entity associated with a first device, online event data comprising at least one unique identifier associated with a first device and at least one non-unique attribute associated with the first device;

establishing an electrical communication with a first electronic data storage device configured to store a plurality of matching algorithms including a first matching algorithm, the first matching algorithm comprising a first tier condition and a second tier condition, and wherein the first electronic data storage device is further configured to store a preconfigured match accuracy that is based at least in part on the first tier condition and the second tier condition;

establishing an electrical communication with a second electronic storage device configured to store a plurality of device profiles comprising a first device profile, wherein each of the plurality of device profiles is associated with a different user device each of the plurality of device profiles including;

one or more unique identifiers, wherein each of the one or more unique identifiers is associated with an identifier type; and

one or more non-unique attributes, wherein each of the one or more non-unique attributes is associated with an attribute type;

accessing, from the first electronic data storage device, the first matching algorithm associated with the first requesting entity, wherein the first tier condition of the first matching algorithm is;

(1) associated with a first identifier type or a first attribute type and (2) includes a first comparison function, and wherein the second tier condition of the first matching algorithm is;

(1) associated with a second identifier type or a second attribute type and (2) includes a second comparison function;

accessing, from the second electronic data storage device, the plurality of device profiles;

for each device profile of the plurality of device profiles;

determining a first unique identifier or a first non-unique attribute, wherein the first unique identifier is associated with the first identifier type and the first non-unique attribute is associated with the first attribute type;

determining a second unique identifier or a second non-unique attribute, wherein the second unique identifier is associated with the second identifier type and the second non-unique attribute is associated with the second attribute type;

determining, using the first comparison function, whether the first unique identifier or the first non-unique attribute satisfies the first comparison function of the first tier condition; and

determining, using the second comparison function, whether the second unique identifier or the second non-unique attribute satisfies the second comparison function of the second tier condition; and

in response to a determination that the first comparison function is satisfied or the second comparison function is satisfied, providing at least one unique identifier of the device profile to the first requesting entity.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first tier condition and the second tier condition are both identified based at least on a benchmark matching algorithm and a test matching algorithm, and wherein outcomes of the benchmark matching algorithm and outcomes of the test matching algorithm are used to determine the preconfigured match accuracy.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first tier condition comprises a match tier indicating a value or a value range, and wherein the first tier condition is matched when the first unique identifier or the first non-unique attribute of each device profile matches the value or value range.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first comparison function and the second comparison function are each customizable by the first requesting entity.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of matching algorithms include a precondition requirement indicating a device type.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the first tier condition and the second tier condition of the first matching algorithm each includes a key window such that if a maximum quantity of device profiles within the plurality of device profiles matching the key window is exceeded, the first tier condition and the second tier condition are not evaluated.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising, in response to a determination that the first comparison function and the second comparison function are not satisfied, generating a new device profile associated with at least a portion of the online event data.

15. A non-transitory computer storage having stored thereon a computer program, the computer program including executable instructions that instruct a computer system to at least:

receive, from a first requesting entity associated with a first device, online event data comprising at least one unique identifiers associated with the first device and at least one non-unique attribute associated with the first device;

establish an electrical communication with a first electronic data storage device configured to store a plurality of matching algorithms including a first matching algorithm, the first matching algorithm comprising a first tier condition and a second tier condition, and wherein the first electronic data storage device is further configured to store a preconfigured match accuracy that is based at least in part on the first tier condition and the second tier condition;

establish an electrical communication with a second electronic storage device configured to store a plurality of device profiles comprising a first device profile, wherein each of the plurality of device profiles is associated with a different user device, and each of the plurality of device profiles further including;

one or more unique identifiers, wherein each of the one or more unique identifiers is associated with an identifier type; and

one or more non-unique attributes, wherein each of the one or more non-unique attributes is associated with an attribute type;

access, from the first electronic data storage device, the first matching algorithm associated with the first requesting entity, wherein the first tier condition of the first matching algorithm is;

(1) associated with a first identifier type or a first attribute type and (2) includes a first comparison function, and wherein the second tier condition of the first matching algorithm is;

(1) associated with a second identifier type or a second attribute type and (2) includes a second comparison function;

access, from the second electronic data storage device, the plurality of device profiles;

for each device profile of the plurality of device profiles;

determine a first unique identifier or a first non-unique attribute, wherein the first unique identifier is associated with the first identifier type and the first non-unique attribute is associated with the first attribute type;

determine a second unique identifier or a second non-unique attribute, wherein the second unique identifier is associated with the second identifier type and the second non-unique attribute is associated with the second attribute type;

determine, using the first comparison function, whether the first unique identifier or the first non-unique attribute satisfies the first comparison function of the first tier condition; and

determine, using the second comparison function, whether the second unique identifier or the second non-unique attribute satisfies the second comparison function of the second tier condition; and

in response to a determination that the first comparison function is satisfied or the second comparison function is satisfied, provide, at least one unique identifier of the device profile to the first requesting entity.

16. The non-transitory computer storage of claim 15, wherein the first tier condition and the second tier condition are both identified based at least on a benchmark matching algorithm and a test matching algorithm, and wherein outcomes of the benchmark matching algorithm and outcomes of the test matching algorithm are used to determine the preconfigured match accuracy.

17. The non-transitory computer storage of claim 15, wherein the first tier condition comprises a match tier indicating a value or a value range, and wherein the first tier condition is matched when the first unique identifier or the first non-unique attribute of each device profile matches the value or value range.

18. The non-transitory computer storage of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of matching algorithms include a precondition requirement indicating a device type.

19. The non-transitory computer storage of claim 15, wherein the first tier condition and the second tier condition of the first match algorithm each includes a key window such that if a maximum quantity of device profiles within the plurality of device profiles matching the key window is exceeded, the first tier condition and the second tier conditions are not evaluated.

20. The non-transitory computer storage of claim 15, the computer system further instructed to, in response to a determination that the first comparison function and the second comparison function are not satisfied, generate a new device profile associated with at least a portion of the online event data.