METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROFILING DATA TRAFFIC IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

• US 20110208862A1
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
• Inventors: Maglione, Roberta, Maffione, Eugenio Maria, Pagnin, Roberto, Ullio, Mario
• Granted Patent: US 8,819,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• 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

A method of profiling communication traffic of users in a data network, comprising: monitoring communication traffic originated by a user of a communication terminal; and assigning to the user of the communication terminal a unique and anonymous user traffic identifier, wherein the user traffic identifier is related to a user address assigned to the communication terminal in the data network. Also, the user traffic identifier is adapted to be included in the communication traffic with respect to that user. The method further includes communicating the unique and anonymous user traffic identifier to the user terminal and having the user communication terminal include the user traffic identifier in the user traffic, upon receipt of communication traffic including the user traffic identifier, obtaining a descriptor of the received communication traffic useful to describe the detected traffic and at least temporarily storing the obtained descriptor; and building an anonymous user profile related to the user'"'"'s communication activities based on the stored descriptors.

Claims

1. A method of profiling communication traffic of users in a data network, comprising:

monitoring communication traffic originated by a user of a communication terminal;

assigning to the user of the communication terminal a unique and anonymous user traffic identifier, wherein the user traffic identifier is related to a user address assigned to the communication terminal in the data network, and wherein the user traffic identifier is adapted to be included in the communication traffic with respect to that user;

communicating the unique and anonymous user traffic identifier to the user terminal to allow the user communication terminal to include the user traffic identifier in the user traffic,

upon receipt of communication traffic including the user traffic identifier, obtaining a descriptor of the received communication traffic useful to describe the detected traffic and at least temporarily storing the obtained descriptor; and

building an anonymous user profile related to the user'"'"'s communication activities based on the stored descriptors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user traffic identifier comprises a cookie adapted to be included in the communication traffic generated by and addressed to the user terminal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said assigning the user traffic identifier comprises:

upon receipt of communication traffic originated by the user terminal, assessing whether the received communication traffic includes the user traffic identifier, and, in the negative case, generating a unique and anonymous user traffic identifier to be assigned to the network address of the user terminal.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising:

upon receipt of communication traffic originated by the user terminal not including the unique and anonymous user traffic identifier, requesting the user terminal to re-send the communication traffic for assignment;

in response to the user terminal requesting the user terminal to re-send the communication traffic to be assigned generating the unique user traffic identifier and include the unique user traffic identifier in a response sent to the user terminal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said requesting the user terminal to re-send the communication traffic to a user traffic identifier be assigned includes:

sending to the user terminal an HTTP message including a URL associated with assigning the user traffic identifier, and including an original URL contained in the communication traffic received from the user terminal.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the response sent to the user terminal includes a request for the user terminal to re-send the communication traffic with the user traffic indication for assignment.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising, upon receipt from the user terminal of the response including the user traffic identifier, starting monitoring of the user communication traffic, and sending to the user terminal a further response requesting the user terminal to re-send the communication traffic to the original destination.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the descriptor comprises one or more of:

information related to the end points involved in the transaction, and information about the time the transaction occurred.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitoring communication traffic originated by the user of the communication terminal includes analyzing communication traffic packets originated by the user terminal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said building a user profile includes building a list of web pages accessed by the user in a web browsing session.

11. A system for profiling communication traffic of users in a data network, comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when execute by a processor, cause functions to be performed including;

monitoring communication traffic originated by or addressed to a communication terminal of a user;

assessing whether the communication traffic of the user is being monitored based on a user address in the data network and the inclusion in the communication traffic of unique and anonymous user traffic identifier; and

either requesting the user terminal to re-send the communication traffic to be assigned a user traffic identifier in case the received communication traffic does not include the user traffic identifier, or extracting a descriptor of the communication traffic and causing at least temporary storage thereof and allowing the communication traffic to reach the intended destination in case the received communication traffic includes the user traffic identifier;

wherein assigning the user traffic identifier includes

generating the unique user traffic identifier;

sending a response to the user terminal including the user traffic identifier, the response requesting the user terminal to re-send the communication traffic to the original destination including the user traffic identifier.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said user traffic identifier comprises a cookie.

13. A data network including the system of claim 11.