DETERMINING REPEAT WEBSITE USERS VIA BROWSER UNIQUENESS TRACKING

• US 20130185645A1
• Filed: 01/18/2012
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arkose Labs Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: FISK, Frank C., RAMANATHAN, Sri, TERRY, Matthew A., TREVATHAN, Matthew B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,934,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

An approach for determining repeat website users via browser uniqueness tracking includes receiving browser information from a server based on a browser accessing a website. The approach includes creating a browser identifier based on the browser information. The approach includes determining 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. The approach includes transmitting a message to the server indicating the browser is one of a new visitor and a repeat visitor to the website based on the determining.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a computer infrastructure, comprising:

receiving browser information from a server based on a browser accessing a website;

creating a browser identifier based on the browser information;

determining 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; and

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

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the browser information comprises:

a plurality of parameters; and

a respective value for each one of the plurality of parameters.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the creating comprises accessing a plurality of data structures, each one of the plurality of data structures corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of parameters.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each respective one of the plurality of data structures comprises:

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

a plurality of codes associated with the plurality of possible values.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the creating comprises:

using the plurality of data structures to determine a particular code from the plurality of codes for each respective value for each one of the plurality of parameters; and

combining the determined particular codes into the browser identifier.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the combining the determined particular codes comprises concatenating the determined particular codes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the browser identifier to the server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the server comprises a website server that hosts the website.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the website offers a service comprising at least one of:

email, voting, auctioning, and gaming.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving is based on the browser registering at the website to gain access to the service.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving browser information comprises receiving an indication of a subset of parameters of the browser information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the creating the browser identifier comprises using values associated with the subset of parameters of the browser information.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the browser identifier with the other browser identifiers associated with the website.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a service provider at least one of creates, maintains, deploys and supports the computer infrastructure.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein steps of claim 1 are provided by a service provider on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis.

16. A system implemented in hardware, comprising:

a processor executing a browser tag tool that operates to;

receive browser information from a website server based on a browser accessing a website hosted by the website server;

create a browser tag using values contained in the browser information;

determine the browser is one of a new visitor and a repeat visitor to the website by comparing the browser tag to other browser tags associated with the website; and

transmit 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.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the creating the browser tag comprises:

looking up respective codes corresponding to the values contained in the browser information; and

combining the respective codes into a string of characters to form the browser tag.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

transmitting the browser tag to the website server; and

saving the browser tag with the other browser tags in persistent storage.

19. A computer program product comprising a computer usable tangible storage medium having readable program code embodied in the tangible storage medium, the computer program product includes at least one component operable to:

receive a request from a browser to register at a website;

obtain browser information from the browser in association with the request;

forward the browser information to a browser tag tool; and

receive an indication from the browser tag tool that one of;

the browser has previously registered with the website, and the browser has not previously registered with the website.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the indication is based on a browser tag that is based on the browser information.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the receiving the indication comprises receiving an indication that the browser has previously registered with the website, and the at least one component is further operable to deny the registration to the website based on the indication that the browser has previously registered with the website.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the receiving the indication comprises receiving an indication that the browser has previously registered with the website, and the at least one component is further operable to:

grant the registration to the website; and

maintain a record of the indication that the browser has previously registered with the website.

23. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein:

the indication is based on a browser tag that is based on the browser information;

the website comprises an online vote;

the receiving the indication comprises receiving an indication that the browser has previously registered with the website; and

the at least one component is further operable to;

receive the browser tag form the browser tag tool;

grant the browser access to the online vote; and

store a record comprising;

a vote made by the browser in the online vote, the browser tag, and a time the vote was made.

24. A computer system for determining repeat user visits to a website, the system comprising:

a CPU, a computer readable memory, and a computer readable storage media;

first program instructions to receive a request from a browser to register at a website, wherein the website offers a service comprising at least one of;

email, voting, auctioning, and gaming;

second program instructions to obtain browser information from the browser in association with the request;

third program instructions to forward the browser information to a browser tag tool;

fourth program instructions to receive an indication from the browser tag tool that the browser has previously registered with the website, wherein the indication is based on a browser tag that is based on the browser information;

fifth program instructions to receive the browser tag from the browser tag tool;

sixth program instructions to grant the browser access to the service; and

seventh program instructions to store a record comprising;

an action taken by the browser during using the service, the browser tag, and a time the action was taken;

wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the CPU via the computer readable memory.

25. A method of deploying a system for determining repeat user visits to a website, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure operable to;

receive a request from a browser to register at a website;

obtain browser information from the browser in association with the request;

create a browser tag using values contained in the browser information;

determine the browser is one of a new visitor and a repeat visitor to the website by comparing the browser tag to other browser tags associated with the website;

store the browser tag with the other browser tags associated with the website; and

maintain a record of the browser tag and actions performed by the browser at the website,

wherein the receiving, the obtaining, and the maintaining are performed by a website server hosting the website;

the creating, the determining, and the storing are performed by a browser tag tool; and

the website server and the browser tag tool are one of;

comprised in a same computing device, and comprised in separate computing devices that communicate with one another.