Method and system for profiling data traffic in telecommunications networks

• US 8,819,222 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
• Inventors: Maffione, Eugenio Maria, Maglione, Roberta, Pagnin, Roberto, Ullio, Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOOK, PHYLLIS A
• Application Number:
  US13/126,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20110208862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,129 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/223, 709/224, 709/250, 705/14.49, 705/14.51, 705/14.53
• 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 communication terminal to allow the user communication terminal to include the user traffic identifier in user traffic;

upon receiving communication traffic including the user traffic identifier, obtaining, by a first device, a descriptor of received communication traffic useful to describe the received traffic, sending, by the first device, a tracking notification including the obtained descriptor, and allowing the received communication traffic to reach an intended destination of the received communication traffic;

at least temporarily storing the obtained descriptor; and

building an anonymous user profile related to communication activities of the user based on the stored descriptor.

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 communication terminal.

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

upon receiving communication traffic originated by the user communication terminal, assessing, by the first device, whether the received communication traffic includes the user traffic identifier; and

in response to the received communication traffic not including the user traffic identifier, generating a unique and anonymous user traffic identifier to be assigned to a network address of the user communication terminal.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising:

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

in response to the user communication terminal requesting the user communication terminal to re-send the communication traffic to be assigned, generating the unique and anonymous user traffic identifier; and

wherein the communicating the unique and anonymous user traffic identifier to the user communication terminal to allow the user communication terminal to include the user traffic identifier in the user traffic includes;

including the generated unique and anonymous user traffic identifier in a response sent to the user communication terminal,

wherein the received communication traffic originated by the user communication terminal includes an original destination.

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

sending to the user communication 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 communication terminal.

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

7. The method of claim 6, comprising:

upon receiving, from the user communication terminal, the response including the user traffic identifier, starting monitoring of the user communication traffic, and sending to the user communication terminal a further response requesting the user communication terminal to re-send the communication traffic to the original destination.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication traffic comprises information related to at least one transaction, and the descriptor comprises one or more of:

information related to end points involved in the transaction, and information about a 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 communication 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. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring communication traffic originated by a user of a communication terminal includes:

monitoring, by the first device, communication traffic originated by a user of a communication terminal.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least temporarily storing the obtained descriptor comprises:

responsive to receiving the tracking notification, at least temporarily storing, by a second device, the obtained descriptor, and

wherein building the anonymous user profile comprises;

building, by the second device, the anonymous user profile related to communication activities of the user based on the stored descriptor.

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

one or more processors;

one or more non-transitory computer readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed 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 received 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 a unique and anonymous user traffic identifier;

upon determining that the received communication traffic includes the user traffic identifier, extracting, by a first apparatus, a descriptor of the communication traffic, sending, by the first apparatus, a tracking notification including the extracted descriptor, and allowing the communication traffic to reach an intended destination of the communication traffic; and

causing at least temporary storage of the extracted descriptor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said user traffic identifier comprises a cookie.

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

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more non-transitory computer readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause functions to be performed including:

requesting the user communication 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;

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; and

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

17. The system of claim 13, wherein assigning to the user of the communication terminal a unique and anonymous user traffic identifier includes:

generating the unique user traffic identifier; and

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

18. The system of claim 13, wherein monitoring communication traffic originated by a user of a communication terminal includes:

monitoring, by the first apparatus, communication traffic originated by a user of a communication terminal.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more non-transitory computer readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause functions to be performed including:

responsive to receiving the tracking notification, storing, by a second apparatus, the extracted descriptor; and

building, by the second apparatus, an anonymous user profile related to communication activities of the user based on the descriptors stored in the second apparatus.