Data processing systems and methods for automatically blocking the use of tracking tools

US11586700B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• OneTrust, LLC · US

Inventors

• Patrick Whitney · Atlanta, US
• Kevin Jones · Atlanta, US
• Brian Kelly · Horspath, GB
• Subramanian Viswanathan · Marietta, US
• Casey Hill · Atlanta, US
• Jeffrey Baucom · Sandy Springs, US
• Madhusudhan Kunhambu · Kanchinakote, IN
• Mithun Babu · Kanchinakote, IN
• Rajneesh Kesavan · Bengaluru, IN
• Santhosh Kumar Koti · Hyderabad, IN
• Sathish Gopalakrishnan · Acworth, US
• Anand Balasubramanian · Collegeville, US
• Mohamed Kabad · Atlanta, US
• Jayamohan Puthenveetil · Kanchinakote, IN
• Jonathan Blake Brannon · Smyrna, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 11, 2020
• Grant date: Feb 21, 2023
• Expiry date: Dec 11, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F21/6218
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Data processing systems and methods, according to various embodiments, are adapted for determining a categorization for each tracking tool that executes on a particular webpage based on a variety of criteria, such as the purpose of the tracking tool and its source script. The system may compare the characteristics of tracking tools on a webpage to a database of known tracking tools to determine the appropriate categorization. When a user visits the webpage, the system analyzes these categories and determines whether the tracking tool should be permitted to run based on the categories and/or other criteria, such as whether the user has consented to the use of that type of tracking tool.