Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for tracking world wide web browser requests across distinct domains using persistent client-side state

US6073241A · kind A · utility

273Cited by
6References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 29, 1996
Grant dateJun 6, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 29, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L67/1091
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of tracking a web browser across distinct domains of a network of computers includes the step of identifying, at a first server computer with a first domain name, a first request from the web browser. The web browser is then assigned a unique identification code. The unique identification code is then conveyed to a second server with a second domain name that is distinct from the first domain name. A request by the web browser to the second server computer is associated with the web browser via the unique identification code. In this way, the web browser is tracked across distinct domains of the World Wide Web. As a result, the web browser can be passively tracked to identify content preferences and interests associated with the individual using the web browser.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.