Method, apparatus, and computer program product for consumer tracking

1. A method comprising:

receiving a client device ID and client device profile data;

determining, in real-time, consumer attached session data associated with the client device ID, the consumer attached session data being a data entity generated by a host system that captures, identifies, or embodies an instance or a period of consumer activity associated with a website or mobile application;

receiving, subsequent to the determination of the consumer attached session data, new session data, the new session data not attached to the previously determined or acquired or captured consumer attached session data;

determining whether to attach the new session data to the consumer attached session data by: determining a weighted correlation value by comparing the session data to the consumer attached session data and identifying one or more differences between the client device ID and the client device profile data received in as part of the consumer attached session data and the new session data;

correlating the new session data to the consumer attached session data upon the determination that consumer attached session data if the weighted correlation value satisfies a predetermined threshold; and

updating the data entity representative of a session timestamp to include timestamp information contained within the new session data upon the determination that the weighted correlation value satisfies the predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the weighted correlation value is based on one or more page view indications, one or more page view duration indications, aggregate page view information and aggregate page view duration information.

3. The method of claim 1 ,

comparing client device ID to any known client device sessions;

generating an updated known client device session in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to any known client device sessions; and

generating a new known client device session in an instance in which the client device ID does not correlate to any known client device sessions.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

generating the updated known client device session in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to one of the any known client device sessions and a timestamp associated with the one of the any known client device sessions satisfies a predetermined threshold.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the client device ID is compared to a last known client device session,

wherein an updated known client device session is generated in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to the last known client device session, and

a new known client device session is generated in an instance in which the client device ID does not correlate to last known client device session.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a consumer ID;

correlating the updated known client device session or the new known client device session to a consumer session reference based on the consumer ID;

terminating the updated known client device session or the new known client device session; and

generating a consumer attached client device session upon receiving the consumer ID.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving a logout request;

terminating the consumer attached client device session; and

generating a consumer detached client device session.

8. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code instructions stored therein, the computer-executable program code instructions comprising program code instructions for:

receiving a client device ID and client device profile data;

determining, in real-time, consumer attached session data associated with the client device ID, the consumer attached session data being a data entity generated by a host system that captures, identifies, or embodies an instance or a period of consumer activity associated with a website or mobile application;

receiving, subsequent to the determination of the consumer attached session data, new session data, the new session data not attached to the previously determined or acquired or captured consumer attached session data;

determining whether to attach the new session data to the consumer attached session data by: determining a weighted correlation value by comparing the session data to the consumer attached session data and identifying one or more differences between the client device ID and the client device profile data received in as part of the consumer attached session data and the new session data;

correlating the new session data to the consumer attached session data upon the determination that consumer attached session data if the weighted correlation value satisfies a predetermined threshold; and

updating the data entity representative of a session timestamp to include timestamp information contained within the new session data upon the determination that the weighted correlation value satisfies the predetermined threshold.

9. The computer program product according to claim 8 , wherein the weighted correlation value is based on one or more page view indications, one or more page view duration indications, aggregate page view information and aggregate page view duration information.

10. The computer program product according to claim 8 , the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions for

comparing client device ID to any known client device sessions;

generating an updated known client device session in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to any known client device sessions; and

generating a new known client device session in an instance in which the client device ID does not correlate to any known client device sessions.

11. The computer program product according to claim 10 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions for:

generating the updated known client device session in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to one of the any known client device sessions and a timestamp associated with the one of the any known client device sessions satisfies a predetermined threshold.

12. The computer program product according to claim 10 , wherein the client device ID is compared to a last known client device session,

wherein an updated known client device session is generated in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to the last known client device session, and

a new known client device session is generated in an instance in which the client device ID does not correlate to last known client device session.

13. The computer program product according to claim 8 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions for:

receiving a consumer ID;

correlating the updated known client device session or the new known client device session to a consumer session reference based on the consumer ID;

terminating the updated known client device session or the new known client device session; and

generating a consumer attached client device session upon receiving the consumer ID.

14. The computer program product according to claim 13 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions for:

receiving a logout request;

terminating the consumer attached client device session; and

generating a consumer detached client device session.

15. An apparatus comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer code stored therein, the computer code configured, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to:

receive a client device ID and client device profile data;

determine, in real-time, consumer attached session data associated with the client device ID, the consumer attached session data being a data entity generated by a host system that captures, identifies, or embodies an instance or a period of consumer activity associated with a website or mobile application;

receive, subsequent to the determination of the consumer attached session data, new session data, the new session data not attached to the previously determined or acquired or captured consumer attached session data;

determining whether to attach the new session data to the consumer attached session data by: determine a weighted correlation value by comparing the session data to the consumer attached session data and identifying one or more differences between the client device ID and the client device profile data received in as part of the consumer attached session data and the new session data;

correlating the new session data to the consumer attached session data upon the determination that consumer attached session data if the weighted correlation value satisfies a predetermined threshold; and

update the data entity representative of a session timestamp to include timestamp information contained within the new session data upon the determination that the weighted correlation value satisfies the predetermined threshold.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the weighted correlation value is based on one or more page view indications, one or more page view duration indications, aggregate page view information and aggregate page view duration information.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15 , the computer code is further configured, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to:

compare client device ID to any known client device sessions;

generate an updated known client device session in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to any known client device sessions; and

generate a new known client device session in an instance in which the client device ID does not correlate to any known client device sessions.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the computer code is further configured, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to:

generate the updated known client device session in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to one of the any known client device sessions and a timestamp associated with the one of the any known client device sessions satisfies a predetermined threshold.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the client device ID is compared to a last known client device session,

wherein an updated known client device session is generated in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to the last known client device session, and

a new known client device session is generated in an instance in which the client device ID does not correlate to last known client device session.

20. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the computer code is further configured, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to:

receive a consumer ID;

correlate the updated known client device session or the new known client device session to a consumer session reference based on the consumer ID;

terminate the updated known client device session or the new known client device session; and

generate a consumer attached client device session upon receiving the consumer ID.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the computer code is further configured, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to:

receive a logout request;

terminate the consumer attached client device session; and

generate a consumer detached client device session.