Method, apparatus, and computer program product for consumer tracking

1. A method comprising:

receiving a client device ID and client device profile data;

comparing the client device ID and the client device profile data to a latest known client device version, the latest known client device version being a data entity generated by a host system that identifies a particular instance of a client device, wherein each version, including the latest known client device version and each of a plurality of previous known client device versions, comprises an associated client device ID and client device profile data unique to that particular version;

comparing the client device ID to a last known client device session, wherein the last known client device session is 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;

in an instance in which the client device ID does not correlate to the last known client device session, comparing the client device ID to any previous known client device sessions, a previous known client device session being a data entity generated by the host system that captures, identifies, or embodies a previous instance or a previous period of consumer activity associated with the website or mobile application;

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

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;

generating an updated known client device version in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to the latest known client device version and the client device profile data differs from the latest known client device version;

generating the updated known client device session in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to latest known client device version and the client device profile data differs from the latest known client device version; and

assigning the updated known client device version as the latest known client device version.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in an instance in which the client device ID does not correlate to the latest known client device version:

comparing the client device ID and the client device profile data to the plurality of previous known client device versions, each of the plurality of previous known client device versions being a previous data entity generated by a host system that identifies a previous particular instance of the client device;

generating the updated known client device version in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to at least one of plurality of previous known client device versions and the client device profile data does not correlate to the at least one of the plurality of previous known client device versions;

generating a new known client device version in an instance in which the client device ID does not correlate to at least one of the plurality of previous known client device versions; and

assigning the new known client device version as the latest known client device version.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a consumer ID; and

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

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving session specific data; and

associating the session specific data to the updated known client device session or the new known client device session.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

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.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

receiving a logout request;

terminating the consumer attached client device session; and

generating a consumer detached client device session.

7. 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;

comparing the client device ID and the client device profile data to a latest known client device version, the latest known client device version being a data entity generated by a host system that identifies a particular instance of a client device, wherein each version, including the latest known client device version and each of a plurality of previous known client device versions, comprises an associated client device ID and client device profile data unique to that particular version;

comparing the client device ID to a last known client device session, wherein the last known client device session is 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;

in an instance in which the client device ID does not correlate to the last known client device session, comparing the client device ID to any previous known client device sessions, a previous known client device session being a data entity generated by the host system that captures, identifies, or embodies a previous instance or a previous period of consumer activity associated with the website or mobile application;

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

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;

generating an updated known client device version in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to the latest known client device version and the client device profile data differs from the latest known client device version;

generating the updated known client device session in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to latest known client device version and the client device profile data differs from the latest known client device version; and

assigning the updated known client device version as the latest known client device version.

8. The computer program product according to claim 7 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions for:

in an instance in which the client device ID does not correlate to the latest known client device version:

comparing the client device ID and the client device profile data to the plurality of previous known client device versions, each of the plurality of previous known client device versions being a previous data entity generated by a host system that identifies a previous particular instance of the client device;

generating the updated known client device version in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to at least one of plurality of previous known client device versions and the client device profile data does not correlate to the at least one of the plurality of previous known client device versions;

generating a new known client device version in an instance in which the client device ID does not correlate to at least one of the plurality of previous known client device versions; and

assigning the new known client device version as the latest known client device version.

9. The computer program product according to claim 7 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions for:

receiving a consumer ID; and

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

10. The computer program product according to claim 7 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions for:

receiving session specific data; and

associating the session specific data to the updated known client device session or the new known client device session.

11. The computer program product according to claim 9 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions for:

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.

12. The computer program product according to claim 11 , 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.

13. An apparatus for monitoring and identifying mobile application and web browser activity of a client device, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory 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;

compare the client device ID and the client device profile data to a latest known client device version, the latest known client device version being a data entity generated by a host system that identifies a particular instance of a client device, wherein each version, including the latest known client device version and each of a plurality of previous known client device versions, comprises an associated client device ID and client device profile data unique to that particular version;

compare the client device ID to a last known client device session, wherein the last known client device session is 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;

in an instance in which the client device ID does not correlate to the last known client device session, compare the client device ID to any previous known client device sessions, a previous known client device session being a data entity generated by the host system that captures, identifies, or embodies a previous instance or a previous period of consumer activity associated with the website or mobile application;

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

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;

generate an updated known client device version in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to the latest known client device version and the client device profile data differs from the latest known client device version;

generate the updated known client device session in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to latest known client device version and the client device profile data differs from the latest known client device version; and

assign the updated known client device version as the latest known client device version.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

in an instance in which the client device ID does not correlate to the latest known client device version:

compare the client device ID and the client device profile data to the plurality of previous known client device versions, each of the plurality of previous known client device versions being a previous data entity generated by a host system that identifies a previous particular instance of the client device;

generate the updated known client device version in an instance in which the client device ID correlates to at least one of plurality of previous known client device versions and the client device profile data does not correlate to the at least one of the plurality of previous known client device versions;

generate a new known client device version in an instance in which the client device ID does not correlate to at least one of the plurality of previous known client device versions; and

assign the new known client device version as the latest known client device version.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive a consumer ID; and

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

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive session specific data; and

associate the session specific data to the updated known client device session or the new known client device session.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

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.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive a logout request;

terminate the consumer attached client device session; and

generate a consumer detached client device session.