Unobtrusive systems and methods for collecting, processing and securing information transmitted over a network
The present disclosure relates to systems for “cookieless” tracking across a wide range of websites and mobile applications. The systems do not involve the use of tracking pixels or code on individual webs pages and associated web or other servers and may be achieved through use of a single URL for tracking a user across multiple websites while a browser session is initiated. Methods of enhanced tracking of user activity without requiring cookies or tracking pixels are also described herein.
1. A system for establishing primary node placement for collecting and storing information, comprising:
a network comprising a plurality of nodes;
a primary node connected to the network that is capable of intercepting and transmitting information to another network location on the network, wherein the primary node is logically situated between a user device and a target site and configured to:
receive a published request for communication with the target site from the user device;
send an original transmission to the target site, wherein the original transmission is based on the published request received from the user device;
receive a return transmission from the target site;
send the return transmission to the user device;
wherein the primary node is capable of storing, at least temporarily, the original and return transmissions into a logical memory location;
wherein the original and return transmissions are completely devoid of cookies, pixels or equivalent tracking systems; and
wherein at least a portion of the transmission to the target site is modified to manage further transmissions between the user device and the target system.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising the steps of correcting any referrer links and realigning any cookies associated with the original or return transmissions.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the primary node is configured to intercept and collect all information exchanged between the user device and the target site.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one filter configured to prevent collecting certain file types or communication formats.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the at least one filter prevents collecting image, video, and protocol file types.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the primary node is configured to cache the published request received from the user and the return transmission from the target site.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the primary node is configured to intercept transmissions initiated by selection of one or more hyperlinks.
8. A system for exchanging information between an originator and a responder, comprising:
a network;
a data collection system connected to the network;
a primary node connected to the network that is capable of transmitting information to the data collection system;
wherein the data collection system is configured to collect and manage all transmissions sent to and from the originator and the responder, and wherein the data collection system is capable of, receiving a published request for transmission of data from the responder;
modifying the published request; storing the modified published request;
sending a transmission to the responder with the modified published request;
receiving a return transmission from the responder;
modifying the return transmission; and
sending the return transmission to the originator;
wherein the transmissions to and from the originator, once modified by the data collection system, are completely devoid of cookies and tracking pixels.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the data collection system comprises a processing subsystem, a data subsystem, and a global queue.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein transmissions are routed from the originator to the data collection system through a distinct URI value.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the URI value contains a unique value enabling the data collection system to identify a transmission requested from the responder.
12. The system of claim 8 wherein the data collection system is configured to at least temporarily store each transmission received from the originator and the responder in a separate cache.
13. The system of claim 8 wherein the step of modifying the published request and modifying the return transmission includes correcting any referrer links and realigning any cookies.
14. The system of claim 8 wherein transmissions are directed from the originator to the responder utilizing DNS entries.
15. The system of claim 8 wherein the network is selected from the group consisting of a local area network, a wide area network, an intranet and an Internet.