Online machine data collection and archiving process

Abstract

An online machine data collection and archiving process generates a machine data profile of a customer computer accessing a transaction form of a merchant web site and links the machine data profile and a transaction record with customer identifying information using a unique transaction identification string. The process preferably captures parameters typically communicated as a part of web accesses, such as an IP address, an HTTP header, and cookie information. The process additionally causes the customer computer to process self-identification routines by processing coding within the merchant transaction form, the self-identification routines yielding further profile parameters. The process further includes a routine for bypassing an intervening proxy to the merchant web site to reveal the true IP address of the customer computer.

1 . A process for collecting machine identifying information associated with a digital online access device used for accessing a host computer system over a digital network, said host computer system generating an interaction record of an access therewith by said access device, and said process comprising:
 capturing a machine fingerprint that identifies said access device accessing said host computer system wherein said machine fingerprint comprises a hashed attribute string that is a concatenation of attributes associated with said access device;   generating an interaction identification string upon said access device accessing said host computer system;   associating said interaction identification string with said machine fingerprint; and   associating said interaction identification string with said interaction record generated upon said access device accessing said host computer system.   
     
     
         2 . A process as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising capturing a digital address of said access device on said digital network. 
     
     
         3 . A process as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said hashed attribute string comprises a configuration setting of said access device. 
     
     
         4 . A process as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising:
 communicating a self-identification routine to said access device upon said access device accessing said host computer system;   said access device executing said self-identification routine;   said self-identification routine querying a configuration setting of said access device to derive said machine fingerprint; and   said self-identification routine communicating said machine fingerprint to a remote location for association with said interaction identification string.   
     
     
         5 . A process as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising:
 said host system operating a host web site including an interaction page generated by interaction page code processed by said access device upon accessing said host web site; and   coding, within said interaction code, a self-identification routine which causes said access device to communicate said machine fingerprint when said access device processes said interaction page code.   
     
     
         6 . A process as set forth in  claim 3  further comprising coding said self-identification routine in such a manner that said machine fingerprint and said interaction identification string are communicated to a third party web site at which said machine fingerprint and said interaction identification string are stored. 
     
     
         7 . A process for identifying a customer computer involved in an online transaction between a customer using a customer browser operating on said customer computer and a merchant operating a merchant web site, said method comprising the steps of:
 capturing a machine fingerprint of a customer computer upon said customer computer accessing said merchant web site wherein said machine fingerprint comprises a hashed attribute string associated with one or more attributes of said customer computer;   generating a transaction identification string and associating said string with said machine fingerprint;   storing said machine fingerprint and said transaction identification string in a machine data archive;   upon said customer completing a transaction through said merchant web site, storing said transaction identification string with a transaction record formed during said transaction to thereby associate said machine fingerprint with said transaction record through said transaction identification string.   
     
     
         8 . A process as set forth in  claim 7  further comprising capturing an IP address of said customer computer. 
     
     
         9 . A process as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said machine fingerprint comprises a configuration setting of said customer computer. 
     
     
         10 . A process as set forth in  claim 7  comprising communicating said machine fingerprint and said transaction identification string to a third party web site for storage. 
     
     
         11 . A process as set forth in  claim 7  further comprising causing said customer computer to communicate said machine fingerprint and said transaction identification string to a third party web site for storage. 
     
     
         12 . A process as set forth in  claim 7  further comprising:
 communicating a self-identification routine to said customer computer upon said customer computer accessing said merchant web site;   said customer computer executing said self-identification routine;   said self-identification routine querying a configuration setting of said customer computer to derive said machine fingerprint; and   said self-identification routine communicating said machine fingerprint to a remote location for association with said interaction identification string.   
     
     
         13 . A process as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising coding said self-identification routine in such a manner that said machine fingerprint and said interaction identification string are communicated to a third party web site at which said profile parameter and said interaction identification string are stored. 
     
     
         14 . A process as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said querying step further comprises:
 querying said customer browser for a plurality of configuration settings;   forming an attribute string from said plurality of configuration settings; and   hashing said attribute string to form said machine fingerprint of said customer computer.   
     
     
         15 . A process as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said customer computer accesses said merchant web site by way of a proxy, and said communicating step further comprises communicating said machine fingerprint and said transaction identification string to said remote location using a protocol which bypasses said proxy.