Timestamp-based matching of identifiers

Abstract

Systems and methods for timestamp-based matching of identifiers are provided. Information may be stored in memory regarding a plurality of identifiers each unique to an associated website or to an associated browser. Stored information may further include one or more maps each associating a device identifier with at least one immutable browser identifier or mutable browser identifier. The device identifier may be unique to an associated computing device. Information may be received from a computing device that has used a browser to download a website, where the downloaded website includes a reference to a browser identifier specific to the downloaded website. The received information may be determined to include a timestamp and an internet protocol (IP) address. The timestamp and IP in the received information may further be determined to correspond to a computing device associated with one of the stored maps, where the corresponding computing device is identified by a corresponding device identifier. The stored map associated with the corresponding device identifier may be updated based on the referenced browser identifier.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for timestamp-based matching of identifiers, the method comprising:
 storing information in memory regarding one or more maps, wherein each map associates a device identifier with at least one browser identifier, the device identifier unique to an associated computing device;   receiving information from a computing device that has used a browser to download a website, wherein the downloaded website includes a reference to a browser identifier specific to the browser;   identifying that the received information includes a timestamp and an internet protocol (IP) address;   determining that the timestamp and the IP address in the received information corresponds to a device identifier in one of the stored maps, wherein the corresponding device identifier is specific to the computing device; and   updating the stored map associated with the corresponding device identifier based on the referenced browser identifier.