System and method for identifying users in a distributed network

摘要

A communications network includes several computers connected to a communications medium. In one embodiment, a client computer has a unique identification number that is embedded within a processor. The client computer includes a client module which generates a message that includes the identification number and sends the message over the communications medium. Another computer receives the message and retrieves the identification number from the message. In addition, the computer processes the identification number and updates an identification database. The processing of the identification number and the updating of the identification database is triggered when the message is received.