Method for counting without the use of unique identifiers

摘要

Embodiments relate to determining the number of unique users of computer software without individually identifying users with a unique identification. In an embodiment, data elements are communicated from clients to a server. Each data element contains the number of days that have elapsed since the last communication from the client to the server. Based on the communicated data elements and the time and date at which each data element is received, the server can determine a count of unique users over a specified time period.

主权项

1. A computer implemented method of counting a number of unique clients over a specified time span without reliance on unique client identifiers, comprising:
receiving, from one or more clients, one or more data elements, wherein each data element comprises a length of time that has elapsed since a previous communication of a data element from the client; determining a timestamp of each received data element; and determining from the received data elements and associated timestamps a count of unique clients over a received time span, wherein the count determining is implemented on a processing device and comprises: determining a start time of aggregation from the received time span, and for each received data element: subtracting the length of time since the previous communication from the associated timestamp of the communication to determine a resultant time and incrementing the count of unique clients when the resultant time is earlier than the start time of aggregation.