Abstract: A technique for uniquely identifying devices without explicitly provided device or user identifying information in a networked client-server environment, e.g., the Mobile Internet. In one aspect, a system retrieves a profile of a client device, retrieves all device profiles existing in a profile database, and sequentially eliminates profiles not matching until a single profile is left or all profiles have been used.

Abstract: A technique for uniquely identifying devices without explicitly provided device or user identifying information in a networked client-server environment, e.g., the Mobile Internet, in which content is downloaded from a server to a device browser executing at a client device, and using static XML markup tags embedded in the content in a manner transparent to a user situated at the device browser, derives a globally unique device identifier. Device identifying information is captured and maintained in a device profile database associated with a globally unique device identifier. Specifically, mark up code embedded into a referring content page effectively downloads software from a distribution server, and then instantiates the software in the client device browser. The software transparently and dynamically inserts an Internet address request to a device identification management system.