Patent ID: 8468271
Filing Date: 2013-06-18
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: with a network device coupled to a router located at an edge of a service provider network, receiving a network communication sent from a customer device of the service provider network to a network destination of a public network; with the network device, removing at least one destination-specified cookie from the network communication set by the network destination, wherein the destination-specified cookie conforms to an application-layer protocol; with the network device, generating a pseudonym for the customer device from which the network communication originated; with the network device, inserting an anonymous cookie into the network communication, wherein the inserted anonymous cookie specifies the pseudonym generated for the customer device, and wherein the anonymous cookie conforms to an application-layer protocol; and with the network device, forwarding the network communication including the inserted anonymous cookie to the network destination.