Patent ID: 8037097

Claim:
A computer implemented method for identifying a client device, comprising: receiving via the client device, a first service-dependent identifier (SDID) that identifies a first service utilized by the client device; accessing in a database, a first SDID record from a set of records that are associated with the client device, wherein the set of records comprises a plurality of SDID records and at least one universal device identifier (UDID) record, and wherein each record of the set of records includes a different ordering of a same pre-selected set of fields for storing a set of identifiers associated with the client device; determining a final UDID using the first SDID; after determining the final UDID, updating a lowest weighted SDID record of the set of records, with the final UDID, wherein the lowest weighted SDID record is keyed to a pre-defined lowest weighted SDID type; after updating the lowest weighted SDID record, updating the UDID record with the final UDID; and after updating the lowest weighted SDID record, updating a highest weighted SDID record of the set of records, with the final UDID, wherein the highest weighted SDID record is keyed to a pre-defined highest weighted SDID type.