Demand Ratings™ Done Right Part 1 — Signature Algorithms

Posted by: Pete Horadan

I talked earlier about the insufficiencies of current tracking approaches and their impact on behavioral analytics. Let’s now talk about how it should be done—how we do it here at Scout Analytics. Basically, our technology is centered around a unique signature concept. We analyze dozens of unique attributes and utilize patent-pending algorithms to derive a unique signature for the device, network, even the individual user (biometric).

You can think of signatures sort of like a genome—while there are overlapping characteristics—each carries a unique and identifiable pattern and sequence.

Of course, this isn’t easy or everyone would be doing it. As you can imagine, machines, networks and even people change in different environments and over time—you install a new version of Flash, or change to Silverlight. The cast on your broken right hand changes how you use the computer. You change network carriers. The trick is to have algorithms that take into account enough factors and have enough intelligence to sense the change as a progression of a previous signature, rather than a different signature.

We have algorithms for recording and tracking a Devices Signature, a Network Signature and a Biometric Signature. Each of these unique signatures works to improve the accuracy of tracking and context during analysis. So next time I’ll give a little more insight into each. The development of these techniques is something that truly sets us apart, and it’s what makes Demand Rating™ work.