System and method for using a variable analysis window to produce statistics on downloadable media

A method for calculating the number of distinct downloads of media files within a file delivery system which includes at least a media file or redirect server, and a system for communicating with a plurality of user agents, wherein the method comprises:

• retrieving a first set of data comprising a plurality of media file requests for a first media file from a first set of unique devices;
• wherein each of the plurality of media file requests comprise:
• user agent identifier data, unique device data, request time data, requested media file identifier data, and IP address data;
• extracting user agent identifier data and IP address data from the first set of data;
• associating individual user agent identifier data with individual IP addresses;
• identifying the number of user agents associated with each individual IP address among the first set of IP addresses;
• calculating a degree of IP overlap for each unique device;
• wherein the degree of IP overlap comprises the number of user agents requesting the first media file from each shared IP address;
• storing a first default lookback window;
• wherein the first default lookback window comprises an interval of time for counting a number of media file requests received from a first set of unique devices;
• creating a first set of adjusted lookback windows for the first set of unique devices;
• wherein the first set of adjusted lookback windows comprises at least a first adjusted lookback window created by reducing the first default lookback window based at least in part on the degree of IP overlap of a first user agent associated with a first requesting device;
• assigning the first set of adjusted lookback windows to the first set of unique devices;
• wherein at least the first adjusted lookback window is assigned to the first requesting device;
• analyzing a first set of media file requests from at least the first set of unique devices within the first set of adjusted lookback windows assigned to each of the first set of unique devices;
• and
• calculate a number of unique media downloads generated by each of the first set of unique devices within the first set of adjusted lookback windows assigned to each unique device.