Systems and methods for identifying a returning web client

A method of identifying a computing device within a computing network over the Internet, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of requests from at least one computing device, over the Internet, at a server comprising a communication channel and a data storage device;
• analyzing the plurality of requests to determine a plurality of sequential request features of requests received at different times, wherein the request features are obtained from a plurality of computing devices associated with different device fingerprints, wherein at least some of the request features are identical, and wherein the analyzing comprises identifying timing patterns in identical request features;
• and
• determining from the timing patterns that the requests originate from one or more identified computing devices of the plurality of computing devices within the computing network.

A server for identifying a computing device within a computing network, the system comprising:

• a data storage device;
• a server comprising a communication channel with the data storage device, the server having program code that, when executed by a processor, executes a method comprising:
• receiving a plurality of requests from at least one computing device, over the Internet, at a server comprising a communication channel and a data storage device;
• analyzing the plurality of requests to determine a plurality of sequential request features of requests received at different times, wherein the request features are obtained from a plurality of computing devices associated with different device fingerprints, wherein at least some of the request features are identical, and wherein the analyzing comprises identifying timing patterns in identical request features;
• and
• determining from the timing patterns that the requests originate from one or more identified computing devices of the plurality of computing devices within the computing network.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform a method of identifying a computing device within a computing network, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of requests from at least one computing device, over the Internet, at a server comprising a communication channel and a data storage device;
• analyzing the plurality of requests to determine a plurality of sequential request features of requests received at different times, wherein the request features are obtained from a plurality of computing devices associated with different device fingerprints, wherein at least some of the request features are identical, and wherein the analyzing comprises identifying timing patterns in identical request features;
• and
• determining from the timing patterns that the requests originate from one or more identified computing devices of the plurality of computing devices within the computing network.