Patent: Audience targeting with universal profile synchronization

[Marcia]

This is just a patent application dated July 28, 2005 and it takes a while for them to be granted, but there's no information on who the assignee would be

Audience targeting with universal profile synchronization [appft1.uspto.gov]

A unique global identifier may be assigned to and used to manage a profiled audience member. This identifier may also be associated to an authoritative identifier and cookie information used in connection with the collection of profile data. An authoritative identifier may be received in connection with activity, and might not be accompanied by a global identifier. The authoritative identifier may then be used to identify the global identifier, which in turn may be used to identify the cookie related information of record for the profiled audience member. Comparing the cookie related information to previously retained cookie information may be used to determine that the cookie information for a particular, profiled audience member has changed, so that it can be restored.

I just found it accidentally while looking for some information on usage statistics (including Google in the search) but there's no clue except to research who the listed inventor is associated with.

It's been looking like some search results have been switching (mostly at Yahoo, to be specific) and there's a little buzz around that it may have something to do with cookies, so this looked interesting.