How Ad Sentinelle Works

This page explains the technical architecture and operating flow of Ad Sentinelle.

Overall Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                       Your Website                              │
│                                                                 │
│  ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐   │
│  │              Ad Sentinelle SDK (adwall.min.js)          │   │
│  │                                                          │   │
│  │  ┌──────────────┐  ┌──────────────┐  ┌──────────────┐   │   │
│  │  │  Detection   │  │  A/B Testing │  │  Display     │   │   │
│  │  │  Ad Block    │  │  Variants    │  │  Wall        │   │   │
│  │  └──────────────┘  └──────────────┘  └──────────────┘   │   │
│  │                                                          │   │
│  │  ┌──────────────┐  ┌──────────────┐  ┌──────────────┐   │   │
│  │  │  Session     │  │  Event       │  │  Conversion  │   │   │
│  │  │  Management  │  │  Tracking    │  │  Handler     │   │   │
│  │  └──────────────┘  └──────────────┘  └──────────────┘   │   │
│  └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘   │
│                             │                                   │
│                             │ HTTPS (sendBeacon/fetch)          │
│                             ▼                                   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                              │
                              ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    Ad Sentinelle Backend (Cloud Run)            │
│                                                                 │
│  ┌──────────────┐  ┌──────────────┐  ┌──────────────────────┐  │
│  │  API Events  │  │  Analytics   │  │  Wall Configuration  │  │
│  │  /track      │  │  Dashboard   │  │                      │  │
│  └──────────────┘  └──────────────┘  └──────────────────────┘  │
│                             │                                   │
│                             ▼                                   │
│                   ┌────────────────┐                           │
│                   │   PostgreSQL   │                           │
│                   │   (Database)   │                           │
│                   └────────────────┘                           │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Detailed User Flow

Step 1: SDK Loading

When a user visits your site, the Ad Sentinelle SDK loads:

// SDK initializes automatically
// It fetches configuration from your dashboard

Actions performed:

• Generation/retrieval of session ID
• A/B testing variant attribution
• Collection of metadata (anonymized)

Step 2: Ad Blocker Detection

The SDK uses two complementary methods:

Method 1: Element Bait 🎣

// Creation of a "bait" element
const bait = document.createElement('div');
bait.className = 'adsbox ad adsbygoogle';

// If hidden → Ad blocker detected

Method 2: Network Request 🌐

// Attempt to load an ad script
fetch('https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/...')
// If blocked → Ad blocker detected

Step 3: Wall Display

If an ad blocker is detected AND the user is not already converted:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                                         │
│       🛡️ Blocker Detected               │
│                                         │
│   Your ad blocker prevents our          │
│   financing. Please disable it to       │
│   access the content.                   │
│                                         │
│   [I've Disabled My Blocker]            │
│                                         │
│   ❓ How to Disable?                    │
│                                         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

Step 4: Verification and Conversion

When the user clicks the button:

User clicks "I've Disabled"
         ↓
    [Verification...]  ← Visual feedback
         ↓
    New real-time detection
         ↓
    ┌─────────┴─────────┐
    ↓                   ↓
  SUCCESS              FAILURE
    ↓                   ↓
Conversion          Error message
Wall removed        "Still active"
Cookie set          Button reset

Step 5: Event Tracking

Every action is tracked for analytics:

Event	Trigger
adblock_detected	Ad blocker detected
adwall_displayed	Wall displayed
adwall_help_opened	Help opened
verification_success	Disable confirmed
verification_failed	Ad blocker still active
conversion_allowlist	Conversion validated

Cookie Management

Ad Sentinelle uses only first-party cookies:

Cookie	Duration	Description
adwall_session_id	Session	Unique session ID
adwall_variant	Session	Assigned A/B variant