Automated Account Discovery and Management System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers face difficulties in managing and protecting numerous online accounts, leading to potential unauthorized access and data breaches due to increased connectivity and forgotten subscriptions, which poses risks of fraud and digital safety threats.

Innovation Solution

A cyber-security system that includes a processor and memory unit configured to generate consumer profiles, scan devices for security threats, monitor email and internet activity, and recommend closing unused accounts, while assisting in updating personal information across multiple accounts to prevent unauthorized access and breaches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If consumers manually track and manage their online accounts, then they can maintain awareness of their subscriptions, but this process becomes difficult and time-consuming due to the large number of accounts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccount tracking reliabilityVSAvoidtime spent managing accounts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically discovers and tracks consumer accounts by monitoring email correspondence and browsing activity without requiring manual consumer input. The system self-manages the account tracking process, generating lists of financial institutions and businesses associated with the consumer based on monitored digital footprints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical tracking methods with automated electronic monitoring systems that scan email accounts, browser history, and cache data to automatically identify and track consumer accounts, eliminating the need for manual record-keeping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If consumers leave unused accounts open, then they maintain access to potential services, but this increases the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice accessibilityVSAvoidsecurity breach risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors consumer accounts and provides feedback by generating updated lists of associated financial institutions and businesses. This ongoing feedback mechanism allows consumers to review their account portfolio and take action on unused accounts, creating a closed-loop security management system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system proactively identifies unused or unwanted accounts before they can be compromised, allowing consumers to close them in advance. By detecting accounts through email and browsing pattern analysis, the system enables preventive security measures rather than reactive responses to breaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If consumers close unused accounts to improve security, then they reduce the risk of breaches, but they may lose access to services they might need in the future

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity breach riskVSAvoidfuture service access
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system empowers consumers to make informed decisions about their own account management by providing them with comprehensive lists of their digital footprint. Consumers self-determine which accounts to close based on the system's discoveries, maintaining control over their security posture and service access preferences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12028358B2Digital safety and account discovery
Publication Date: 2024.07.02 ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY
  • US12028358B2 patent drawing
  • US12028358B2 patent drawing
  • US12028358B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods, computer-readable media, software, and apparatuses may assist a consumer in keeping track of a consumer's accounts in order to prevent unauthorized access or use of the consumer's identified accounts. To discover the various accounts, the methods, computer-readable media, software, and apparatuses can monitor at least a consumer's email accounts, web browser history, and web cache. The discovered accounts may be displayed to the consumer along with recommendations and assistance for closing unused or unwanted accounts to prevent unauthorized access or use.