Ad Auction Visibility Profile for User Data Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In online advertising, user data privacy is compromised during ad space auctions as sensitive user information is exposed to buyers, allowing potential misuse or resale.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that conducts real-time ad space auctions by sending bid requests to multiple bidders, selecting a winning bid based on a visibility profile that controls access to user data, ensuring only authorized data is shared with buyers, thereby protecting user segment data from exposure and misuse.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If user data is provided to buyers during ad space auctions, then targeted advertising capability is improved, but user privacy is compromised and data misuse risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetargeted advertising capabilityVSAvoiduser privacy compromise
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary bid information from the full user data set and provides it to buyers through controlled bid requests. The system separates user data into essential bidding parameters (such as device identifiers and basic demographics) and optional detailed data, allowing buyers to access only what is needed for the auction while protecting sensitive information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary data processing layer between the data source and the buyer. This intermediary system filters, validates, and controls what user data is transmitted during the auction process, ensuring that data is shared only in the format and quantity necessary for legitimate advertising decisions, thereby preventing direct exposure of sensitive user information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If comprehensive user data is shared with buyers, then advertising effectiveness is improved, but data security risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadvertising effectivenessVSAvoiddata security
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different data quality levels to different parts of the user data structure. Critical sensitive data (such as detailed behavioral patterns and personal identifiers) is either omitted or encrypted, while less sensitive data (such as device type and basic location) is provided. This localized approach ensures advertising effectiveness is maintained through relevant data while sensitive information remains protected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial data sharing by providing only the essential data needed for the auction decision rather than comprehensive user data. The system includes mechanisms for buyers to request additional data only when necessary, preventing over-sharing of sensitive information while maintaining sufficient data for effective advertising.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If real-time auctions are conducted with multiple bidders, then market efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemarket efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the auction system into distinct functional modules: data collection module, data filtering module, bid evaluation module, and data delivery module. Each module handles specific tasks independently, making the complex real-time auction process more manageable and maintainable while preserving market efficiency through automated multi-bidder competition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10872355B2Controlling user data visibility in online ad auctions
Publication Date: 2020.12.22 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • US10872355B2 patent drawing
  • US10872355B2 patent drawing
  • US10872355B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving, from a client device of a user, an ad request for an ad space of a seller, the ad space being for presentation in a user interface of an application executing on the client device, creating a bid request for bidding on the ad space, sending the bid request to one or more bidders, the bidders representing one or more buyers, receiving one or more bids from one or more of the bidders, each bid corresponding to a respective buyer and a creative, selecting, from the received bids, a winning bid corresponding to a particular buyer and a particular creative, and identifying a visibility profile for the particular buyer and, based thereon, providing data associated with the user to the particular buyer.