Anonymizing Apparatus Using Application-Specific Hash Keys
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data anonymity systems are vulnerable to interpretation, as anonymized data can be easily identified, allowing individuals to be pinpointed based on common information across multiple data items.
Innovation Solution
An anonymizing apparatus uses different keys for various applications to generate and replace hash values for anonymized data, ensuring distinct anonymous results across different applications, thereby making it difficult to interpret anonymized data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single key is used to generate hash values for anonymized data across multiple applications, then data processing is simplified and efficient, but anonymized data can be easily interpreted and individuals can be identified by matching common information across data items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single key system into multiple application-specific keys. Each application program is assigned a unique key (e.g., first key for first application, second key for second application) to generate hash values. This segmentation ensures that anonymized data from different applications cannot be easily correlated or interpreted together, as they use different hashing keys, thereby enhancing data anonymity while maintaining manageable key complexity through systematic organization.
2Reliability
If different keys are used for different applications to generate hash values, then data anonymity is enhanced and interpretation becomes difficult, but key management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal key management mechanism that serves multiple functions: it generates unique keys for each application program, manages the storage and retrieval of these keys, and coordinates the anonymization process across different applications. This multi-functional approach allows the system to handle multiple keys systematically, reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining strong data anonymity through the use of different keys for different applications.
3Reliability
If hash values are generated and replaced for anonymized data, then individual identification is prevented, but data utility for analysis may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of the hashing function by using different keys for different applications. This parameter change allows the system to maintain data utility for each specific application's analysis needs while ensuring that the anonymized data cannot be easily correlated across applications. The hash values preserve the necessary data characteristics for individual application analysis while the use of different keys prevents cross-application interpretation, thus balancing anonymity with data utility.
Data Source
AI summary
An anonymizing apparatus includes a processor configured to receive an instruction from a first apparatus, anonymize an anonymized part of a first data based on a type of an application program that causes the first apparatus to send the instruction, and transmit the anonymized first data to the first apparatus.