Blockchain User Data Access Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication networks face challenges in ensuring user-controlled access to sensitive data, with existing methods failing to prevent unauthorized access and data leakage, particularly in social networks and cellular communication systems.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of blockchain technology to manage user-controlled access, where a multisignature channel is created between the user device, network nodes, and a blockchain, allowing users to grant or revoke access by transmitting private key shares and recording access requests and transactions on the blockchain, ensuring transparent and secure data access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If user data is stored in communication networks for service provision, then network functionality and service quality are improved, but data privacy and security are compromised due to unauthorized access and data leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork service functionalityVSAvoiddata privacy security

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments control over data access by implementing fine-grained permission settings that allow users to divide access rights into different levels and categories. Users can specify which applications or services can access specific data types, creating segmented control structures that maintain service functionality while protecting privacy through granular authorization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary access control mechanism that acts as a mediator between users, applications, and network services. This intermediary layer verifies and enforces access permissions, preventing direct unauthorized access while allowing legitimate services to function, thus resolving the contradiction between service provision and data protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If traditional access control methods are used for user data, then system simplicity is maintained, but unauthorized access and data leakage cannot be prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess control system simplicityVSAvoiddata access security

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by establishing comprehensive access control policies and permission structures before any data access occurs. Users pre-configure their privacy preferences and access rights, and the system validates these settings in advance, preventing unauthorized access rather than reacting to security breaches after they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor and report on data access attempts and permission violations. The system provides users with visibility into who accesses their data and when, allowing them to adjust their privacy settings dynamically based on actual access patterns, thereby enhancing security while maintaining manageable system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11568083B2User-controlled access to data in a communication network

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

AI summary

There is provided a method comprising, receiving, from a second network node, a request to access data of a user of a user device, forwarding the request to the user device, receiving, from the user device, an acknowledgement indicating that access to the data of the user is granted and transmitting, in response to receiving the acknowledgement, a first indication to a blockchain, the first indication indicating that access to the data of the user is granted.