Call Tracking via Caller ID Obfuscation for Privacy Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional call tracking systems risk violating privacy and data security regulations by collecting and tracking caller ID data, which can be considered Personal Identifiable Information (PII), leading to potential legal and compliance issues.
Innovation Solution
The system obfuscates caller ID data using one-way encryption, such as the Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA) 256 transformation, to anonymize the data, ensuring that only an unusable string of digits is transmitted and stored, thereby protecting the caller's privacy while allowing for intelligent call tracking and routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If caller ID data is collected and tracked for call tracking purposes, then call tracking capability is improved, but privacy protection and compliance with data security regulations deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential tracking information (call timing, duration, routing data) while excluding the harmful element (caller's actual phone number). The caller ID data is processed to remove the identifiable phone number portion, keeping only the obfuscated representation that cannot be used for identification but preserves tracking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary obfuscation layer between the caller ID data and the tracking system. Instead of directly using the raw caller ID, the system applies an obfuscation function that transforms the phone number into an unrecognizable format, acting as a mediator that preserves tracking capability while blocking privacy violations.
2Loss of information
If caller ID data is stored in plain text for analysis, then data analysis capability is improved, but security and compliance with privacy laws deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter representation of the caller ID data by applying an obfuscation function that transforms the phone number into a different format. This parameter transformation maintains the data's utility for tracking and analysis purposes while fundamentally altering its form to prevent identification and ensure compliance with privacy regulations.
3Measurement precision
If full caller ID information is transmitted to call centers, then call routing and tracking precision is improved, but exposure to privacy violations and data breaches increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary routing information from the caller ID data while removing the sensitive phone number portion. The obfuscated data retains sufficient information for accurate call routing and tracking but eliminates the specific identifier that would enable data breaches or misuse.
Solution Approach 2:
The obfuscation function serves as an intermediary that processes caller ID data before transmission to call centers. This mediator transforms the data into a form that preserves routing precision while preventing data breaches by making the phone number unrecognizable and unusable for identification purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, methods, and computer program products for performing call tracking in a novel way wherein caller ID data is obfuscated so as to preserve a caller's privacy by protecting their telephone number.