Centralized User Consent Framework for Signed Data Transmission Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems require users to repeatedly provide consent for data collection and usage across multiple domains, leading to frustration and inefficiency, and lack assurance that data is collected and used according to user preferences.

Innovation Solution

A centralized user consent framework allows users to manage their consent settings through a single platform, enabling them to specify data collection and usage policies across multiple domains, with digitally signed settings to ensure compliance and prevent tampering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users provide consent for data collection across multiple domains individually, then data collection compliance is achieved, but user operation efficiency deteriorates and frustration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata collection complianceVSAvoiduser operation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate consent requests from different domains into a single unified consent interface. The system aggregates consent preferences across multiple domains and presents them together to the user, allowing one-time consent approval for multiple domains simultaneously, thereby improving operational efficiency while maintaining compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal consent mechanism that works across multiple domains simultaneously. A single consent setting established by the user can be applied universally across different domains that participate in the framework, eliminating the need for domain-specific consent operations while ensuring broad compliance coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users manage consent settings for each domain separately, then precise control over data usage is achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the consent management system into two distinct layers: a simplified user interface layer that presents unified consent options, and a backend processing layer that handles domain-specific consent applications. This segmentation allows precise control over data usage while hiding the underlying system complexity from users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a consent management server as an intermediary between users and multiple domains. This mediator receives user consent preferences, processes them according to domain-specific requirements, and distributes appropriate consent signals to participating domains, thereby simplifying the user's interaction while maintaining precise control capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If consent settings are transmitted without digital signatures, then transmission efficiency is improved, but security and compliance assurance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidcompliance assurance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements digital signatures on consent settings by creating a cryptographic copy of the consent data that includes verification information. This signature copy is transmitted alongside the original consent settings, enabling recipients to verify authenticity and integrity without significantly increasing transmission overhead, thus maintaining both efficiency and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4062343B1User consent framework
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP4062343B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4062343B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4062343B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including an apparatus for managing user data according to user consent settings are described. In some aspects, a method includes determining that a request for transmission by a client device to a recipient will include user data of a user of the client device. In response determining that the request will include the user data, the method includes requesting, from a consent management module of the client device, current user consent settings specified by the user which define at least one of (i) user data that can be transmitted from the client device, (ii) how user data transmitted from the client device can be used or (iii) which recipients can receive and retain user data from the client device. The method further includes receiving, from the consent management module, the current user consent settings and generating request data according the current user consent settings.