Context-Aware Hierarchical Labeling for Sensitive Data Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for detecting and protecting sensitive data in natural language processing environments, particularly in AI systems like LMs and GenAI, suffer from high false positives and negatives, and are unable to scale effectively, compromising data security and privacy.

Innovation Solution

A hierarchical, context-aware labeling mechanism optimized using machine learning techniques applies labels at multiple levels (word, chunk/phrase, document) to ensure precise and scalable protection of sensitive data, leveraging latent semantic structure and reversible tokenization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional data protection methods are used in NLP environments, then data security is improved, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to high false positives and negatives

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by implementing a hierarchical labeling system that divides data protection into multiple levels: word-level labels, phrase-level labels, and document-level labels. This segmentation allows the system to detect sensitive information at different granularities, improving detection accuracy by capturing context-dependent sensitivity that single-level approaches miss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension to data protection by adding contextual awareness through hierarchical labeling. Instead of treating all data uniformly, the system adds a labeling dimension that captures semantic context, leading to more accurate detection while maintaining security through multi-level protection strategies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If context-aware hierarchical labeling is implemented, then detection accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hierarchical labeling system segments the complex task of context-aware detection into manageable levels (word, phrase, document), making the overall system more approachable and easier to implement while maintaining high accuracy through the structured breakdown of complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary labeling actions during the data processing pipeline, establishing hierarchical labels in advance before final detection decisions are made. This preliminary structuring of information reduces the computational burden during actual detection operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If machine learning optimization is applied to the labeling mechanism, then false positives and negatives are minimized, but computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefalse positive rateVSAvoidcomputational resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The machine learning model performs preliminary training to learn patterns of sensitive information across different contexts. Once trained, the model can make efficient predictions during actual data processing, reducing the need for computationally intensive real-time analysis while maintaining low false positive and false negative rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses pre-trained machine learning models that capture the essence of sensitive data detection through learned representations. These pre-computed models serve as efficient copies of complex detection logic, enabling accurate false positive reduction without requiring excessive computational resources during execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12614034B2Scalable systems and methods for context-aware sensitive data detection, hierarchical labeling, and protection in natural language processing environments
Publication Date: 2026.04.28 ANONOS IP LLC
  • US12614034B2 patent drawing
  • US12614034B2 patent drawing
  • US12614034B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to scalable systems and methods for detecting, labeling, and protecting sensitive data in natural language processing (NLP) environments. This includes NLP applications in artificial intelligence (AI) systems, such as language models (LMs) and generative AI (GenAI). More particularly, the present disclosure introduces a hierarchical, context-aware labeling mechanism that is optimized using an LM in conjunction with machine learning (ML) techniques to ensure the utility-preserving effective protection of sensitive data with, for example, minimal false positives and false negatives and/or optimal precision and recall (e.g., in terms of an F1 Score).