Cross-Network Source Attribution Using Opaque Identifiers

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Solution Overview

Problem

User devices on different networks struggle to accurately determine and communicate the source of state changes in network devices across disparate home networks, while preserving user privacy and preventing identification.

Innovation Solution

Implement a system where user devices use opaque identifiers and network hubs to encode and decode notifications, allowing communication of source information across different networks and ecosystems, while maintaining privacy by preventing devices on other networks from identifying the source device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If source information is communicated across disparate home networks, then communication capability between networks is improved, but device identification and privacy are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capability across networksVSAvoiddevice identification and privacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a network hub as an intermediary component that sits between user devices on different home networks. The hub receives notifications from network devices, encodes source information using opaque identifiers, and forwards these encoded notifications to user devices on other networks. This intermediary approach enables cross-network communication while preventing direct identification of source devices, as the hub masks the original source identity through encoding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the source information parameter into an opaque identifier format. Instead of transmitting raw source device identifiers that could be directly recognized across networks, the system encodes the source information into a transformed parameter format that maintains communicability while obscuring the original identity. This parameter transformation allows the notification to traverse different network ecosystems without exposing identifiable information about the source device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If opaque identifiers are used to encode notifications, then user privacy is improved, but source information accuracy is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser privacyVSAvoidsource information accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the notification into distinct functional components: the opaque identifier that encodes source information, the notification payload containing state change details, and the decoding mechanism at the destination. By separating the identification function (handled by the opaque identifier) from the information transmission function (handled by the notification payload), the system maintains both privacy protection and source information accuracy. The segmented structure allows the opaque identifier to protect privacy while the decoded information remains accurate for the intended recipient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250350489A1Source attribution distribution across disparate home networks

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 APPLE INC

AI summary

Networks, such as home networks, may communicate and distribute a source attribute change used to change the state of a network device. The network can provide the source attribute change to an electronic device even in instances when the network device and the electronic device include different device types and are connected to different networks. Using the source attribute change information, the electronic device can identify the source (e.g., another electronic device) that caused the change of state to the network device.