Data Clean Room for Privacy-Preserving Ad Attribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Accurately attributing conversions in advertising across multiple platforms and formats has become challenging due to the proliferation of advertising channels and the need to protect customer privacy, as traditional models are obsolete and ineffective in today's digital landscape.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of data clean rooms that process and analyze advertising data using SQL engines and machine learning algorithms, allowing for aggregated and anonymized reporting, while preserving customer privacy by ensuring k-anonymity and avoiding reidentification of individuals through anonymization techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional attribution models are used to identify converting customers, then conversion credit can be allocated to advertisements, but customer privacy is compromised due to the need to track and store detailed interaction data across multiple platforms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconversion attribution accuracyVSAvoidcustomer privacy loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system that acts as a mediator between advertisers and customer data. This system uses probabilistic matching algorithms and aggregated analytics to attribute conversions without directly exposing or storing individual customer identifiers across platforms. The intermediary processes data through multiple layers of abstraction, enabling attribution while preventing direct linkage of customer identities to specific advertising interactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates anonymized copies of customer interaction data that preserve the statistical properties needed for attribution analysis while removing personally identifiable information. These synthetic or aggregated data representations allow advertisers to measure conversion effectiveness without accessing or storing actual customer identities, thereby maintaining privacy while enabling precise measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Object-affected harmful factors

If data is aggregated and anonymized to protect customer privacy, then detailed individual-level insights are lost, reducing the precision of advertising analysis

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomer privacy protectionVSAvoidadvertising insight accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the level of aggregation and anonymization based on the specific analytical needs and sensitivity requirements. Different parameters such as geographic granularity, time window aggregation, and demographic grouping can be modified to balance privacy protection with analytical precision. The system allows advertisers to select appropriate parameter levels that maintain insight accuracy while meeting privacy standards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial anonymization techniques where only certain identifying elements are removed or aggregated while preserving other relevant characteristics. Rather than completely anonymizing all data, the system selectively applies privacy protections to specific data elements, maintaining sufficient detail for accurate advertising analysis while protecting the most sensitive customer information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple advertising platforms and formats are tracked to capture all conversion influences, then the complexity of the attribution system increases, making it difficult to implement and maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-platform tracking capabilityVSAvoidattribution system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal attribution framework that can handle multiple advertising platforms, formats, and channels through a single standardized system. The architecture uses platform-agnostic data collection methods and unified processing algorithms that work across display ads, mobile ads, social media, and traditional media. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate tracking systems for each platform, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the complex attribution system into modular segments that can be independently configured and maintained. Each advertising platform and format is handled by dedicated collection modules that feed into a central processing engine. This segmentation allows the system to scale to multiple platforms without proportionally increasing overall complexity, as each segment can be developed and maintained separately using consistent methodologies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Measurement precision

If detailed customer interaction data is stored to enable precise attribution analysis, then more accurate conversion credit allocation is possible, but the risk of data breaches and misuse increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconversion credit allocation accuracyVSAvoiddata security risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes personally identifiable information from customer interaction data before storage and analysis. The system separates identifying elements from behavioral data, storing only the anonymized portions needed for attribution. This extraction process eliminates the primary security risk while preserving the analytical value of the data for accurate conversion credit allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates an inert or secure environment for storing and processing customer data through encryption, access controls, and isolated processing environments. The anonymized data is stored in protected systems that prevent unauthorized access or misuse, effectively creating a secure atmosphere where data can be analyzed for precise attribution without exposing customers to security risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Data Source

PatentUS11922456B1Advertising analysis using data clean rooms
Publication Date: 2024.03.05 AMAZON TECH INC
  • US11922456B1 patent drawing
  • US11922456B1 patent drawing
  • US11922456B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Data clean rooms provided for subscribers to advertising analysis services include data regarding advertising impressions, selections, view or conversion events, and memberships of audience segments, and computing functions or capacities for processing the data in an anonymized fashion. When advertisements are presented to customers, and interactions by customers (e.g., impressions, views, clicks, conversions or others) with goods or services are detected, data regarding the interactions may be aggregated and stored. When queries on behalf of an advertiser are identified, data associated with the queries may be retrieved and stored in a data clean room for processing or analysis. Anonymized responses to the query may be returned to the customer or serve as basis for one or more advertising events.