Dynamic Pseudonymous Identifiers for Blockchain Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to provide high levels of privacy and anonymity in decentralized data storage, such as blockchain, due to the static nature of information recorded, making it difficult to maintain desired levels of privacy while allowing for the extraction of informational value and personalized services.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of dynamically changing identifiers (DDIDs) that are temporally unique and re-assignable, allowing data subjects to remain anonymous and control the sharing of their information, enabling flexible levels of privacy and anonymity by using temporally unique data representations (TDRs) that obscure connections between data elements and subjects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If static identifiers are used to track data subjects, then data can be easily correlated and analyzed, but privacy and anonymity are compromised as identifiers persist over time and can be traced back to individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic pseudonymous identifiers that automatically change over time and across different contexts, replacing static identifiers. This allows data to be correlated within specific time windows or contexts while preventing long-term tracking and re-identification of individuals, thus maintaining both data utility and privacy protection
2Stability of the object's composition
If decentralized ledger technology is used to store data, then data immutability and auditability are improved, but privacy control is worsened because static information cannot be modified or removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data storage into multiple layers: immutable ledger storage for cryptographic proofs and dynamic pseudonymous identifier mappings, and mutable off-ledger storage for actual personal data. This allows the ledger to maintain immutability for audit purposes while enabling privacy controls through the ability to change pseudonymous identifiers and revoke access permissions without altering the underlying immutable records
3Adaptability or versatility
If personalized services are provided using collected data, then user experience and service quality improve, but user privacy and anonymity are reduced as more information is gathered and stored
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic pseudonymous identifiers as intermediaries between users and service providers. These identifiers enable personalized services by allowing service providers to recognize and track user preferences and behaviors, while simultaneously protecting anonymity by preventing direct linkage to users' real identities. The identifiers can be revoked or changed at any time, giving users control over their personalization experience
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, computer-readable media, and methods for improving both data privacy/anonymity and data value, wherein data related to a data subject can be used and stored, e.g., in a distributed ledger data structure, such as a blockchain, while minimizing re-identification risk by unauthorized parties and enabling data, including quasi-identifiers, related to the data subject to be disclosed to any authorized party by granting access only to the data relevant to that authorized party's purpose, time period, place and/or other criterion via the obfuscation of specific data values, e.g., pursuant to the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or other similar regulatory schemes. The techniques described herein maintain this level of privacy/anonymity while still satisfying the immutability, auditability, and verification mandated by blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) for the decentralized storage of transactional data. Such systems, media, and methods may be implemented on both classical and quantum computing devices.