Ephemeral User Identifier Linkage for Privacy-Preserving Personalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to effectively manage user identifiers across multiple domains while preserving user privacy and security, leading to unauthorized data collection and tracking by malicious entities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing ephemeral user identifiers linked through attestation records that periodically update and encrypt the user identifiers through attestation records that periodically update and encrypt the ephemeral identifiers through attestation records that periodically encrypt the ephemeral user identifiers through attestation records that periodically encrypt the secure communication channel between the client devices and the recipients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If stable user identifiers are used across multiple domains, then personalized content delivery is enabled, but user privacy and security are compromised due to long-term tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic user identifiers that automatically change over time periods. Instead of stable identifiers, the system uses ephemeral identifiers that are valid only for specific time windows, preventing long-term tracking while enabling personalized content delivery within each time period. The identifier transitions from static to dynamic, changing as time progresses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the user identification function into multiple time-bounded ephemeral identifiers rather than using a single stable identifier. Each identifier is segmented by time period and domain, allowing personalized content delivery for each segment while preventing cross-time-period tracking. This segmentation breaks the continuous tracking chain.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ephemeral user identifiers are frequently updated, then user privacy is enhanced, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic updates of ephemeral user identifiers based on time periods rather than continuous updates. Identifiers are refreshed at predetermined intervals, creating a rhythmic pattern of update and usage. This periodic action balances privacy enhancement with bandwidth conservation by limiting updates to necessary intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing the ephemeral identifier structure and time period parameters before actual user interactions occur. The identifier lifecycle is pre-planned with specific validity periods, allowing the system to prepare identifiers in advance rather than generating them reactively, thus optimizing bandwidth usage.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If domain-specific ephemeral identifiers are implemented, then tracking by malicious entities is prevented, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by creating domain-specific ephemeral identifiers tailored to each domain's requirements. Each domain receives customized identifiers with specific time periods and scopes relevant to that domain, rather than using a generic identifier system. This localization enhances tracking prevention while managing complexity through domain-specific optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters of user identifiers based on domain characteristics and time periods. Each domain-specific identifier has unique parameters such as validity duration, scope, and renewal timing that are adjusted according to the specific domain's needs. This parameter customization enables effective tracking prevention while allowing the system to adapt to different domains without uniform complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
This disclosure describes systems and techniques for using controlling access to user information using ephemeral user identifiers. In one aspect, a method includes determining, for a given domain, engagement by a user with content provided by the given domain for display by an application at a client device of the user. A determination is made, based on the engagement by the user, to extend, for the given domain, a linkage between user identifiers for a user of the application. In response to determining to extend, for the given domain, the linkage between the user identifiers for the user of the application, one or more future domain-specific ephemeral user identifiers for the user and the given domain are obtained. An attestation record that includes a current domain-specific ephemeral user identifier and the one or more is generated and sent to the given domain.