Flat File Schema Inference for Privacy Compliance Checking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Financial data exchanged in flat files without a corresponding schema file leads to difficulties in identifying data issues, compromising compliance and security due to lack of structure for indexing and relationship understanding, particularly concerning PII integrity, data localization, and privacy enforcement.
Innovation Solution
A schema inference engine analyzes flat files using statistical analysis and pattern detection to infer a schema, and a compliance engine ensures data compliance by flagging or modifying non-compliant data based on inferred schema.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If financial data is exchanged in flat files without a corresponding schema file, then data exchange simplicity is improved, but data structure identification capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary schema inference by analyzing flat file data patterns, data types, and relationships before compliance checking. This preliminary action creates a virtual schema that enables subsequent data structure identification and compliance validation without requiring a pre-existing schema file
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary schema inference engine that mediates between the flat file data and the compliance checking system. This intermediary component infers the data structure and generates a virtual schema that allows the compliance system to understand and validate the flat file contents without direct access to the original data structure
2Quantity of substance
If no schema file is provided with flat files, then file transmission size is reduced, but compliance verification accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by enabling the flat file data to generate its own schema representation through pattern analysis. The schema inference engine extracts data structure information directly from the flat file contents, allowing the data to be self-describing without requiring external schema documentation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the compliance verification process by changing from schema-based verification to inferred-schema verification. The system dynamically infers data structure parameters such as data types, field relationships, and constraints from the flat file data itself, enabling accurate compliance checking without pre-defined schema parameters
3Productivity
If flat files are processed without inferred schema, then processing speed is maintained, but data issue identification capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary schema inference in a single pass through the flat file data, establishing data structure understanding before compliance checking begins. This preliminary action enables subsequent rapid validation against the inferred schema without requiring multiple data passes or iterative analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The schema inference engine serves multiple functions simultaneously: it identifies data types, determines field relationships, infers data constraints, and generates a virtual schema for compliance checking. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate processing steps into a single unified operation
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments for inferring a schema for a flat file when a corresponding schema file defining the structure of the data included in the flat file is not available. In some examples, a trained schema inference model can be used to determine the corresponding schema defining the data structure and relationships of the data include the flat file. In other examples, statistical analysis and pattern detection is used to determine the corresponding schema of the flat file. Once a flat file schema is defined, a compliance analysis can be performed to ensure that the data of the flat file conforms with various privacy and compliance regulations. If a compliance issue is detected, the flat file can be flagged for manual review and/or modified to rectify the compliance issue.