Hashed Data Transmission for Personal Information Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data transfer systems face challenges in efficiently separating and protecting personal data from factual data, especially in environments like cash centers where data structures can change frequently and data protection regulations must be adhered to.

Innovation Solution

The system employs a one-way function to convert data from both categories into transmission data, which are then transferred. The recipient uses reconstruction data to recover the factual data while keeping personal data obscured.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If automatic filtering of personal data is implemented on the sender side, then data protection is improved, but the complexity of the filtering system increases and requires constant updates to adapt to data structure changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata protectionVSAvoidfiltering system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of filtering personal data on the sender side, the patent inverts the approach by hashing all data on the sender side and performing the filtering operation on the receiver side. The receiver uses a local dictionary to match hashed values and reconstruct only the desired factual data, eliminating the need for complex sender-side filtering that must adapt to changing data structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a hash function as an intermediary that transforms the original data into a form that can be processed without exposing the actual content. This intermediary mechanism allows the receiver to identify and reconstruct specific data elements (like currency codes) without having access to or needing to filter the actual personal data on the sender side.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If data structures are updated to include new columns or change distribution, then adaptability is improved, but the filtering system becomes less reliable as it requires constant updates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata structure adaptabilityVSAvoidfiltering system reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the filtering approach so that the receiver, not the sender, performs the selection of which data to reconstruct. Since the receiver controls the filtering logic through its local dictionary, it can adapt to new data structures without affecting the sender's hashing process. The sender simply hashes all data consistently, and the receiver handles adaptability by updating its local dictionary as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If all data is transmitted in hashed form, then personal data protection is improved, but the ability to reconstruct factual data on the receiver side becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonal data protectionVSAvoidreconstruction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the receiver prepare a local dictionary in advance that contains the expected factual data (such as currency codes) and their corresponding hash values. This pre-computed dictionary enables the receiver to efficiently match incoming hashed data against known values and reconstruct only the desired factual information, simplifying the reconstruction process despite all data being transmitted in hashed form.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3672147B1Method for transmitting data sets, receiver device, data transmission system and valuable document processing system
Publication Date: 2025.04.16 GIESECKE & DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
  • EP3672147B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3672147B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3672147B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to the transmission of data records, each containing data (D1) of a first category, in particular personal data, and data (D2) of a second category different from the first category, in particular factual or non-personal data, from a sender (40) to a receiver (50). On the sender's side (40), the data (D1, D2) of the first and second categories contained in a data record are converted into transmission data (D1', D2') using a one-way function (h(x)). The transmission data (D1', D2') is then transferred from the sender (40) to the receiver (50), and on the receiver's side (50), at least a part of the data (D2) of the second category contained in the data record is reconstructed using the transmission data (D1', D2') and reconstruction data (R).The reconstruction data (R) contain on the receiver side (50) data of the second category presumed in the data set and comparison data assigned to the presumed data of the second category, which are obtained by converting the presumed data of the second category using the one-way function.