IoT Device Data Deletion via Intermediary Mediator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transfer of intelligent devices from one user to another poses a security risk due to the difficulty in effectively flushing device data, user data, and learning data, as intelligent devices often restrict access to their knowledge bases and profiles, making it challenging to track and remove shared data across networks and IoT platforms.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for securely deleting data from intelligent devices by analyzing device profiles and knowledge bases to identify communicating devices, establishing remote connections, and deleting learning data locally stored on the device and in network-accessible knowledge bases, ensuring successful data removal through automated processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If intelligent devices store learning data and communicate across IoT networks, then device functionality and intelligence are improved, but data security and user privacy deteriorate when devices are transferred
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of communicating devices and preliminary deletion of learning data before the actual device transfer occurs. This ensures that sensitive data is removed in advance, preventing security risks during and after the transfer process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that acts as a mediator between the intelligent device and the network. This intermediary automatically identifies devices that have communicated with the target device and coordinates the deletion of learning data across the network, resolving the security issue without requiring manual intervention.
2Ease of operation
If manual data deletion processes are used, then data removal capability is provided, but the process is time-consuming and incomplete due to restricted access to knowledge bases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing the intelligent device to automatically identify its communicating partners and trigger the deletion process. The device profile and knowledge base are analyzed automatically without requiring user intervention to identify which devices need data deletion.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary system is introduced to automate the complex process of identifying communicating devices and deleting learning data across the network. This intermediary handles the time-consuming tasks of analyzing device profiles, establishing connections, and coordinating deletions, dramatically reducing the time required compared to manual processes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If learning data is shared across IoT networks, then device collaboration and functionality are enhanced, but tracking and removing shared data becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the intelligent device provides information about its communication history and the intermediary system uses this feedback to identify devices that have received learning data. This feedback loop enables automatic tracking of data flow across the network without requiring complex manual tracking procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediary system serves as a central coordinator that simplifies the complex task of tracking shared data across the IoT network. It automatically analyzes device profiles, identifies communicating devices, and coordinates the deletion process, reducing the complexity from what would otherwise require manual tracking of numerous network connections.
4Reliability
If remote access to devices is enabled for data deletion, then complete data removal is achieved, but system security and access control requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary system acts as a secure mediator that handles remote access requirements. It establishes secure connections to target devices and coordinating devices, managing authentication and access control centrally, which simplifies the security implementation compared to requiring direct access controls on each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service mechanisms where devices automatically provide necessary access information and credentials to the intermediary system. This allows the intermediary to establish secure remote connections without requiring complex manual access control configurations, achieving complete data deletion while keeping security management simplified.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer program products that automate the removal of user data, device data and learning data stored by intelligent devices operating as part of an internet-of-things network or managed by IoT platforms. The solutions reverse engineer locally stored data and communication logs maintained in the intelligent device to identify one or more intelligent devices or platforms previously placed in communication with the intelligent device being flushed. The systems, methods and computer program products automatically connect to devices and platforms previously placed in communication with the intelligent device and flush the data associated with the intelligent device or disassociate the device from a user's profile. Verification programs or simulations are run to confirm the removal of the user data, device data and learning data. Confirmation of the removal is provided to the user indicating that the intelligent device can be safely transferred to a new user or third party.