Lineage-Aware Data Retention for Granular Deletion Compliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems struggle to efficiently implement personal data deletion policies in large-scale data systems, particularly due to the complexity of managing data lineage and compliance with regulations like GDPR and CCPA, where data transformations complicate deletion periods.

Innovation Solution

A lineage-aware data retention system that tracks parent-child relationships between datasets, assigns granular deletion dates to transactions, and supports override policies to ensure compliance and efficient data deletion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional data deletion policies are implemented in large-scale data systems, then data compliance with regulations like GDPR and CCPA is achieved, but system complexity increases due to data lineage tracking and transformation management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata complianceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments data deletion management into transaction-level operations, where each data transaction is individually tracked with its own retention date. This allows compliance to be enforced at the granular transaction level rather than requiring complex system-wide lineage tracking, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by assigning retention dates to data transactions at the time of ingestion or transformation, rather than calculating deletion requirements later based on complex lineage analysis. This advance assignment simplifies subsequent deletion operations and reduces the computational complexity of tracking data relationships.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If granular deletion dates are assigned to individual transactions, then data retention precision is improved, but processing overhead increases due to tracking multiple parent-child relationships

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretention precisionVSAvoidprocessing overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by having each data transaction automatically inherit its retention date from parent transactions through a automated propagation mechanism. This eliminates the need for manual lineage tracking and reduces processing overhead, as the system autonomously manages the inheritance relationships without requiring complex intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses copying by replicating retention date information from parent transactions to child transactions through lineage relationships. This allows precise retention tracking without requiring the system to recalculate or re-analyze lineage relationships, significantly reducing processing overhead while maintaining high retention precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If data is retained according to strict lineage-aware policies, then compliance accuracy is improved, but storage costs increase due to extended retention periods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompliance accuracyVSAvoidstorage volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different retention dates to different data transactions based on their specific lineage and compliance requirements, rather than applying a uniform retention policy across all data. This allows the system to retain only the necessary amount of data for each transaction, improving compliance accuracy while minimizing unnecessary storage accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by dynamically adjusting retention dates based on lineage analysis and compliance requirements. Transactions that originate from compliant sources receive appropriate retention dates, while those requiring longer retention are extended only as necessary. This parameter adjustment optimizes the balance between compliance accuracy and storage efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If override policies are implemented for specific transactions, then operational flexibility is improved, but policy management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidpolicy management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts override capability as a separate, optional feature that can be applied to individual transactions or datasets without affecting the overall retention policy framework. This allows operational flexibility to be introduced selectively, managing complexity by isolating override operations from the core policy management system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12475092B2Systems and methods for lineage-aware data retention
Publication Date: 2025.11.18 PALANTIR TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • US12475092B2 patent drawing
  • US12475092B2 patent drawing
  • US12475092B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods for lineage-aware data retention are provided. An example method includes receiving information of a committed transaction. The committed transaction is configured to add or change data to a dataset. The example method further includes receiving one or more lineages for the committed transaction, determining one or more parent transactions based at least in part on the one or more lineages, obtaining one or more parent retention dates that correspond to the one or more parent transactions respectively, and determining a transaction retention date for the committed transaction based at least in part on the one or more parent retention dates.