Information Processing Apparatus for Secure Loyalty Program Data Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing loyalty program management systems face challenges in efficiently protecting user personal information when data is shared between different organizations, leading to difficulties in managing the loyalty program and facilitating new entries.

Innovation Solution

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing an information processing program that conceals user behavior data into secret data, exchanges it for point issuance data according to a predetermined rule, and presents this data to a point providing system for point issuance requests, while using blockchain to manage data integrity and privacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If behavior data is disclosed to the loyalty program provider for point issuance, then the loyalty program can function properly, but user personal information may be disclosed in an unexpected form

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloyalty program operationVSAvoidpersonal information disclosure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where behavior data is transformed into a coded format (e.g., hash values or encrypted representations) before being transmitted to the loyalty program provider. This intermediary transformation layer allows the loyalty program to verify and process behavior data without directly accessing or disclosing the original personal information, thus resolving the contradiction between program functionality and information protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a copy or representation of the behavior data that preserves the essential verification characteristics while removing or obscuring the personally identifiable information. This copy can be processed by the loyalty program provider to determine point issuance eligibility without exposing the user's actual personal information, thereby enabling loyalty program operation while preventing harmful information disclosure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Object-affected harmful factors

If consent processes are implemented to protect user information, then personal information security is improved, but the complexity of data sharing and new entry facilitation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonal information protectionVSAvoiddata sharing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by obtaining user consent and establishing data protection mechanisms before any data sharing occurs. The system pre-configures the anonymization or encryption protocols and secures user authorization in advance, which streamlines subsequent data sharing operations and reduces the complexity of ad-hoc consent processes when new partners join the loyalty program.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250045790A1Computer-readable recording medium storing information processing program, information processing method, and information processing apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.02.06 FUJITSU LTD

AI summary

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing an information processing program for causing a computer to execute a process includes: storing, in a storage area, first secret data in which behavior data of a user related to a provided service is concealed; exchanging the first secret data for second secret data that corresponds to issuance of a point converted from the behavior data according to a predetermined rule; and presenting the second secret data to a point providing system and making a point issuance request.