Pseudonym-Based Privacy Protection for Participatory Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Participatory sensing systems face challenges in protecting user privacy while incentivizing data contribution, as existing methods require revealing identity information for reward mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An anonymous dynamic identity privacy protection method using pseudonyms, where users generate pseudonyms for their mobile devices, calculate unique values using a hash function, and send these values with sensed data to a server, which generates certificates based on data quality, allowing users to obtain rewards through a secure channel without revealing their identity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If user identity information is revealed for reward mechanisms, then reward distribution can be implemented, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pseudonym as an intermediary between the user's real identity and the reward distribution system. The pseudonym acts as a mediator that allows the server to track rewards and data contributions without exposing the user's actual identity information, thus resolving the contradiction between reward distribution and privacy protection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the identity information from the user's personal data by separating it into a pseudonym component. This extraction allows the system to handle rewards and contributions using only the pseudonym, leaving the real identity information isolated and protected, thereby enabling reward mechanisms while preserving privacy
2Loss of information
If pseudonyms are used to protect privacy, then user anonymity is improved, but the ability to track and verify data contributions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pseudonym serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects user anonymity by hiding real identity, enables reward tracking by providing a consistent identifier, and facilitates data contribution verification by linking contributions to the pseudonym. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between anonymity and verification capability
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a method that may be used for privacy protection. The method comprises: generating a pseudonym at a user equipment in association with sensed data; calculating a unique value based upon the pseudonym using a first algorithm; sending the unique value and the sensed data to a server; receiving from the server a certificate, wherein the certificate is calculated based at least in part on the unique value using a second algorithm; and sending at least the pseudonym and the certificate to a certification center via a secure channel, for obtaining a reward associated with the sensed data; wherein the certification center is internal or external to the server. By this method, a user's identify may be protected.