Pseudonymous Data Exchange With Tamper-Evident Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing distributed computing applications fail to adequately protect user privacy while enabling effective data exchange, as they often compromise personal information and lack user control over data sharing, leading to privacy concerns and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Implement a system using pseudonymous identifiers and a tamper-evident data structure to facilitate controlled information exchange, where users maintain anonymity and control over their data, with a trust scoring process to mitigate risks of Cybil attacks and reputational challenges, and incentivize participation through reward scores.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If users share personal information with technology platforms, then data availability for analysis and advertising improves, but user privacy is compromised and users lose control over their data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments user information into different classes (less sensitive vs. more sensitive) and stores them in separate data repositories. Less sensitive attributes are stored in a first data repository while more sensitive attributes require additional user approval and are stored in a second data repository, allowing selective data sharing that protects privacy while maintaining analytical utility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server system as an intermediary between data consumers and user information. This intermediary manages the staged information exchange process, handles user approvals, and coordinates access to different data repositories, enabling users to maintain control over their data while still allowing authorized access.
2Measurement precision
If more personally identifying attributes are accessed, then data quality and specificity improve, but user privacy risk and security vulnerability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent requires preliminary user approval before accessing more sensitive personally identifying attributes. Users must explicitly approve access to the second data repository containing more sensitive attributes, and the system performs preliminary checks to ensure authorized access before retrieving such data, thereby maintaining security while enabling precise data access when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different security measures and access requirements to different data repositories based on the sensitivity of stored attributes. The first data repository for less sensitive attributes has standard access controls, while the second data repository for more sensitive attributes requires additional user approval and enhanced security protocols, matching security strength to data sensitivity.
3Productivity
If centralized data storage is used, then data access efficiency improves, but user control and data sovereignty are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data storage into multiple distributed data repositories (first data repository for less sensitive attributes, second data repository for more sensitive attributes, and blockchain for metadata) rather than using a single centralized storage system. This distributed architecture maintains data access efficiency through structured retrieval processes while significantly enhancing user control and data sovereignty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a system where users maintain control over their own data through explicit approval mechanisms. Users can selectively approve or deny access to their data in the second data repository, and the system automatically enforces these preferences, enabling users to serve their own privacy needs while still allowing authorized data access.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If data is encrypted and stored securely, then privacy protection improves, but data retrieval and processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data processing workflow into distinct stages: initial query processing against less sensitive attributes in the first data repository, user approval verification, and selective retrieval of encrypted sensitive attributes from the second data repository. This segmentation manages complexity by handling encryption and decryption at specific stages rather than throughout the entire process.
Solution Approach 2:
The server system acts as an intermediary that manages the complexity of encrypted data retrieval and processing. It handles the coordination between data consumers, user approvals, and encrypted data repositories, abstracting the complexity from end users while maintaining strong privacy protection through encryption.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a closed-loop, referral-based, information-exchange in which end-users control, and in some cases can be rewarded for divulging, their personal information. In some embodiments, the computing environment (10) may include a server system (12) user computing devices (14), data consumer computing devices (16), a higher-trust set of data repositories (18) including a tamper-evident decentralized data repository (20) and a content-addressable decentralized file system (22), a content repository (24), and the Internet (26).