Software Verification for Customer Private Information Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in effectively removing customer private information (CPI) from electronic devices to prevent identity theft and ensure compliance with laws and industry standards, as existing methods often fail to thoroughly clear sensitive data, leading to logistical and privacy issues during returns, repairs, and refurbishments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving a software verification process that scans electronic devices for CPI, compares the found data against standard references, and processes the devices accordingly, utilizing a server or computing device with a processor to execute instructions for detection, removal, and verification, ensuring compliance and proper configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing methods are used to clear personal information from electronic devices, then the process is simple and fast, but the information may not be thoroughly cleared, leading to privacy violations and identity theft risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification system that acts as a mediator between the device being cleared and the final acceptance decision. This verification system includes multiple components: a verification module that checks for residual information, a database of personal information patterns to match against, and a reporting mechanism. The intermediary nature of this system allows thorough verification without making the entire device overly complex, as the verification functions are separated into a dedicated subsystem.
Solution Approach 2:
The verification system is segmented into distinct functional modules: (1) a scanning module that searches for personal information, (2) a verification module that analyzes found information, (3) a database component that stores reference patterns, and (4) a reporting module that documents results. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables the system to scale without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
2Reliability
If thorough verification processes are implemented to ensure complete removal of personal information, then privacy protection is improved, but processing time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining a pre-populated database of personal information patterns, identifiers, and data structures that are commonly found in electronic devices. This database is built in advance and can be updated without affecting individual verification processes. During verification, the system simply matches against this pre-prepared reference data, which significantly speeds up the verification process compared to creating analysis rules on-the-fly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual verification processes with automated electronic scanning and pattern-matching algorithms. Instead of requiring human operators to manually inspect and verify information removal, the system uses automated software tools that can rapidly scan device memory, storage, and registers against the database of personal information patterns. This substitution of mechanical/manual verification with automated electronic processes dramatically reduces processing time while maintaining thoroughness.
3Measurement precision
If manual verification methods are used to check for personal information, then the system is easier to implement, but the accuracy and completeness of verification are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The verification system creates and maintains copies of personal information patterns, data structures, and identifiers in a centralized database. These copies serve as reference templates that can be rapidly compared against actual device contents during verification. The system copies not just individual data items but entire patterns of information organization and structure, enabling comprehensive verification without requiring complex real-time analysis of every possible data format.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for performing software verification for one or more electronic devices. A memory of an electronic device is scanned for electronic references. The electronic references of the electronic device are determined in response to the scanning. The electronic references of the electronic device are compared against standard electronic references to determine results. The electronic device is processed in response to the results.