Transaction Obfuscation System for Gift Surprise Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Customers seeking to purchase gifts with joint account holders as recipients face challenges in delaying the disclosure of transaction information, as transaction ledgers and notifications reveal purchase details, hindering the ability to surprise the recipient.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using machine learning techniques to obfuscate transaction information on a ledger by recording modified or unmodified versions of purchase characteristics based on user-defined criteria, allowing for proactive and retroactive obfuscation of transactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If transaction information is recorded on the ledger, then transaction transparency and accounting accuracy are improved, but transaction privacy and surprise value are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively modifying different aspects of transaction records. The system maintains accurate recording of essential transaction data (amount, date, merchant) while locally modifying sensitive fields (description, category) to obscure the true nature of the transaction. This allows the ledger to remain financially accurate while protecting privacy-sensitive information from joint account holders.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the actual transaction and the ledger record. A modification module acts as a mediator that receives transaction data, applies user-defined rules, and generates modified records. This intermediary layer enables the system to maintain transaction integrity while filtering out sensitive information, thus resolving the contradiction between transparency and privacy.
2Reliability
If transaction details are disclosed to joint account holders, then account transparency and trust are improved, but the ability to surprise the recipient is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments transaction information into public and private components. Essential accounting information (amount, date, merchant name) remains visible for transparency, while descriptive information (item name, category, location) is segmented out and modified. This segmentation allows joint account holders to see transaction facts without learning the true nature of the purchase, preserving surprise value.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters of the transaction record selectively. User-defined rules modify specific parameters (description, category, tags) while leaving others (amount, date, merchant) unchanged. This parameter transformation allows the system to maintain accounting transparency while altering the information that would reveal the surprise gift nature to joint account holders.
3Adaptability or versatility
If user-defined obfuscation rules are implemented, then transaction privacy control is improved, but system complexity and processing overhead are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by allowing users to define obfuscation rules in advance before transactions occur. Users can set up criteria (merchant types, amount ranges, time periods) that automatically trigger modifications. This preliminary configuration reduces the need for complex real-time decision-making during transaction processing, as the system simply needs to match transactions against pre-defined rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by automatically applying user-defined rules to transactions without requiring manual intervention. Once rules are set, the modification module autonomously processes transactions, comparing them against criteria and applying appropriate obfuscation. This automation reduces operational complexity while maintaining high adaptability to user privacy needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method that includes receiving a user command including one or more criteria characteristics in association with an account and detecting an occurrence of a transaction from the account. The transaction is associated with one or more purchase characteristics. The method includes determining whether the one or more purchase characteristics of the transaction match the one or more criteria characteristics, and recording a modified version of the one or more purchase characteristics of the transaction on a ledger of the account in response to determining the one or more purchase characteristics match the one or more criteria characteristics. The method includes recording an unmodified version of the one or more purchase characteristics of the transaction on the ledger in response to determining the one or more purchase characteristics do not match the one or more criteria characteristics.