Trust Score Mechanism for Evaluating Conflicting Database Claims

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multi-tenant database systems, accurately updating records from conflicting data sources is challenging due to the lack of a reliable method to determine the 'truth' among varying claims, leading to potential errors and inaccuracies in stored data.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that evaluates claims to update records based on the trust score of the source, where updates are accepted only if the trust score exceeds a threshold, and prioritizing claims from sources with higher trust scores, especially when multiple claims are made, ensuring data accuracy and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If direct access by users for changes is allowed, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to mistakes and conflicting data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of updating recordsVSAvoiddata accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a trust score mechanism as an intermediary between users and database records. When a user submits a claim to update a record, the system evaluates the user's trust score and compares it against a threshold. This intermediary evaluation process allows users to directly update records (maintaining ease of operation) while filtering out potentially erroneous updates through the trust score assessment (maintaining reliability).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring and evaluating user trust scores based on the history of their claims. Users receive implicit feedback through the acceptance or rejection of their update claims, which affects their future trust scores. This feedback loop enables users to understand the impact of their actions and improves overall data reliability while maintaining direct access for updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sources can update records, then adaptability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to conflicting data and inability to ascertain truth

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to receive updates from multiple sourcesVSAvoiddata accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of trust evaluation from a binary accepted/rejected decision to a multi-dimensional assessment involving trust scores, claim evaluation criteria, and threshold comparisons. This parameter transformation allows the system to handle multiple conflicting sources adaptively by weighing their claims differently based on their trust scores, while maintaining reliability through systematic evaluation against established criteria and thresholds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The trust score mechanism serves as an intermediary that mediates between multiple conflicting update claims. Instead of allowing direct conflict between sources, the system introduces trust score evaluation as a mediating layer that resolves conflicts by prioritizing claims from sources with higher trust scores, thereby maintaining both adaptability to multiple sources and reliability in determining the truth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If trust score evaluation is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional evaluation mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the system to automatically evaluate trust scores and determine claim validity without requiring manual intervention from database administrators. The trust score mechanism operates autonomously, continuously assessing user credibility based on their claim history and automatically applying evaluation criteria to resolve conflicting updates. This self-service approach maintains high reliability while minimizing the operational complexity burden.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing trust scores for users and pre-defining evaluation criteria and thresholds before conflicts arise. This preliminary preparation allows the system to quickly and automatically resolve update conflicts without complex real-time analysis, reducing operational complexity while maintaining high reliability in determining which claims to accept.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9594790B2System and method for evaluating claims to update a record from conflicting data sources
Publication Date: 2017.03.14 SALESFORCE INC
  • US9594790B2 patent drawing
  • US9594790B2 patent drawing
  • US9594790B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system and method for evaluating claims from sources to update database records. A trust score is developed for each source. If a source submits a claim, the trust score for that source and the value of the claim are evaluated against prior conflicting claims. If the current claim is deemed the most likely, then it is adopted as provisional “truth”. If not, the current claim is rejected.