Online Trust Verification via Segmented Data Disclosure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The lack of a reliable and transparent method to establish trust online poses challenges in peer-to-peer interactions, particularly in sensitive services like ridesharing, temporary work, and dating, due to the anonymity of users and concerns about data security, leading to limitations in the types of interactions people are willing to engage in on the internet.
Innovation Solution
A trust system that allows users to verify and share pertinent information on a need-to-know basis, using a framework that includes identity verification, attested facts, and attributes, with users having control over the disclosure of their information, and providing a minimum subset of data required for interactions, while ensuring encryption and secure storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users share personal information to establish trust online, then trustworthiness assessment improves, but data security and privacy protection deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments personal information into different categories (identifiers, attributes, facts) and releases them selectively based on verification needs. The system divides trust verification into multiple stages, releasing information incrementally rather than all at once, thus maintaining security while enabling trust assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a trusted intermediary system (the online platform) that mediates between users seeking to establish trust. This intermediary verifies user identities and manages information release, preventing direct exposure of sensitive data while still enabling trustworthiness assessment between parties.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive user information is disclosed for trust verification, then trust assessment accuracy improves, but information exposure and privacy risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by releasing different levels of information to different verification purposes. Sensitive information is protected while relevant verification data is disclosed. Each user receives only the specific information needed for their trust assessment, not comprehensive personal data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by releasing only the necessary subset of user information for trust verification rather than all available data. The system determines the minimum required information for each verification scenario, avoiding excessive information disclosure while maintaining assessment accuracy.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If users remain anonymous for safety, then personal security improves, but trust establishment capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by creating verified identity copies or digital representations that can be shared for trust verification without exposing the user's actual identity. These verified copies contain sufficient information for trust assessment while maintaining the user's anonymity and safety.
4Reliability
If extensive data collection is performed for trust verification, then verification reliability improves, but system complexity and data management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by collecting and verifying user information in advance during account creation, rather than gathering data at the moment of trust verification. This preliminary verification creates a ready-to-use trusted profile, reducing the complexity and data collection burden during actual trust assessment interactions.
Data Source
AI summary
Trust systems and methods include receiving a request from a first user, wherein the request is to a second user and relates to the second user sharing verified facts, attributes, and other pertinent information used by the first user in determining a level of trust to be afforded to the second user; providing the request to the second user for consent and for data acquisition related to the request; performing data acquisition responsive to the consent to obtain data; determining a response to the request based on the data; and providing the response to the first user, wherein the response is a minimum subset or derivative of the data required to answer the request so that the data is only shared with the first user on a limited basis.