Virtual ID Chains for Anonymized Data Profiling
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a conflict between the goal of maximizing data value and respecting individual privacy preferences, particularly in the context of open data principles and data privacy regulations, where Third-Party Service Providers (TSPs) face limitations in retaining and profiling consumer data due to data ownership and privacy concerns.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of traceable, virtual identity chains that anonymize the identity of parties involved in transactions, using Virtual ID Management Platforms (VMPs) to generate and manage virtual identifiers (VIDs) and Virtual ID Chains (VICs), allowing for permission-based data sharing and profiling while protecting identities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If TSPs retain and use consumer personal data for profiling and personalized services, then the value of data and personalized service quality improve, but individual privacy protection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces Virtual ID Management Platforms (VMPs) as intermediary entities that mediate between data subjects and TSPs. VMPs generate and manage virtual identifiers (VIDs) that enable data sharing and profiling activities while acting as a buffer that prevents direct exposure of personal identities. The VMP receives requests from TSPs, processes them using VIDs, and returns results without revealing underlying personal data, thus enabling data value extraction while protecting privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of identifiers by generating VIDs that replicate the functional characteristics of personal identifiers without containing actual personal information. These virtual identifiers serve as substitutes that maintain the ability to perform profiling and data matching operations while being decoupled from real-world identities. The copying principle is embodied in the creation of VICs that mirror transaction relationships without exposing sensitive data.
2Adaptability or versatility
If personal data is shared among enterprises to drive cross-industry business models, then service personalization and cross-business benefits improve, but data security and control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the identifier system into multiple layers: personal identifiers held by data subjects, virtual identifiers managed by VMPs, and transaction identifiers used by TSPs. This segmentation allows different entities to operate with appropriate levels of access - TSPs receive only VICs and VIDs necessary for their operations, while personal identifiers remain segmented and protected within the data subject's control or the VMP's secure environment. The segmentation enables cross-industry data sharing while maintaining security boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the identifier system from a single-dimensional personal identifier model to a multi-dimensional virtual identifier system. VIDs and VICs add dimensional layers of abstraction that enable data to be shared across multiple industries and purposes while maintaining privacy protection. The dimensional change allows the same underlying data to be accessed and utilized in multiple contexts (different TSPs, different services) without compromising security, as each access occurs in a different dimensional space defined by virtual identifiers.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If virtual identifiers are used to anonymize transaction parties, then identity protection improves, but traceability and identification capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where VMPs maintain mappings between VIDs and personal identifiers, enabling traceability when needed. When a data subject or authorized entity needs to identify the party behind a VID, they can request resolution through the VMP, which provides the necessary identification information while maintaining security controls. This feedback loop ensures that anonymization does not permanently lose identification capability but makes it controllable and conditional.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by establishing the VID-to-personal-identifier mapping relationships before actual transactions occur. The VMP pre-generates VIDs and VICs and stores their associations with personal identifiers in secure mappings. This preliminary setup enables rapid anonymization during transactions without real-time computation, while ensuring that traceability capabilities are pre-established and ready for authorized resolution when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention includes systems and method for generating Virtual IDs (VIDs) and corresponding Virtual ID Chains (VICs) to anonymize and represent transactions between users, data sources, Virtual ID Management Platforms (VMP), and Third-Party Service Providers (TSPs). VIDs of embodiments are virtualized identifiers that may be used to anonymously and uniquely identify transaction participants. VIDs may be generated in a distributed manner as a party receiving transaction-related information generates a VID corresponding to the sending party. VICs of embodiments are virtualized arrays of VIDs that represent the sequence of interactions between parties to a transaction. VICs are preferably stored in association with transaction logs descriptive of the transaction represented by each VIC to facilitate subsequent processing. A VIC may be iteratively resolved to obtain one or more non-virtualized identifier corresponding to transaction participants represented by the VIC.