Methods of anonymizing private information
First Claim
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1. A method of anonymizing private information about a customer, the method comprising compiling a data file comprising transaction information and a customer identification number for a specific customer;
- transferring the data file to a customer identifier that attaches to the file customer identifying information associated with the customer identification number, and removes the customer identification number from the file to generate a modified data file;
transferring the modified data file to a data vendor that adds private information associated with the customer identifying information, to generate an updated data file; and
transferring the updated data file to a trusted entity that removes customer identifying information and any remaining customer identification numbers to generate an anonymized data file that contains anonymous private information.
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Abstract
The invention is based on new methods to provide marketers, retailers, and others with private and/or confidential consumer data that can provide a clear understanding of their actual customers as a group, or as specific subgroups, including information about their customers'"'"' geography, lifestyles, buying habits, demographics, etc., while protecting the privacy and identity of individual consumers.
125 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method of anonymizing private information about a customer, the method comprising
compiling a data file comprising transaction information and a customer identification number for a specific customer; -
transferring the data file to a customer identifier that attaches to the file customer identifying information associated with the customer identification number, and removes the customer identification number from the file to generate a modified data file;
transferring the modified data file to a data vendor that adds private information associated with the customer identifying information, to generate an updated data file; and
transferring the updated data file to a trusted entity that removes customer identifying information and any remaining customer identification numbers to generate an anonymized data file that contains anonymous private information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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13. A system for anonymizing private information of a customer, the system comprising
storage for a data file comprising a customer identification number associated with a specific customer; -
storage for a first database comprising a list of customer identification numbers associated with specific customer identifying information;
storage for a second database comprising private information associated with customer identifying information; and
software stored on a computer-readable medium for causing a computer to attach to the data file customer identifying information from the first database associated with the customer identification number and remove from the data file the customer identification number to generate a modified data file;
attach private information to the modified data file from the second database associated with the customer identifying information to generate an updated data file; and
remove from the modified data file customer identifying information and any remaining customer identification numbers to generate an anonymized data file that contains anonymous private information.
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24. A method for a trusted entity to anonymize private information about a customer, the method comprising
obtaining a data file comprising customer identifying information and transaction information for one or more specific customers; -
transferring the data file to a data vendor that adds private information associated with the customer identifying information, to generate an updated data file; and
receiving the updated data file from the data vendor and removing customer identifying information and any customer identification numbers from the updated data file to generate an anonymized data file that contains anonymous private information.
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33. A method for a data vendor to provide anonymized private information about a customer, the method comprising
obtaining a data file comprising a list of customer identifying information and transaction information for one or more specific customers, wherein the data file contains no customer identification numbers; -
attaching to the data file private information associated with the customer identifying information to generate an updated data file; and
transferring the updated data file to a trusted entity to remove customer identifying information and any remaining customer identification numbers from the updated data file to generate an anonymized data file that contains anonymous private information. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for a customer identifier to provide anonymized private information about a customer, the method comprising
obtaining a data file comprising transaction information and a customer identification number for a specific customer; -
attaching to the data file customer identifying information associated with the customer identification number and removing from the data file the customer identification number to generate a modified data file;
requesting a data vendor to attach private information associated with the customer identifying information, to generate an updated data file, and to transfer the updated data file to a trusted entity; and
requesting the trusted entity to remove customer identifying information and any remaining customer identification numbers from the updated data file to generate an anonymized data file that contains anonymous private information. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification