METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A DATA CONFIDENCE INDEX

• US 20150095296A1
• Filed: 09/26/2014
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Nandwani, Suneet, Zou, Jie
• Granted Patent: US 10,528,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/694
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security

Abstract

Techniques for providing a data confidence index are presented herein. In one embodiment, a method includes setting a default confidence index for a remote computing device, the confidence index indicating trustworthiness of data provided by the remote computing device, the remote computing device operating as part of a network of cooperating devices; applying a plurality of ordered rules for the remote computing device, respective rules comprising a rule pre-condition and a confidence index adjustment, respective rules considering one of a behavior of the remote computing device and a property of the remote computing device; and adjusting the confidence index for the remote computing device responsive to results of applying the plurality of ordered rules. A system and apparatus substantially perform steps of the disclosed method.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory device holding an instruction set executable on the processor to cause the computer system to perform operations comprising;

setting a default confidence index for a remote computing device, the confidence index indicating trustworthiness of data provided by the remote computing device, the remote computing device operating as part of a network of cooperating devices;

applying a plurality of ordered rules for the remote computing device, respective rules comprising a rule pre-condition and a confidence index adjustment, respective rules considering a behavior of the remote computing device and a property of the remote computing device; and

adjusting the confidence index for the remote computing device responsive to results of the applying the plurality of ordered rules.

2. The computer system as in claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise disqualifying the remote computing device from participation in the network of cooperating devices in response to the confidence index falling below a confidence index threshold.

3. The computer system as in claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise modifying a state for the remote computing device based on the adjusted confidence index, the state selected from a group consisting of cold cache, warm cache, allocated, faulty, and end of life.

4. The computer system as in claim 3, wherein the operations further comprise disqualifying the remote computing device from participation in the network of cooperating devices in response to the modified state not matching a predefined state.

5. The computer system as in claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise receiving the plurality of ordered rules from a rules engine.

6. The computer system as in claim 1, wherein respective rules are applied in response to respective rule preconditions being satisfied.

7. The computer system as in claim 1, wherein the adjusting comprises:

first, setting the confidence index in response to at least one behavior comprising network activity, the property comprising a time of a physical scan, and the parameter comprising a database record indicating that the remote computing device is not in a disposed state;

second, increasing the confidence index in response to the parameter indicating a change in a state occurring within a threshold amount of time;

third, decreasing the confidence index in response to the parameter indicating missing identifying information; and

fourth, limiting the confidence index to no greater than a maximum confidence index and no less than a minimum confidence index.

8. A method comprising:

accepting a default confidence index for a remote computing device, the confidence index indicating trustworthiness of data provided by the remote computing device, the remote computing device operating as part of a network of cooperating devices;

applying a plurality of ordered rules for the remote computing device, respective rules comprising a rule pre-condition and a confidence index adjustment, respective rules considering one of a behavior of the remote computing device and a property of the remote computing device; and

adjusting the confidence index for the remote computing device responsive to results of the applying the plurality of ordered rules.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising disqualifying the remote computing device from participation in the network of cooperating devices in response to the confidence index falling below a confidence index threshold.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising modifying a state for the remote computing device based on the adjusted confidence index, the state selected from a group consisting of cold cache, warm cache, allocated, faulty, and end of life.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising disqualifying the remote computing device from participation in the network of cooperating devices in response to the modified state not matching a predefined state.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving the plurality of ordered rules from a rules engine.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein respective rules are applied in response to respective rule preconditions being satisfied.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of ordered rules is applied at a predetermined time interval.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein a behavior of the remote computing device is selected from a group consisting of a network activity timeframe and an operating status.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein a property of the remote computing device is selected from a group consisting of a time of a physical inventory scan, a physical location, a manufacturer, a model number, and an association with a data center.

17. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more machines, cause the one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

accepting a default confidence index for a remote computing device, the confidence index indicating trustworthiness of data provided by the remote computing device, the remote computing device operating as part of a network of cooperating devices;

applying a plurality of ordered rules for the remote computing device, respective rules comprising a rule pre-condition and a confidence index adjustment, respective rules considering one of a behavior of the remote computing device and a property of the remote computing device; and

adjusting the confidence index for the remote computing device responsive to results of the applying the plurality of ordered rules.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise disqualifying the remote computing device from participation in the network of cooperating devices in response to the confidence index falling below a confidence index threshold.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise disqualifying the remote computing device from participation in the network of cooperating devices in response to the modified state not matching a predefined state.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein a behavior of the remote computing device is selected from a group consisting of a network activity, providing network services, being managed by a network resource manager, and an operating status.