Confidential data sharing and anonymous entity resolution

• US 7,900,052 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jonas, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Colin; Carl
• Application Number:
  US10/702,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,672 Days
• Field of Search: 713/189, 713/193, 713/166, 713/168, 713/181, 713/182, 713/179, 713/185, 713/153, 713/155, 726 3- 5, 726/14, 726/15, 726/17, 726 28- 30, 707/3, 380/227, 380/228
• US Class Current: 713/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6254 by anonymising data, e.g. decorrelating personal data from the owner's identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities

Abstract

A method, program and system for processing data is disclosed. The data comprises identifiers of a plurality of entities. The method, program and system comprising the steps of: (a) receiving one or more records, each record having a plurality of identifiers, each record corresponding with at least one entity, (b) utilizing a cryptographic algorithm to process at least two of the plurality of identifiers in the record, (c) sometimes after transmitting the processed record to a separate system or database, comparing the processed record to previously stored data; (d) matching the processed record with previously stored data that is determined to reflect the entity, the previously stored data that is determined to reflect the entity comprising at least a portion of at least two previously received records and/or based upon another identifier; and/or (e) associating the processed record with previously stored data that is determined to reflect a relationship with the entity.

Claims

1. A method for processing data in a computer, comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the computer, a record having a plurality of identifiers, the record corresponding to an entity;

utilizing, in the computer, a cryptographic algorithm to process at least two of the plurality of identifiers in the record to form a processed encrypted record;

comparing, in the computer, the processed encrypted record to previously stored encrypted data;

matching, in the computer, the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity, the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity comprising at least a portion of at least one previously received record; and

when the processed encrypted record matches with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity, performing, in the computer, the steps of evaluating whether an additional identifier is included in the processed encrypted record that is not included in the previously stored encrypted data and updating the previously stored encrypted data to include the additional identifier as supplemental data in a newly created field in order to maintain the previously stored encrypted data'"'"'s integrity.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of one of assigning and identifying a source to the record.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of deciphering at least a portion of the processed encrypted record after the step of matching the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the deciphered at least a portion of the processed encrypted record is the source.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of issuing a message based upon a user-defined rule.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the message includes one of the source of the record and at least one source of the previously stored encrypted data.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of issuing a message based upon a user-defined rule includes the step of issuing a message in user-defined intervals.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of modifying the record prior to utilizing the cryptographic algorithm.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a plurality of received records.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of analyzing the record prior to the step of utilizing the cryptographic algorithm to process at least a portion of the record.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of analyzing the record includes comparing at least one of the plurality of identifiers against one of:

a user-defined criterion; and

a data set in one of a secondary database and a list.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of enhancing the record.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes formatting the at least one of the plurality of identifiers in accordance with a user-defined standard.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes generating a variant to the at least one of the plurality of identifiers and including the variant with the record.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes:

querying the data set for a secondary identifier relating to the record; and

supplementing the record with the secondary identifier.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of converting the record into a standardized message format.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of converting the record into a standardized message format includes the step of utilizing a type indicator corresponding with each of the plurality of identifiers.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the type indicator is discernable after the step of utilizing the cryptographic algorithm.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of matching the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity includes the steps of:

retrieving the previously stored encrypted data having at least one of the plurality of identifiers;

evaluating whether another identifier is included in the processed encrypted record that is not included in the previously stored encrypted data having the at least one of the plurality of identifiers; and

analyzing the previously stored encrypted data having the at least one of the plurality of identifiers for a match to the processed encrypted record based on the another identifier.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of matching the processed encrypted record further comprises the step of retrieving a secondary previously stored encrypted data having the another identifier and including the secondary previously stored encrypted data with the previously stored encrypted data having the at least one of plurality of identifiers.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of matching the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity includes the step of assigning a persistent key associated with at least a portion of the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity to the matched processed encrypted record.

22. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing the processed encrypted record in a database.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the cryptographic algorithm is a reversible cryptographic algorithm or an irreversible cryptographic algorithm.

24. A method for processing data in a computer, comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the computer, a record having a plurality of identifiers, the record corresponding to an entity;

utilizing, in the computer, a cryptographic algorithm to process at least two of the plurality of identifiers in the record to form a processed encrypted record;

comparing, in the computer, the processed encrypted record to previously stored encrypted data;

determining, in the computer, matched data by matching the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity based upon the plurality of identifiers;

analyzing, in the computer, whether another identifier is included in the processed encrypted record that is not included in the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity based upon the plurality of identifiers;

matching, in the computer, the matched data with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity based upon the another identifier; and

updating, in the computer, the previously stored encrypted data to include the another identifier as supplemental data in a newly created field in order to maintain the previously stored encrypted data'"'"'s integrity.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of one of assigning and identifying a source to the record.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of deciphering at least a portion of the processed encrypted record after the step of matching the matched data.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the deciphered at least a portion of the processed encrypted record is the source.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of issuing a message based upon a user-defined rule.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the message includes one of the source of the record and at least one source of the previously stored encrypted data.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of issuing a message based upon a user-defined rule includes the step of issuing a message in user-defined intervals.

31. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of modifying the record prior to utilizing the cryptographic algorithm.

32. The method of claim 24 wherein the received record comprises a plurality of received records.

33. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of analyzing the record prior to the step of utilizing the cryptographic algorithm to process at least a portion of the record.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the step of analyzing the record includes the step of comparing at least one of the plurality of identifiers against one of:

a user-defined criterion and a data set in one of a secondary database and a list.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of enhancing the record.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes formatting the at least one of the plurality of identifiers in accordance with a user-defined standard.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes generating a variant to the at least one of the plurality of identifiers and including the variant with the record.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes:

querying the data set for a secondary identifier relating to the record; and

supplementing the record with the secondary identifier.

39. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of converting the record into a standardized message format.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the step of converting the record into a standardized message format includes the step of utilizing a type indicator corresponding with each of the plurality of identifiers.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the type indicator is discernable after the step of utilizing the cryptographic algorithm.

42. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of matching the matched data includes the step of assigning a persistent key associated with at least a portion of the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity to the processed encrypted record.

43. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of storing the processed encrypted record in a database.

44. A method for processing data in a computer, comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the computer, a record having a plurality of identifiers, the record corresponding to an entity;

utilizing, in the computer, a cryptographic algorithm to process at least two of the plurality of identifiers in the record to form a processed encrypted record;

comparing, in the computer, the processed encrypted record to previously stored encrypted data;

associating the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect a relationship with the entity;

evaluating, in the computer, whether an additional identifier is included in the associated processed encrypted record that is not included in the previously stored encrypted data; and

updating, in the computer, the previously stored encrypted data to include the additional identifier as supplemental data in a newly created field in order to maintain the previously stored encrypted data'"'"'s integrity.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of one of assigning and identifying a source to the record.

46. The method of claim 45 further comprising the step of deciphering at least a portion of the processed encrypted record after the step of associating the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect a relationship with the entity.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the deciphered at least a portion of the processed encrypted record is the source.

48. The method of claim 45 further comprising the step of issuing a message based upon a user-defined rule.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the message includes one of the source of the record and the source of the previously stored data.

50. The method of claim 48 wherein the step of issuing the message based upon the user-defined rule includes the step of issuing a message in user-defined intervals.

51. The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of modifying the record prior to utilizing the cryptographic algorithm.

52. The method of claim 44 wherein the received record comprises a plurality of received records.

53. The method of claim 44 wherein the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the relationship with the entity comprises at least a portion of two previously received records.

54. The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of analyzing the record prior to the step of utilizing the cryptographic algorithm to process at least two of the plurality of identifiers in the record.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the step of analyzing the record includes comparing at least one of the plurality of identifiers against one of:

a user-defined criterion; and

a data set in one of a secondary database and a list.

56. The method of claim 55 further comprising the step of enhancing the record.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes formatting the at least one of the plurality of identifiers in accordance with a user-defined standard.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes generating a variant to the at least one of the plurality of identifiers and including the variant with the record.

59. The method of claim 56 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes:

querying the data set for a secondary identifier relating to the record; and

supplementing the record with the secondary identifier.

60. The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of converting the record into a standardized message format.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein the step of converting the record into a standardized message format includes the step of utilizing a type indicator corresponding with each of the plurality of identifiers.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the type indicator is discernable after the step of utilizing the cryptographic algorithm.

63. The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of storing the processed encrypted record in a database.

64. The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of storing the relationships with the entity in a database.

65. A method for processing data in a computer, comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the computer, a record having a plurality of identifiers, the record corresponding with an entity and at least one of the plurality of identifiers having previously been encrypted utilizing a cryptographic algorithm, thereby resulting in a processed encrypted record;

comparing, in the computer, the processed encrypted record to previously stored encrypted data, at least a portion of the previously stored encrypted data having previously been encrypted utilizing the cryptographic algorithm;

matching, in the computer, the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity;

issuing, in the computer, a plurality of messages in response to the match;

evaluating, in the computer, whether an additional identifier is included in the matched processed encrypted record that is not included in the previously stored encrypted data; and

updating, in the computer, the previously stored encrypted data to include the additional identifier as supplemental data in a newly created field in order to maintain the previously stored encrypted data'"'"'s integrity.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein the step of issuing a plurality of messages occurs in user-defined intervals.

67. The method of claim 65 wherein at least one of the plurality of messages includes a source of the record.

68. The method of claim 65 further comprising the step of storing the record in a database.

69. A method for processing data in a computer, comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the computer, a record having a plurality of identifiers, the record corresponding with an entity and at least one of the plurality of identifiers having previously been encrypted utilizing a cryptographic algorithm, thereby resulting in a processed encrypted record;

comparing, in the computer, the processed encrypted record to previously stored encrypted data, at least a portion of previously stored data having previously been encrypted utilizing the cryptographic algorithm, thereby resulting in the previously stored encrypted data;

associating, in the computer, the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect a relationship with the entity;

issuing, in the computer, a plurality of messages in response to the associating step;

evaluating, in the computer, whether an additional identifier is included in the associated processed encrypted record that is not included in the previously stored encrypted data; and

updating, in the computer, the previously stored encrypted data to include the additional identifier as supplemental data in a newly created field in order to maintain the previously stored encrypted data'"'"'s integrity.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein the step of issuing a plurality of messages occurs in user-defined intervals.

71. The method of claim 69 wherein at least one of the plurality of messages includes a source of the record.

72. The method of claim 69 further comprising the step of storing the record in a database.

73. The method of claim 69 further comprising the step of storing the relationships with the entity in a database.

74. A computer readable medium comprising a storage device containing program instructions for execution by a computer that results in the computer performing a method comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the computer, a record having a plurality of identifiers, the record corresponding to an entity;

utilizing, in the computer, a cryptographic algorithm to process at least two of the plurality of identifiers in the record to form a processed encrypted record;

comparing, in the computer, the processed encrypted record to previously stored encrypted data;

matching, in the computer, the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity, the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity comprising at least a portion of at least one previously received encrypted record; and

when the processed encrypted record matches with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity, performing, in the computer, the steps of evaluating whether an additional identifier is included in the processed encrypted record that is not included in the previously stored encrypted data and updating the previously stored encrypted data to include the additional identifier as supplemental data in a newly created field in order to maintain the previously stored encrypted data'"'"'s integrity.

75. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 74 further comprising the step of one of assigning and identifying a source to the record.

76. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 75 further comprising the step of deciphering at least a portion of the processed encrypted record after the step of matching the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity.

77. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 76 wherein the deciphered at least a portion of the processed encrypted record is the source.

78. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 75 further comprising the step of issuing a message based upon a user-defined rule.

79. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 78 wherein the message includes one of the source of the record and at least one source of the previously stored encrypted data.

80. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 78 wherein the step of issuing a message based upon a user-defined rule includes the step of issuing a message in user-defined intervals.

81. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 74 further comprising the step of modifying the record prior to utilizing the cryptographic algorithm.

82. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 74 further comprising receiving a plurality of received records.

83. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 74 further comprising the step of analyzing the record prior to the step of utilizing the cryptographic algorithm to process at least a portion of the record.

84. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 83 wherein the step of analyzing the record includes comparing at least one of the plurality of identifiers against one of:

a user-defined criterion; and

a data set in one of a secondary database and a list.

85. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 84 further comprising the step of enhancing the record.

86. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 85 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes formatting the at least one of the plurality of identifiers in accordance with a user-defined standard.

87. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 85 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes generating a variant to the at least one of the plurality of identifiers and including the variant with the record.

88. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 85 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes:

querying the data set for a secondary identifier relating to the record; and

supplementing the record with the secondary identifier.

89. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 74 further comprising the step of converting the record into a standardized message format.

90. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 89 wherein the step of converting the record into a standardized message format includes the step of utilizing a type indicator corresponding with each of the plurality of identifiers.

91. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 90 wherein the type indicator is discernable after the step of utilizing the cryptographic algorithm.

92. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 74 wherein the step of matching the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity includes the steps of:

retrieving the previously stored encrypted data having at least one of the plurality of identifiers;

evaluating whether another identifier is included in the processed encrypted record that is not included in the previously stored encrypted data having the at least one of the plurality of identifiers; and

analyzing the previously stored encrypted data having the at least one of the plurality of identifiers for a match to the processed encrypted record based on the another identifier.

93. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 92 wherein the step of matching the processed encrypted record further comprises the step of retrieving a secondary previously stored encrypted data having the another identifier and including the secondary previously stored encrypted data with the previously stored encrypted data having the at least one of plurality of identifiers.

94. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 74 wherein the step of matching the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity includes the step of assigning a persistent key associated with at least a portion of the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity to the matched processed encrypted record.

95. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 74 further comprising the step of storing the processed encrypted record in a database.

96. A computer readable medium comprising a storage device containing program instructions for execution by a computer that results in the computer performing a method comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the computer, a record having a plurality of identifiers, the record corresponding to an entity;

utilizing, in the computer, a cryptographic algorithm to process at least two of the plurality of identifiers in the record to form a processed encrypted record;

comparing, in the computer, the processed encrypted record to previously stored encrypted data;

determining, in the computer, matched data by matching the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity based upon the plurality of identifiers;

analyzing, in the computer, whether another identifier is included in the processed encrypted record that is not included in the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity based upon the plurality of identifiers;

matching, in the computer, the matched data with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity based upon the another identifier; and

updating, in the computer, the previously stored encrypted data to include the another identifier as supplemental data in a newly created field in order to maintain the previously stored encrypted data'"'"'s integrity.

97. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 96 further comprising the step of one of assigning and identifying a source to the record.

98. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 97 further comprising the step of deciphering at least a portion of the processed encrypted record after the step of matching the matched data.

99. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 98 wherein the deciphered at least a portion of the processed encrypted record is the source.

100. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 96 further comprising the step of modifying the record prior to utilizing the cryptographic algorithm.

101. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 96 wherein the received record comprises a plurality of received records.

102. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 96 further comprising the step of analyzing the record prior to the step of utilizing the cryptographic algorithm to process at least a portion of the record.

103. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 102 wherein the step of analyzing the record includes the step of comparing at least one of the plurality of identifiers against one of:

a user-defined criterion and a data set in one of a secondary database and a list.

104. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 103 further comprising the step of enhancing the record.

105. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 104 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes formatting the at least one of the plurality of identifiers in accordance with a user-defined standard.

106. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 104 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes generating a variant to the at least one of the plurality of identifiers and including the variant with the record.

107. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 104 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes:

querying the data set for a secondary identifier relating to the record; and

supplementing the record with the secondary identifier.

108. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 96 further comprising the step of converting the record into a standardized message format.

109. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 108 wherein the step of converting the record into a standardized message format includes the step of utilizing a type indicator corresponding with each of the plurality of identifiers.

110. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 109 wherein the type indicator is discernable after the step of utilizing the cryptographic algorithm.

111. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 96 wherein the step of matching the matched data includes the step of assigning a persistent key associated with at least a portion of the previously stored data that is determined to reflect the entity to the processed record.

112. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 96 further comprising the step of issuing a message based upon a user-defined rule.

113. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 112 wherein the message includes one of the source of the record and at least one source of the previously stored encrypted data.

114. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 113 wherein the step of issuing a message based upon a user-defined rule includes the step of issuing a message in user-defined intervals.

115. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 96 further comprising the step of storing the processed encrypted record in a database.

116. A computer readable medium comprising a storage device containing program instructions for execution by a computer that results in the computer performing a method comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the computer, a record having a plurality of identifiers, the record corresponding to an entity;

utilizing, in the computer, a cryptographic algorithm to process at least two of the plurality of identifiers in the record to form a processed encrypted record;

comparing, in the computer, the processed encrypted record to previously stored encrypted data;

associating, in the computer, the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect a relationship with the entity;

evaluating, in the computer, whether an additional identifier is included in the associated processed encrypted record that is not included in the previously stored encrypted data; and

updating, in the computer, the previously stored encrypted data to include the additional identifier as supplemental data in a newly created field in order to maintain the previously stored encrypted data'"'"'s integrity.

117. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 116 further comprising the step of one of assigning and identifying a source to the record.

118. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 117 further comprising the step of deciphering at least a portion of the processed encrypted record after the step of associating the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect a relationship with the entity.

119. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 118 wherein the deciphered at least a portion of the processed encrypted record is the source.

120. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 116 further comprising the step of modifying the record prior to utilizing the cryptographic algorithm.

121. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 116 wherein the received record comprises a plurality of received records.

122. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 116 wherein the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the relationship with the entity comprises at least a portion of two previously received records.

123. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 116 further comprising the step of analyzing the record prior to the step of utilizing the cryptographic algorithm to process at least two of the plurality of identifiers in the record.

124. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 123 wherein the step of analyzing the record includes comparing at least one of the plurality of identifiers against one of:

a user-defined criterion; and

a data set in one of a secondary database and a list.

125. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 124 further comprising the step of enhancing the record.

126. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 125 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes formatting the at least one of the plurality of identifiers in accordance with a user-defined standard.

127. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 125 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes generating a variant to the at least one of the plurality of identifiers and including the variant with the record.

128. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 125 wherein the step of enhancing the record includes:

querying the data set for a secondary identifier relating to the record; and

supplementing the record with the secondary identifier.

129. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 116 further comprising the step of converting the record into a standardized message format.

130. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 129 wherein the step of converting the record into a standardized message format includes the step of utilizing a type indicator corresponding with each of the plurality of identifiers.

131. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 130 wherein the type indicator is discernable after the step of utilizing the cryptographic algorithm.

132. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 116 further comprising the step of issuing a message based upon a user-defined rule.

133. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 132 wherein the message includes one of the source of the record and the source of the previously stored encrypted data.

134. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 132 wherein the step of issuing the message based upon the user-defined rule includes the step of issuing a message in user-defined intervals.

135. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 116 further comprising the step of storing the processed encrypted record in a database.

136. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 116 further comprising the step of storing the relationships with the entity in a database.

137. A computer readable medium comprising a storage device containing program instructions for execution by a computer that results in the computer performing a method comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the computer, a record having a plurality of identifiers, the record corresponding with an entity and at least one of the plurality of identifiers having previously been encrypted utilizing a cryptographic algorithm, thereby resulting in a processed encrypted record;

comparing, in the computer, the processed encrypted record to previously stored encrypted data, at least a portion of the previously stored encrypted data having previously been encrypted utilizing the cryptographic algorithm;

matching, in the computer, the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect the entity;

issuing, in the computer, a plurality of messages in response to the match;

evaluating, in the computer, whether an additional identifier is included in the matched processed encrypted record that is not included in the previously stored encrypted data; and

updating, in the computer, the previously stored encrypted data to include the additional identifier as supplemental data in a newly created field in order to maintain the previously stored encrypted data'"'"'s integrity.

138. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 137 wherein the step of issuing a plurality of messages occurs in user-defined intervals.

139. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 137 wherein at least one of the plurality of messages includes a source of the record.

140. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 137 further comprising the step of storing the record in a database.

141. A computer readable medium comprising a storage device containing program instructions for execution by a computer that results in the computer performing a method comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the computer, a record having a plurality of identifiers, the record corresponding with an entity and at least one of the plurality of identifiers having previously been encrypted utilizing a cryptographic algorithm, thereby resulting in a processed encrypted record;

comparing, in the computer, the processed encrypted record to previously stored encrypted data, at least a portion of the previously stored encrypted data having previously been encrypted utilizing the cryptographic algorithm;

associating, in the computer, the processed encrypted record with the previously stored encrypted data that is determined to reflect a relationship with the entity;

issuing, in the computer, a plurality of messages in response to the associating step;

evaluating whether an additional identifier is included in the associated processed encrypted record that is not included in the previously stored encrypted data; and

updating, in the computer, the previously stored encrypted data to include the additional identifier as supplemental data in a newly created field in order to maintain the previously stored encrypted data'"'"'s integrity.

142. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 141 wherein the step of issuing a plurality of messages occurs in user-defined intervals.

143. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 141 wherein at least one of the plurality of messages includes a source of the record.

144. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 141 further comprising the step of storing the record in a database.

145. The computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 141 further comprising the step of storing the relationships with the entity in a database.