Method and system for anonymous reporting

• US 8,015,117 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Sorkin, Stephen, Lillibridge, Mark David
• Primary Examiner(s): Agwumezie; Charles C
• Application Number:
  US11/414,287
• Time in Patent Office: 1,958 Days
• Field of Search: 705/64, 705/74, 705/75
• US Class Current: 705/74
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system and method for anonymous reporting. Specifically, the method includes collecting user information about a user and generating a user profile based on the user information. The user profile is stored such that the user profile is used to achieve delivery of data that is targeted to the user based on the user profile without requiring a release of user information in the user profile. A signed authorization number is generated. The signed authorization number is signed by the third party but unknown to the third party. The signed authorization number is attached to a report detailing activities of the user. The report along with the signed authorization number is sent to the third party to preserve reporting privacy of the user. The third party is able to authenticate the report using the signed authorization number.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for anonymous reporting, in a system for targeted data delivery, comprising:

collecting, by said computer, user information about a user from at least one electronic device associated with said user;

generating, by said computer, a user profile based on said user information;

storing, by said computer, said user profile, wherein delivery of data is targeted to said user based on said user profile; and

anonymously reporting, by said computer, user activity related to said targeted data, comprising;

aggregating, by said computer, metric information associated with said user activity from a plurality of users;

generating, by said computer, an encrypted number and transmitting said encrypted number to a third party;

receiving, by said computer, an encrypted blind digital signature of said encrypted number from said third party;

generating, by said computer, a signed authorization number by decrypting said encrypted blind digital signature, wherein said signed authorization number is signed by said third party but unknown to said third party;

attaching, by said computer, said signed authorization number to a report detailing said user activity; and

sending, by said computer, said report with said signed authorization number to said third party to preserve reporting privacy of said user, wherein said third party authenticates said report using said signed authorization number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating a signed authorization number further comprises:

generating a random number;

encrypting said random number to generate an encrypted random number;

sending said encrypted random number to said third party;

receiving said encrypted random number that is signed by said third party; and

decrypting said encrypted random number that is signed by said third party to generate said signed authorization number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said aggregating metric information further comprises:

monitoring user interactions with said targeted data; and

generating said report detailing said interactions.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said user interactions include:

impressions of said data targeted to said user;

clickthroughs of said data targeted to said user; and

conversions of said data targeted to said user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said third party comprises a distributor of said targeted data, and wherein said sending said report further comprises said data distributor providing said report to a source of said data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said sending said report further comprises:

sending a public key with said report to said third party, wherein said public key is associated with a private key in a key pair controlled by said user;

receiving encrypted compensation for said user activity, wherein said encrypted compensation is encrypted by said third party using said public key; and

decrypting said encrypted compensation using said private key.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

committing to said user profile yielding a commitment;

anonymously sending said commitment with said signed authorization number to said third party;

sending a public key with said commitment to said third party, wherein said public key is associated with a private key in a key pair controlled by said user;

generating a proof that selection criteria of a received offer for targeted data delivery is satisfied by said user profile;

receiving encrypted compensation for said user profile satisfying said selection criteria, wherein said encrypted compensation is encrypted by said third party using said public key; and

decrypting said encrypted compensation using said private key.

8. A computer implemented method for authenticating communication, in a system for targeted data delivery, comprising:

generating, by said computer, an encrypted blind digital signature by signing an encrypted number received from a client associated with a user, at a third party, wherein said encrypted blind digital signature is unencrypted to generate a signed authorization number verifiable by said third party but unknown to said third party, and wherein delivery of data is targeted to said user based on a user profile associated with said user defining user characteristics that satisfy selection criteria associated with said data;

sending, by said computer, said encrypted blind digital signature to said client, wherein said client generates said signed authorization number through decryption of said encrypted blind digital signature;

receiving, by said computer, a communication from an anonymous source, wherein said communication is authenticated with said signed authorization number and comprises a report aggregating from a plurality of users metric information associated with user activity related to said targeted data; and

authenticating, by said computer, said communication using said signed authorization number.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said user activity comprises:

user interactions with said targeted data.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

invalidating said report when information in said report is outside acceptable boundaries; and

invalidating said communication when said signed authorization number is not verified.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said user interactions include:

impressions of said data targeted to said user;

clickthroughs of said data targeted to said user; and

conversions of said data targeted to said user.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said third party comprises a distributor of said targeted data, and said data distributor provides said report to a source of said data.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

before said generating said encrypted blind digital signature, determining said client is a valid client.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

associating a trustworthiness status with said user, wherein said trustworthiness status is selected from a probationary status and an accepted status.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing application instructions where said application instructions when executed effect a method for anonymous reporting, comprising:

collecting user information about a user from at least one electronic device associated with said user;

generating a user profile based on said user information;

storing said user profile, wherein delivery of data is targeted to said user based on said user profile; and

anonymously reporting user activity related to said targeted data, comprising;

collecting metric information associated with said user activity in aggregate from a plurality of users;

generating an encrypted number and transmitting said encrypted number to a third party;

receiving an encrypted blind digital signature of said encrypted number from said third party;

generating a signed authorization number by decrypting said encrypted blind digital signature, wherein said signed authorization number is signed by said third party but unknown to said third party;

attaching said signed authorization number to a report detailing said user activity; and

sending said report with said signed authorization number to said third party to preserve reporting privacy of said user, wherein said third party authenticates said report using said signed authorization number.

16. The application instructions recited in claim 15, wherein collecting metric information further comprises:

monitoring user interactions with said targeted data; and

generating said report detailing said interactions.

17. The application instructions recited in claim 16, wherein said user interactions include:

impressions of said data targeted to said user;

clickthroughs of said data targeted to said user; and

conversions of said data targeted to said user.

18. The application instructions recited in claim 15, wherein said third party comprises a distributor of said targeted data, and wherein said sending said report further comprises said data distributor providing said report to a source of said data.

19. The application instructions recited in claim 15, wherein sending said report further comprises:

sending a public key with said report to said third party, wherein said public key is associated with a private key in a key pair controlled by said user;

receiving encrypted compensation for said user activity, wherein said encrypted compensation is encrypted by said third party using said public key; and

decrypting said encrypted compensation using said private key.

20. The application instructions recited in claim 15, further comprising additional instructions which, when executed effect said method for anonymous reporting, said additional instructions comprising:

committing to said user profile generating a commitment;

anonymously sending said commitment with said signed authorization number to said third party;

sending a public key with said commitment to said third party, wherein said public key is associated with a private key in a key pair controlled by said user;

generating a proof that selection criteria of a received offer for targeted data delivery is satisfied by said user profile;

receiving encrypted compensation for said selection criteria satisfying said user profile, wherein said encrypted compensation is encrypted by said third party using said public key; and

decrypting said encrypted compensation using said private key.