# US 11,444,952 B2 · Synthetic identification protocol apparatus and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,444,952 B2 - Document ID: US11444952B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/380,533 - Filed: 2019-04-10 - Published: 2019-11-07 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-03 - Assignees: Springcoin, Inc. - Applicants: Springcoin, Inc. - Inventors: John Sun; Robert Krzyzanowski; Kirill Sevastyanenko - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11444952B2 ## CPC - G06F 21/602: {Providing cryptographic facilities or services} - H04L 63/105: {Multiple levels of security} - G06F 21/6245: {Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes} - G06F 21/6263: {during internet communication, e.g. revealing personal data from cookies} - H04L 63/08: {for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32)} - 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)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A control circuit receives personally identifiable information that corresponds to a particular entity. The control circuit uses that personally identifiable information to access a block chain ledger that serves as an identity block chain ledger. The control circuit then receives a synthetic identifier from the block chain ledger. This synthetic identifier correlates to the aforementioned personally identifiable information and also correlates to other data that corresponds to the particular entity and which other data is stored in a data storage element other than the block chain ledger. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: by a control circuit: receiving a hash of personally identifiable information that corresponds to a particular entity; truncating the hash of personally identifiable information to provide a truncated hash of personally identifiable information; using the truncated hash of personally identifiable information to access a block chain ledger; receiving from the block chain ledger at least one encryption value comprised of encrypted data that results from encrypting data that includes a synthetic identifier that correlates to the personally identifiable information and that also correlates to other data that corresponds to the particular entity where the other data is stored in a data storage element other than the block chain ledger; and using the hash of the personally identifiable information as a symmetric key to decrypt at least one of the at least one encryption value in an attempt to retrieve the synthetic identifier, wherein no indication is provided by the truncated hash of personally identifiable information as to which, if any, of the at least one encryption value is decrypted by the control circuit to successfully recover the synthetic identifier. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the personally identifiable information includes data that corresponds to the particular entity other than in context with respect to the synthetic identifier. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the personally identifiable information that corresponds to the particular entity comprises at least one of a name, a taxpayer number, a social security number, a date of birth, a passport number, a military identification number, and a physical mailing address. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the hash of personally identifiable information comprises at least one of: receiving a clear hash of personally identifiable information; and receiving a non-clear hash of personally identifiable information. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the hash of personally identifiable information comprises receiving a non-clear hash of personally identifiable information, the method further comprising: processing the non-clear hash of personally identifiable information to recover a clear hash of personally identifiable information. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the block chain ledger is specific to a corresponding region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein the corresponding region comprises at least one of a geographic region, a political region, and an economic region. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: receiving the hash of personally identifiable information comprises receiving the hash of personally identifiable information from a requesting entity; and wherein the method further comprises: providing the synthetic identifier to the requesting entity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the requesting entity is different from the particular entity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the synthetic identifier specifically and only serves to correlate the particular entity to the other data. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the block chain ledger only serves to correlate personally identifiable information with corresponding synthetic identifiers. ### Claim 12 An apparatus comprising: a network interface; a control circuit operably coupled to the network interface and configured to: receive, via the network interface, a hash of personally identifiable information that corresponds to a particular entity; truncating the hash of personally identifiable information to provide a truncated hash of personally identifiable information; use the truncated hash of personally identifiable information to access a block chain ledger via the network interface; receive, via the network interface and from the block chain ledger, at least one encryption value comprised of encrypted data that results from encrypting data that includes a synthetic identifier that correlates to the personally identifiable information and that also correlates to other data that corresponds to the particular entity and which other data is stored in a data storage element other than the block chain ledger; and using the hash of the personally identifiable information as a symmetric key to decrypt at least one of the at least one encryption value in an attempt to retrieve the synthetic identifier, wherein no indication is provided by the truncated hash of personally identifiable information as to which, if any, of the at least one encryption value is decrypted by the control circuit to successfully recover the synthetic identifier. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the personally identifiable information includes life-event information for the particular entity comprising at least one of a name, a taxpayer number, a social security number, a date of birth, a passport number, a military identification number, and a physical mailing address. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the control circuit is configured to receive the hash of personally identifiable information by at least one of: receiving a clear hash of personally identifiable information; and receiving a non-clear hash of personally identifiable information. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the control circuit is configured to receive the hash of personally identifiable information by receiving a non-clear hash of personally identifiable information, and wherein the control circuit is configured to: process the non-clear hash of personally identifiable information to recover the personally identifiable information. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein block chain ledger is specific to a corresponding region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the corresponding region comprises at least one of a geographic region, a political region, and an economic region. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the control circuit is further configured to: provide the synthetic identifier to a requesting entity. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the requesting entity is different from the particular entity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the synthetic identifier specifically and only serves to correlate the particular entity to the other data.