IP Library Patent Application 15993553
Patent Application
App. No. 15/993,553

TIME-BASED DEGRADATION OF DIGITAL CREDENTIALS IN A DIGITAL CREDENTIAL PLATFORM

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
15/993,553
Abstract

Techniques described herein relate to generation and time-based degradation of digital credentials within digital credentialing environments. A digital credential generation system may include a digital credential issuer and a platform server configured to determine and implement time-based degradation of the digital credentials issued to credential receivers. Different digital credentials may have different associated degradation functions, based on the type of the digital credential and/or additional factors such as the additional credentials issued to the receiver and the monitoring data of the receiver. The magnitude values computed for issued digital credentials, using the degradation functions, may be used to determine credential expiration times, re-credentialing times and/or requirements, and the like.

Claims (102)

1 . A digital credential generation system comprising:

a digital credential issuer device, comprising:

a processing unit comprising one or more processors;

one or more network interfaces configured to securely transmit data to a digital credential platform server; and

memory coupled with and readable by the processing unit and storing therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the digital credential issuer device to:

receive a request to generate a first digital credential for a credential receiver, based on a first digital credential template;

access, from the digital credential platform server, the first digital credential template, wherein the first digital credential template comprises a first set of eligibility criteria, and a degradation function applicable to digital credentials generated based on the first digital credential template;

determine, based on the first set of eligibility criteria, whether to generate a digital credential based on the first digital credential template for the credential receiver;

in response to determining that the credential receiver is eligible for a digital credential based on the first digital credential template, generate a first digital credential based on the first digital credential template, and issue the first digital credential to the credential receiver, wherein the degradation function is applicable to the first digital credential; and

transmit data to the digital credential platform server confirming issuance of the first digital credential to the credential receiver; and

a digital credential platform server, comprising:

a processing unit comprising one or more processors; and

memory coupled with and readable by the processing unit and storing therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the digital credential platform server to:

receive, from a client device, a request for a status of the first digital credential;

retrieve the degradation function applicable to the first digital credential, in response to the request;

determine a numerical value corresponding to a duration of time between the issuance of the first digital credential to the credential receiver and the receipt of the request for the status of the first digital credential;

calculate a current magnitude associated with the first digital credential, by executing the degradation function and providing the numerical value as input to the degradation function;

transmit the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential, to the client device in response to the request.

2 . The digital credential generation system of claim 1 , the memory of the digital credential issuer device storing further instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the digital credential issuer device to:

receive a second request to generate a second digital credential for the credential receiver, based on a second digital credential template;

access the second digital credential template, wherein the second digital credential template comprises a second degradation function different from the degradation function, wherein the second degradation function is applicable to digital credentials generated based on the second digital credential template; and

in response to determining that the credential receiver is eligible for a digital credential based on the second digital credential template, generate a second digital credential based on the second digital credential template, and issue the second digital credential to the credential receiver, wherein the second degradation function is applicable to the second digital credential.

3 . The digital credential generation system of claim 1 , wherein the degradation function applicable to digital credentials generated based on the first digital credential template is a time-based non-linear degradation function.

4 . The digital credential generation system of claim 1 , wherein calculating the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential comprises:

querying the digital credential platform server to retrieve additional non-expired digital credentials issued to the credential receiver;

retrieving, from the digital credential platform server, data indicating that at least one additional non-expired digital credential is issued to the credential receiver;

revising the degradation function applicable to the first digital credential issued to the credential receiver, based on the at least one additional non-expired digital credential issued to the credential receiver; and

executing the revised degradation function to calculate the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential.

5 . The digital credential generation system of claim 1 , wherein calculating the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential comprises:

subsequent to the issuance of the first digital credential to the credential receiver, monitoring a physical environment associated with the credential receiver using a plurality of sensors, and detecting a plurality of user actions of the credential receiver within the physical environment;

determining a plurality of activities performed by the credential receiver within the physical environment, based on the detected user actions;

revising the degradation function applicable to the first digital credential issued to the credential receiver, based on the determined plurality of activities performed by the credential receiver within the physical environment; and

executing the revised degradation function to calculate the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential.

6 . The digital credential generation system of claim 1 , the memory of the digital credential issuer device storing further instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the digital credential issuer device to:

subsequent to the issuance of the first digital credential to the credential receiver, receive a second request to update the issuance of the first digital credential to the credential receiver;

determine an updated first set of eligibility criteria for updating the issuance of the first digital credential to the credential receiver, wherein the updated first set of eligibility criteria is determined based on the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential;

determine, based on the updated first set of eligibility criteria, whether to re-issue the first digital credential to the credential receiver; and

in response to determining that the credential receiver is eligible to be re-issued the first digital credential, re-issue the first digital credential to the credential receiver.

7 . The digital credential generation system of claim 1 , the memory of the digital credential platform server storing further instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the digital credential platform server to:

determine an expiration time for the first digital credential issued to the credential receiver, based on the degradation function applicable to the first digital credential.

8 . The digital credential generation system of claim 1 , the memory of the digital credential platform server storing further instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the digital credential platform server to:

determine a valuation of the first digital credential, based on the degradation function applicable to the first digital credential.

9 . A method of generating digital credentials, comprising:

receiving, by a digital credential generator system, a request to generate a first digital credential for a credential receiver, based on a first digital credential template;

accessing, by the digital credential generator system, the first digital credential template, wherein the first digital credential template comprises a first set of eligibility criteria, and a degradation function applicable to digital credentials generated based on the first digital credential template;

determining, by the digital credential generator system, based on the first set of eligibility criteria, whether to generate a digital credential based on the first digital credential template for the credential receiver;

generating, by the digital credential generator system, a first digital credential based on the first digital credential template, in response to determining that the credential receiver is eligible for a digital credential based on the first digital credential template;

issuing, by the digital credential generator system, the first digital credential to the credential receiver, wherein the degradation function is applicable to the first digital credential;

receiving, by the digital credential generator system, a request for a status of the first digital credential;

retrieving, by the digital credential generator system, the degradation function applicable to the first digital credential, in response to the request;

determining, by the digital credential generator system, a numerical value corresponding to a duration of time between the issuance of the first digital credential to the credential receiver and the receipt of the request for the status of the first digital credential;

calculating, by the digital credential generator system, a current magnitude associated with the first digital credential, by executing the degradation function and providing the numerical value as input to the degradation function; and

transmitting, by the digital credential generator system, the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential, in response to the request for the status of the first digital credential.

10 . The method of generating digital credentials of claim 9 , further comprising:

receiving a second request to generate a second digital credential for the credential receiver, based on a second digital credential template;

accessing the second digital credential template, wherein the second digital credential template comprises a second degradation function different from the degradation function, wherein the second degradation function is applicable to digital credentials generated based on the second digital credential template; and

in response to determining that the credential receiver is eligible for a digital credential based on the second digital credential template, generating a second digital credential based on the second digital credential template, and issuing the second digital credential to the credential receiver, wherein the second degradation function is applicable to the second digital credential.

11 . The method of generating digital credentials of claim 9 , wherein the degradation function applicable to digital credentials generated based on the first digital credential template is a time-based non-linear degradation function.

12 . The method of generating digital credentials of claim 9 , wherein calculating the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential comprises:

querying a digital credential platform server to retrieve additional non-expired digital credentials issued to the credential receiver;

retrieving, from the digital credential platform server, data indicating that at least one additional non-expired digital credential is issued to the credential receiver;

revising the degradation function applicable to the first digital credential issued to the credential receiver, based on the at least one additional non-expired digital credential issued to the credential receiver; and

executing the revised degradation function to calculate the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential.

13 . The method of generating digital credentials of claim 9 , wherein calculating the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential comprises:

subsequent to the issuance of the first digital credential to the credential receiver, monitoring a physical environment associated with the credential receiver using a plurality of sensors, and detecting a plurality of user actions of the credential receiver within the physical environment;

determining a plurality of activities performed by the credential receiver within the physical environment, based on the detected user actions;

revising the degradation function applicable to the first digital credential issued to the credential receiver, based on the determined plurality of activities performed by the credential receiver within the physical environment; and

executing the revised degradation function to calculate the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential.

14 . The method of generating digital credentials of claim 9 , further comprising:

subsequent to the issuance of the first digital credential to the credential receiver, receiving a second request to update the issuance of the first digital credential to the credential receiver;

determining an updated first set of eligibility criteria for updating the issuance of the first digital credential to the credential receiver, wherein the updated first set of eligibility criteria is determined based on the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential;

determining, based on the updated first set of eligibility criteria, whether to re-issue the first digital credential to the credential receiver; and

in response to determining that the credential receiver is eligible to be re-issued the first digital credential, re-issuing the first digital credential to the credential receiver.

15 . The method of generating digital credentials of claim 9 , further comprising:

determining an expiration time for the first digital credential issued to the credential receiver, based on the degradation function applicable to the first digital credential.

16 . The method of generating digital credentials of claim 9 , further comprising:

determining a valuation of the first digital credential, based on the degradation function applicable to the first digital credential.

17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium, having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to perform a set of operations comprising:

receiving a request to generate a first digital credential for a credential receiver, based on a first digital credential template;

accessing the first digital credential template, wherein the first digital credential template comprises a first set of eligibility criteria, and a degradation function applicable to digital credentials generated based on the first digital credential template;

determining based on the first set of eligibility criteria, whether to generate a digital credential based on the first digital credential template for the credential receiver;

generating a first digital credential based on the first digital credential template, in response to determining that the credential receiver is eligible for a digital credential based on the first digital credential template;

issuing the first digital credential to the credential receiver, wherein the degradation function is applicable to the first digital credential;

receiving a request for a status of the first digital credential;

retrieving the degradation function applicable to the first digital credential, in response to the request;

determining a numerical value corresponding to a duration of time between the issuance of the first digital credential to the credential receiver and the receipt of the request for the status of the first digital credential;

calculating a current magnitude associated with the first digital credential, by executing the degradation function and providing the numerical value as input to the degradation function; and

transmitting the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential, in response to the request for the status of the first digital credential.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , the instructions causing the computing device to perform further operations comprising:

receiving a second request to generate a second digital credential for the credential receiver, based on a second digital credential template;

accessing the second digital credential template, wherein the second digital credential template comprises a second degradation function different from the degradation function, wherein the second degradation function is applicable to digital credentials generated based on the second digital credential template; and

in response to determining that the credential receiver is eligible for a digital credential based on the second digital credential template, generating a second digital credential based on the second digital credential template, and issuing the second digital credential to the credential receiver, wherein the second degradation function is applicable to the second digital credential.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein calculating the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential comprises:

querying a digital credential platform server to retrieve additional non-expired digital credentials issued to the credential receiver;

retrieving, from the digital credential platform server, data indicating that at least one additional non-expired digital credential is issued to the credential receiver;

revising the degradation function applicable to the first digital credential issued to the credential receiver, based on the at least one additional non-expired digital credential issued to the credential receiver; and

executing the revised degradation function to calculate the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein calculating the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential comprises:

subsequent to the issuance of the first digital credential to the credential receiver, monitoring a physical environment associated with the credential receiver using a plurality of sensors, and detecting a plurality of user actions of the credential receiver within the physical environment;

determining a plurality of activities performed by the credential receiver within the physical environment, based on the detected user actions;

revising the degradation function applicable to the first digital credential issued to the credential receiver, based on the determined plurality of activities performed by the credential receiver within the physical environment; and

executing the revised degradation function to calculate the current magnitude associated with the first digital credential.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING PARTY'S EXECUTION DATES PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 046916 FRAME 0900. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST. Recorded Sep 27, 2018
From: MERCURY, MARK; SCHMIDT, JARIN; PORTER, E. CLARKE; PASCALE, PETER; STOCKINGER, ANDY; LANCASTER, RON
To: PEARSON EDUCATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 047158/0832 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2018
From: MERCURY, MARK; SCHMIDT, JARIN; PORTER, E. CLARKE; PASCALE, PETER; STOCKINGER, AMY; LANCASTER, RON
To: PEARSON EDUCATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 046916/0900 →