Tracking entities during identity resolution

Abstract

A method of tracking entities for identity resolution in database systems comprises assigning each account of a plurality of accounts a unique entity belonging only to the account and in which the account is contained; keeping track of the age of each account of the plurality of accounts; and assigning an identifier to any entity as the identifier of the unique entity of the oldest account contained in the entity. This simple method of assigning identifiers to accounts and entities solves a number of identity resolution problems known in the art including: lost entity identifier problem, lost entity version problem, entity switched warm bodies / accounts problem, and account drift problem.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of information storage and retrieval using databases, and more particularly to identity resolution of entities that may have more than one identifier. technical background [0002] Database systems are widely used to hold information about real (as opposed to virtual, such as information in a computer) world objects (such as, for example, individuals, groups of people, organizations, and companies) organized in such a way that the objects Information becomes easily accessible. The fundamental meaning of this functionality is the ability to identify each object, information about which is to be kept and accessed in a well-defined manner, such that each object has an identity. [0003] The word "identity" can be defined as an alias for a real-world object (called a "warm body"), which is usually specified by a warm body. For example, an identity could be a name, social security number, driver's licen...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Thus, accounts appear to drift by themselves from one entity to another, so that users of the system may become confused

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