◎ OS PUB Apache 2.0 ← All specifications

P162 — AIEP — Evidence Distributed Identity and DEID Protocol

Publication Date: 2026-04-12 Status: Open Source Prior Art Disclosure Licence: Apache License 2.0 Author/Organisation: Phatfella Ltd Schema: AIEP_OS_SPEC_TEMPLATE v1.0.1 — https://aiep.dev/schemas/aiep-os-spec-template/v1.0.1

Field of the Invention

[0001] The disclosure relates to distributed identity assignment and de-identification systems for evidence artefacts within computing environments.

[0002] More particularly, the disclosure concerns an evidence distributed identity and de-identification (DEID) protocol for use within an Architected Instruction and Evidence Protocol (AIEP) system, enabling evidence artefacts to carry persistent distributed identifiers that are maintained across node boundaries while supporting privacy-preserving de-identification without breaking provenance chain integrity.

Framework Context

[0003] This invention operates within an Architected Instruction and Evidence Protocol (AIEP) environment as defined in United Kingdom patent application number GB2519711.2, filed 20 November 2025, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Summary of the Disclosure

[0004] A computer-implemented evidence distributed identity and DEID protocol comprises: assigning each evidence artefact a globally unique EvidenceDistributedIdentifier (EDID) computed as H(deployment_id || source_identifier || retrieval_timestamp || content_hash) at ingestion; maintaining EDID stability across node transfers, transformations, and federation transfers; when privacy-preserving de-identification is required, applying a version-bound DEIDRuleset to remove or pseudonymise personal identifiers; computing a DEIDTransformHash as H(original_edid || deid_ruleset_version_id || deid_timestamp); generating a DEIDRecord binding original EDID, DEIDTransformHash, and de-identified artefact hash; and exposing the DEIDRecord to enable provenance chain verification without exposing the de-identified content.

[0005] EDIDs are immutable. De-identified artefacts carry their DEIDRecord as provenance evidence.

[0006] The technical effect is modification of computing system behaviour by enforcing persistent distributed evidence identity across node boundaries with governed de-identification, enabling federated evidence networks that satisfy privacy requirements without provenance chain breaks.

Claims

[0007] A computer-implemented method for evidence distributed identity and de-identification comprising: assigning EDIDs at ingestion; maintaining EDID stability across transfers and transformations; applying versioned DEIDRulesets for de-identification; computing DEIDTransformHashes; and generating DEIDRecords as provenance artefacts.

[0008] A system for evidence distributed identity and de-identification comprising one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions to execute the method of claim 1.