How a Smart System Verifies and Updates Customer Data
This patent describes an automated system that uses artificial intelligence to pick the best ways to check and update information about people or businesses, choosing from methods like web searches, phone calls, or direct mail.
Original patent title: “Systems and methods for data verification”
This patent describes an automated system that uses artificial intelligence to pick the best ways to check and update information about people or businesses, choosing from methods like web searches, phone calls, or direct mail. Granted to Consumerinfo com Inc in 2012 with 39 claims and 102 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This system automatically verifies and updates data, such as customer contact information. It includes a "data selection module" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1) that picks data to be checked. An "artificial intelligence module" (Claim 1) then decides which verification methods to use, like web-crawling, phone calls (tele-verification), or emails, based on how well those methods worked in the past (Claim 1). For example, if the system needs to verify a person's address, the AI might first try a low-cost web search. If that's not enough, it might then use a more expensive phone call for a smaller group of records, using the results to see how good the web search was (Claim 2, 3). The AI can also adapt its choices over time by monitoring how effective each method is (Claim 4).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems that verify data using only one fixed method, without an AI module choosing between options.
- Does not cover manual data verification processes where a human decides the method for each record.
- Does not cover systems that select verification methods without considering prior results or cost data (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1, 2).
- Does not cover systems that verify data without the ability to update or append information as a result of the verification.
- Does not cover systems that only segment data without an AI module selecting methods based on those segments (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 9).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The truly novel aspect is the "artificial intelligence module" that dynamically selects and adapts data verification methods based on their past effectiveness, cost, or characteristics of the data itself. This moves beyond simple rule-based systems to a more intelligent, self-optimizing approach.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Credit reporting agencies updating consumer profiles
Marketing companies cleaning customer lists
Identity verification services checking user details
Business directories ensuring contact information is current
Fraud detection systems validating suspicious data points
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Accurate customer and business data is crucial for many industries, from marketing to fraud prevention. This patent outlines a systematic, intelligent approach to keeping that data fresh and reliable, which helps companies save money by using the most efficient verification methods. Consumerinfo.com Inc., the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, operates in the credit reporting and identity protection space, where data accuracy is paramount.
Filed
March 28, 2008
Granted
October 9, 2012
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like Experian (which acquired Consumerinfo.com Inc.) and other major data providers, credit bureaus, and marketing technology firms continue to build and refine systems for data verification. These entities constantly work to improve the accuracy and completeness of their vast datasets using automated and intelligent processes.
Market impact
This patent contributed to the development of more sophisticated data management practices, particularly in industries reliant on large, accurate datasets. It helped shift the market towards automated, adaptive systems for data quality, reducing manual effort and improving efficiency. While not creating an entirely new market, it enhanced the capabilities within existing data services and consumer information sectors.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This system automatically verifies and updates data, such as customer contact information. It includes a "data selection module" (Claim 1) that picks data to be checked. An "artificial intelligence module" (Claim 1) then decides which verification methods to use, like web-crawling, phone calls (tele-verification), or emails, based on how well those methods worked in the past (Claim 1). For example, if the system needs to verify a person's address, the AI might first try a low-cost web search. If that's not enough, it might then use a more expensive phone call for a smaller group of records, using the results to see how good the web search was (Claim 2, 3). The AI can also adapt its choices over time by monitoring how effective each method is (Claim 4).
The clever bit
The truly novel aspect is the "artificial intelligence module" that dynamically selects and adapts data verification methods based on their past effectiveness, cost, or characteristics of the data itself. This moves beyond simple rule-based systems to a more intelligent, self-optimizing approach.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems that verify data using only one fixed method, without an AI module choosing between options.
- Does not cover manual data verification processes where a human decides the method for each record.
- Does not cover systems that select verification methods without considering prior results or cost data (Claim 1, 2).
- Does not cover systems that verify data without the ability to update or append information as a result of the verification.
- Does not cover systems that only segment data without an AI module selecting methods based on those segments (Claim 9).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$384K – $1.2M
Midpoint $768K · 1.8 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
39 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Jones, G. D., Chang, A. C., & Matthies, C. P. S. (2012). How a Smart System Verifies and Updates Customer Data (U.S. Patent No. 8,285,656). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8285656/cortana-virtual-assistant
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How a Smart System Verifies and Updates Customer Data cover?
This patent describes an automated system that uses artificial intelligence to pick the best ways to check and update information about people or businesses, choosing from methods like web searches, phone calls, or direct mail.
Who owns patent US 8285656?
Consumerinfo com Inc owns this patent, granted in 2012.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on October 9, 2032, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8285656 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 102 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Accurate customer and business data is crucial for many industries, from marketing to fraud prevention. This patent outlines a systematic, intelligent approach to keeping that data fresh and reliable, which helps companies save money by using the most efficient verification methods. Consumerinfo.com Inc., the assignee, operates in the credit reporting and identity protection space, where data accuracy is paramount.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems that verify data using only one fixed method, without an AI module choosing between options.
Same assignee
More from Consumerinfo com Inc
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