System and method for anonymizing address data

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a program. The program receives a first set of address data that describes a first geographic location. The program further determines a first set of geo-location coordinates based on the first set of address data. The program also determines a second set of geo-location coordinates based on the first set of geo-location coordinates. The program further determines a second set of address data based on the second set of geo-location coordinates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing a program executable by at least one processing unit of a device, the program comprising sets of instructions for:
 receiving, from an application, a first set of address data that describes a first geographic location and a request to anonymize the first set of address data;   determining a first set of geo-location coordinates of the first geographic location based on the first set of address data;   determining a second set of geo-location coordinates based on the first set of geo-location coordinates;   based on the second set of geo-location coordinates, determining a second set of address data that describes a second geographical location as an anonymized version of the first set of address data; and   sending the second set of address data to the application.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for determining a distance value based on the population class associated with the first set of address data, wherein determining the second set of geo-location coordinates is further based on the distance. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 2 , wherein determining the distance value comprises:
 identifying a table of mappings between a plurality of population classes and a plurality of maximum distance values; and   determining the minimum distance value is based on the maximum distance value; and randomly selecting a number between the minimum distance value and the maximum distance value as the distance value.   
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for determining an angle, wherein determining the second set of geo-location coordinates is further based on the angle. 
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein determining the second set of address data comprises performing a set of reverse geocoding operations to identify a set of address data that describes a geographic location nearest to the second set of geo-location coordinates as the second set of address data. 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for converting the second set of address data into a third set of address data that conforms to a data model associated with the first set of address data. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for formatting the second set of address data using a format of the first set of address data. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from an application, a first set of address data that describes a first geographic location and a request to anonymize the first set of address data;   determining a first set of geo-location coordinates of the first geographic location based on the first set of address data;   determining a second set of geo-location coordinates based on the first set of geo-location coordinates;   based on the second set of geo-location coordinates, determining a second set of address data that describes a second geographical location as an anonymized version of the first set of address data; and   sending the second set of address data to the application.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising determining a distance value based on the population class associated with the first set of address data, wherein determining the second set of geo-location coordinates is further based on the distance. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein determining the distance value comprises:
 identifying a table of mappings between a plurality of population classes and a plurality of maximum distance values; and   determining the minimum distance value is based on the maximum distance value; and randomly selecting a number between the minimum distance value and the maximum distance value as the distance value.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising determining an angle, wherein determining the second set of geo-location coordinates is further based on the angle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining the second set of address data comprises performing a set of reverse geocoding operations to identify a set of address data that describes a geographic location nearest to the second set of geo-location coordinates as the second set of address data. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising converting the second set of address data into a third set of address data that conforms to a data model associated with the first set of address data. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  further comprises formatting the second set of address data using a format of the first set of address data. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a set of processing units; and   a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by at least one processing unit in the set of processing units cause the at least one processing unit to:   receive, from an application, a first set of address data that describes a first geographic location and a request to anonymize the first set of address data;   determine a first set of geo-location coordinates of the first geographic location based on the first set of address data;   determine a second set of geo-location coordinates based on the first set of geo-location coordinates;   based on the second set of geo-location coordinates, determine a second set of address data that describes a second geographical location as an anonymized version of the first set of address data; and   send the second set of address data to the application.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processing unit to determine a distance value based on the population class associated with the first set of address data, wherein determining the second set of geo-location coordinates is further based on the distance. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein determining the distance value comprises:
 identifying a table of mappings between a plurality of population classes and a plurality of maximum distance values; and   determining the minimum distance value is based on the maximum distance value; and randomly selecting a number between the minimum distance value and the maximum distance value as the distance value.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processing unit to determine an angle, wherein determining the second set of geo-location coordinates is further based on the angle. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein determining the second set of address data comprises performing a set of reverse geocoding operations to identify a set of address data that describes a geographic location nearest to the second set of geo-location coordinates as the second set of address data. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processing unit to convert the second set of address data into a third set of address data that conforms to a data model associated with the first set of address data.