Time-based degradation of digital credentials in a digital credential platform

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a database coupled to a network and storing:
 a plurality of user profiles; 
 a plurality of proficiency certifications; and 
 a plurality of work tasks, each mapped to at least one of the plurality of proficiency certifications; 
   a client device, coupled to the network, operated by a user, and comprising:
 a client software installed on the client device and configured to receive, using a user interface, a user input from the user; 
 at least one monitoring software module configured to identify, within the user input, a work task performed by the user, comprising a user function in the client software matching at least one of the plurality of work tasks; and 
   a server comprising a computing device coupled to a network and comprising at least one processor executing instructions within a memory which, when executed, cause the system to:
 receive, through the network from the client device, an identification of the work task performed by the user; 
 execute a first database command selecting, from the database, a proficiency certification in the plurality of proficiency certifications, mapped to the work task, in the plurality of work tasks, performed by the user; and 
 execute a second database command updating a user profile for the user, in the plurality of user profiles, indicating that the user qualifies for the proficiency certification. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to:
 authenticate the user prior to using the client software;   validate the user throughout a session of use of the client software; and   initialize an interactive assessment determining whether the user qualifies for the proficiency certification.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to authenticate or validate the user using:
 a facial recognition technology; or   a plurality of login credentials.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to:
 receive, through the network from the client device, an additional identification of an additional work task performed, using an additional client software, by the user;   execute a third database command selecting, from the database, an additional digital skill badge in the plurality of digital skill badges, mapped to the additional work task, in the plurality of work tasks, performed by the user; and   execute a fourth database command updating the user profile for the user indicating that the user qualifies for the additional digital skill badge.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to:
 store, in the user profile for the user, a plurality of behaviors for the user over time;   identify, from the plurality of behaviors, a usage pattern for the user. and   generate a report of suggestions to the user based on the usage pattern.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to generate a report comprising:
 a digital skill badge status based on the completion of the work task completed by the user; and   at least one suggestion of an additional work task to be completed by the user.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to determine the digital skill badge according to:
 at least one best industry practice; or   a time limit during which the work task must be completed.   
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 storing, by a server comprising a computing device coupled to a network and comprising at least one processor executing instructions within a memory, within a database coupled to a network:
 a plurality of user profiles; 
 a plurality of proficiency certifications; and 
 a plurality of work tasks, each mapped to at least one of the plurality of proficiency certifications; 
   receiving, by the server through the network, from a client device coupled to the network, an identification of a work task performed by the user, the client device being operated by a user and comprising:
 a client software installed on the client device and configured to receive, using a user interface, a user input from the user; 
 at least one monitoring software module configured to identify, within the user input, the work task performed by the user, comprising a user function in the client software matching at least one of the plurality of work tasks; 
   executing, by the server, a first database command selecting, from the database, a proficiency certification in the plurality of proficiency certifications, mapped to the work task, in the plurality of work tasks, performed by the user; and   executing, by the server, a second database command updating a user profile for the user, in the plurality of user profiles, indicating that the user qualifies for the proficiency certification.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 authenticating, by the server, the user prior to using the client software; and   validating, by the server, the user throughout a session of use of the client software; and   initializing, by the server, an interactive assessment determining whether the user qualifies for the proficiency certification.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of authenticating or validating, by the server, the user using:
 a facial recognition technology; or   a plurality of login credentials.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 receiving, by the server through the network from the client device, an additional identification of an additional work task performed, using an additional client software, by the user;   executing, by the server, a third database command selecting, from the database, an additional digital skill badge in the plurality of digital skill badges, mapped to the additional work task, in the plurality of work tasks, performed by the user; and   executing, by the server, a fourth database command updating the user profile for the user indicating that the user qualifies for the additional digital skill badge.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 storing, by the server in the user profile for the user, a plurality of behaviors for the user over time;   identifying, by the server from the plurality of behaviors, a usage pattern for the user. and   generating, by the server, a report of suggestions to the user based on the usage pattern.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of generating, by the server, a report comprising:
 a digital skill badge status based on the completion of the work task completed by the user; and   at least one suggestion of an additional work task to be completed by the user.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of determining, by the server, the digital skill badge according to:
 at least one best industry practice; or   a time limit during which the work task must be completed.   
     
     
         15 . A system comprising a server, comprising a computing device coupled to a network and comprising at least one processor executing instructions within a memory, the server being configured to:
 store, within a database coupled to a network:
 a plurality of user profiles; 
 a plurality of proficiency certifications; and 
 a plurality of work tasks, each mapped to at least one of the plurality of proficiency certifications; 
   receive, through the network, from a client device coupled to the network, an identification of a work task performed by the user, the client device being operated by a user and comprising:
 a client software installed on the client device and configured to receive, using a user interface, a user input from the user; 
 at least one monitoring software module configured to identify, within the user input, the work task performed by the user, comprising a user function in the client software matching at least one of the plurality of work tasks; 
   execute a first database command selecting, from the database, a proficiency certification in the plurality of proficiency certifications, mapped to the work task, in the plurality of work tasks, performed by the user; and   execute a second database command updating a user profile for the user, in the plurality of user profiles, indicating that the user qualifies for the proficiency certification.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 authenticate the user prior to using the client software;   validate the user throughout a session of use of the client software; and   initialize an interactive assessment determining whether the user qualifies for the proficiency certification,   wherein authenticating or validating the user is accomplished using a facial recognition technology or a plurality of login credentials.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 receive, through the network from the client device, an additional identification of an additional work task performed, using an additional client software, by the user;   execute a third database command selecting, from the database, an additional digital skill badge in the plurality of digital skill badges, mapped to the additional work task, in the plurality of work tasks, performed by the user; and   execute a fourth database command updating the user profile for the user indicating that the user qualifies for the additional digital skill badge.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 store, in the user profile for the user, a plurality of behaviors for the user over time;   identify, from the plurality of behaviors, a usage pattern for the user. and   generate a report of suggestions to the user based on the usage pattern.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the server is further configured to generate a report comprising:
 a digital skill badge status based on the completion of the work task completed by the user; and   at least one suggestion of an additional work task to be completed by the user.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the server is further configured to determine the digital skill badge according to:
 at least one best industry practice; or   a time limit during which the work task must be completed.