Abstract: A method of determining an indication of an intersection between a first dataset and a second dataset which hold data entries relating to respective real-world entities. A deterministic function is applied to the data entries of the first and second datasets to generate respective first and second location information. The data entries of the first and second datasets are encoded onto respective first and second binary structures by writing values at positions in the binary structures corresponding the respective location information. A comparison stage compares the binary structures to determine the indication of the intersection between the first dataset and second dataset.

Abstract: A method of determining an indication of an intersection between a first dataset and a second dataset, the first and second datasets each holding entries in association with at least one key, the method comprising: generating for the at least one key in the first dataset location information in a first binary structure by applying a deterministic function to the entries associated with the key; transmitting the first binary structure to a comparison stage; generating for the at least one key in the second dataset, location information in a second binary structure by applying the same deterministic function to the entries associated with the key; and comparing, at the comparison stage, the location information in the first and second binary structures to determine the indication of the intersection between the first dataset and second dataset.

Abstract: A method of joining a first dataset configured to store a set of data entries each identified by a respective key of a first type and a second dataset configured to store a second set of data entries identified by a respective key of a second type, the method comprising: selecting an intermediate mapping entity from a set of possible intermediate mapping entities, each mapping entity storing association between keys of the first type and keys of the second type; providing the selected intermediate mapping entity for use in joining the first data set with the second data set; wherein the step of selecting the intermediate mapping entity is based on the intersection weight between the first and second data sets via each of the intermediate mapping entities, wherein the intersection weight is the proportion of overlapping data entries between the first and second datasets.

Abstract: A method of accessing a dataset to fulfil a query over an intended audience is provided. A user interface comprises input means for a user to select an intended audience dataset from a plurality of datasets which the user has permission to access. The user interface is configured to receive from the user a query defining an intended operation to be performed on entries of the intended audience dataset to generate the target audience. The query is received from the user and a supporting candidate dataset is selected. It is determined whether the selected supporting candidate dataset comprises entries which enhance the entries of the audience dataset for performing the intended operation. If so, the candidate dataset and the audience dataset are selected to contribute to performance of the operation. If not, a next candidate dataset is selected, and the determining step is repeated.

Abstract: Methods and devices for controlling access to sensitive data stored in a computer system are provided. For at least some data entries in a dataset, each identified by a respective key, an indicator of which zero or more conditions of a plurality of queries are satisfied by that data entry is generated. The keys are grouped into cohorts based on the indicators, at least some of the cohorts comprising keys identifying data entries satisfying the same zero of more conditions. A first output is transmitted to the first computing device comprising an identifier of a first cohort and an indication of a condition which is satisfied by data entries identified by keys in the first cohort. A second output is transmitted to a second computing device comprising an identifier of the first cohort and a set of keys corresponding to the data entries in the first cohort.

Abstract: A method of determining a further dataset to be joined with a source dataset having a plurality of data entries each identified by a respective key. An identifier of the source dataset is received, and an intersection weight between the source dataset and each of a plurality of possible further datasets is determined based on the number of common keys between the source dataset and each respective possible further dataset. An output is then generated based on the intersection weights for use in selecting one of the plurality of possible further datasets to be joined with the source dataset.

Abstract: A method of accessing a dataset to fulfil a query over an intended audience is provided. A user interface comprises input means for a user to select an intended audience dataset from a plurality of datasets which the user has permission to access. The user interface is configured to receive from the user a query defining an intended operation to be performed on entries of the intended audience dataset to generate the target audience. The query is received from the user and a supporting candidate dataset is selected. It is determined whether the selected supporting candidate dataset comprises entries which enhance the entries of the audience dataset for performing the intended operation. If so, the candidate dataset and the audience dataset are selected to contribute to performance of the operation. If not, a next candidate dataset is selected, and the determining step is repeated.

Abstract: A method of accessing a dataset to fulfill a query over an intended audience is provided. A user interface comprises input means for a user to select an intended audience dataset from a plurality of datasets which the user has permission to access. The user interface is configured to receive from the user a query defining an intended operation to be performed on entries of the intended audience dataset to generate the target audience. The query is received from the user and a supporting candidate dataset is selected. It is determined whether the selected supporting candidate dataset comprises entries which enhance the entries of the audience dataset for performing the intended operation. If so, the candidate dataset and the audience dataset are selected to contribute to performance of the operation. If not, a next candidate dataset is selected, and the determining step is repeated.

Abstract: A method of accessing a dataset to fulfil a query over an intended audience is provided. A user interface comprises input means for a user to select an intended audience dataset from a plurality of datasets which the user has permission to access. The user interface is configured to receive from the user a query defining an intended operation to be performed on entries of the intended audience dataset to generate the target audience. The query is received from the user and a supporting candidate dataset is selected. It is determined whether the selected supporting candidate dataset comprises entries which enhance the entries of the audience dataset for performing the intended operation. If so, the candidate dataset and the audience dataset are selected to contribute to performance of the operation. If not, a next candidate dataset is selected, and the determining step is repeated.

Abstract: A method of accessing a dataset to fulfil a query over an intended audience is provided. A user interface comprises input means for a user to select an intended audience dataset from a plurality of datasets which the user has permission to access. The user interface is configured to receive from the user a query defining an intended operation to be performed on entries of the intended audience dataset to generate the target audience. The query is received from the user and a supporting candidate dataset is selected. It is determined whether the selected supporting candidate dataset comprises entries which enhance the entries of the audience dataset for performing the intended operation. If so, the candidate dataset and the audience dataset are selected to contribute to performance of the operation. If not, a next candidate dataset is selected, and the determining step is repeated.

Abstract: A method of accessing multiple independent databases with a single query having multiple expressions involves deriving from a single query at least one filtering query, searching a first one of the multiple independent databases using the at least one filtering query, applying identifiers only of the filtering set of target entries and the target query to a second one of the multiple independent databases and generating a set of result entries from the second database which thereby satisfy the filtering expression and the target expression.

Abstract: A method of determining a further dataset to be joined with a source dataset having a plurality of data entries each identified by a respective key. An identifier of the source dataset is received, and an intersection weight between the source dataset and each of a plurality of possible further datasets is determined based on the number of common keys between the source dataset and each respective possible further dataset. An output is then generated based on the intersection weights for use in selecting one of the plurality of possible further datasets to be joined with the source dataset.

Abstract: A method of determining an indication of an intersection between a first dataset and a second dataset, the first and second datasets each holding entries in association with at least one key, the method comprising: generating for the at least one key in the first dataset location information in a first binary structure by applying a deterministic function to the entries associated with the key; transmitting the first binary structure to a comparison stage; generating for the at least one key in the second dataset, location information in a second binary structure by applying the same deterministic function to the entries associated with the key; and comparing, at the comparison stage, the location information in the first and second binary structures to determine the indication of the intersection between the first dataset and second dataset.

Abstract: A method of joining a first dataset configured to store a set of data entries each identified by a respective key of a first type and a second dataset configured to store a second set of data entries identified by a respective key of a second type, the method comprising: selecting an intermediate mapping entity from a set of possible intermediate mapping entities, each mapping entity storing association between keys of the first type and keys of the second type; providing the selected intermediate mapping entity for use in joining the first data set with the second data set; wherein the step of selecting the intermediate mapping entity is based on the intersection weight between the first and second data sets via each of the intermediate mapping entities, wherein the intersection weight is the proportion of overlapping data entries between the first and second datasets.

Abstract: A method of compiling a database of entries, the method comprising: (a) receiving an origin set of data entries from an origin dataset, each entry comprising a category indicator and at least one data field containing data of a first category in a first source format; (b) for each entry of the data of the first category, transforming the source format into at least one representation which represents the data of the first category with a different precision to the source format; and (c) storing the data entries in a recipient database, each data entry comprising the category indicator and multiple representations of the data, including the at least one transformed representation.

Abstract: A method of accessing a group (?) of multiple independent databases (A-E) with an input query to obtain an aggregated output. A first database of the group is searched using the input query to obtain a first set of result entries corresponding to a first set of identifiers in the first database. The result entries of the first set are aggregated into bins defined in the input query according to the attributes of the entries. An indication of the first set of identifiers of the result entries is provided to a second database of the group using a second set of identifiers of entries in the second database for entries which excludes duplicate identifiers in the first and second sets. The second database is searched to obtain a second set of result entries. Finally, result entries of the second set of result entries are added to the bins according to their attributes.

Abstract: Systems and methods of determining, from an identity database, raw identifiers of entities satisfying a set of attributes. The identity database does not hold the set of attributes in association with any identifiers in the identity database. An interrogation data structure is provided which represents encoded identifiers of entities satisfying the at least one attribute. The interrogation data structure is applied to encoded identifiers held in the identity database in association with respective raw identifiers to determine any raw identifiers which correspond to the encoded identifiers in the interrogation data structure.

Abstract: A method of accessing multiple independent databases with a single query having multiple expressions involves deriving from a single query at least one filtering query, searching a first one of the multiple independent databases using the at least one filtering query, applying identifiers only of the filtering set of target entries and the target query to a second one of the multiple independent databases and generating a set of result entries from the second database which thereby satisfy the filtering expression and the target expression.