Account Sharing Interface With Role-Based Access Options
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for configuring and sharing computer accounts are cumbersome, inefficient, and time-consuming, particularly in battery-operated devices, often requiring multiple keystrokes and consuming unnecessary user time and device energy.
Innovation Solution
A user interface is provided with options to share an account with another user identity, allowing selection between making the second user a joint owner or a participant, thereby optimizing the sharing process and reducing cognitive burden and resource consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If account sharing is enabled between multiple users, then account versatility and collaboration capability are improved, but account security and control management become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments account access rights into distinct hierarchical levels: joint owners with full control, participants with limited access, and family members with restricted permissions. This segmentation allows multiple users to share an account while maintaining clear boundaries and control structures, reducing management complexity despite increased versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary authentication mechanism that mediates between multiple users and the account system. This intermediary layer handles permission verification, access control, and security protocols, allowing seamless account sharing while maintaining security and simplifying user interactions.
2Productivity
If multiple users can access the same account, then collaboration and shared resource utilization are improved, but security risks and unauthorized access potential increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different security levels and permission sets to different user roles within the same account. Joint owners receive full access, participants receive limited access to specific features, and family members receive restricted access. This localized quality control allows collaboration while maintaining security through role-based access control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by establishing security protocols and permission structures before users access the account. Authentication requirements, permission assignments, and security policies are pre-configured, ensuring security measures are in place before any collaborative activities begin, thus preventing unauthorized access while enabling collaboration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If account sharing options are provided, then user flexibility and customization are improved, but interface complexity and user confusion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the interface adaptive to user context and preferences. The system dynamically adjusts the display of sharing options based on the user's role, previous selections, and current needs. This dynamic adaptation provides flexibility in sharing options while maintaining ease of operation by showing only relevant choices to each user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies inversion by reversing the traditional approach: instead of presenting all possible sharing options and requiring users to navigate complex settings, the system first establishes basic account sharing, then allows users to customize permissions and options as needed. This inverted approach simplifies the initial interface while maintaining flexibility through progressive configuration.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to displaying a user interface for sharing an account associated with a first user identity with a second user identity. The user interface includes a first sharing option and a second sharing option. One or more inputs corresponding to a request to share the account are detected. If the one or more inputs include a selection of the first sharing option, a request to invite the second user identity to become a joint owner of the account is transmitted. If the one or more inputs include a selection of the second sharing option, a request to invite the second user identity to become a participant of the account without becoming a joint owner of the account is transmitted.