Affinity-Based Social Platform Reducing Information Overload

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current internet and mobile technologies face inefficiencies in social networking, advertising, customer loyalty programs, and information management, leading to information overload, privacy concerns, and high transaction costs, which hinder effective collective action and personalized marketing.

Innovation Solution

A mobile internet app and cloud-based platform that organizes users around shared interests and affinities rather than traditional friendships, enabling efficient data management, targeted advertising, and flexible discount programs, while protecting user privacy and reducing intermediaries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional social networking models based on friendships are used, then users can connect with personal contacts, but information overload and privacy concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser connection modelVSAvoidinformation overload
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the social networking model by introducing affinity groups based on shared interests, activities, or characteristics rather than traditional friendship connections. This segmentation allows users to organize information and connections by topic or affinity, reducing information overload while maintaining versatile connection options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional social networking approach by organizing users around shared affinities and interests rather than around personal friendships. This inversion transforms the connection model from person-centric to interest-centric, enabling more efficient information filtering and reduced overload.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If traditional advertising models with intermediaries are used, then advertising can be delivered to users, but transaction costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadvertising deliveryVSAvoidtransaction costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates intermediary advertising platforms from the advertising delivery process. By enabling direct communication between merchants and consumers through the affinity group framework, the system removes the middleman layer that generates transaction costs, while maintaining effective advertising delivery through targeted affinity-based distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service advertising where merchants can directly target and communicate with affinity groups without requiring intermediary advertising platforms. This self-service model reduces transaction costs by eliminating intermediary fees and streamlining the advertising delivery process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If centralized data management is used, then data accessibility improves, but privacy concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accessibilityVSAvoidprivacy concerns
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments data management by organizing user data within affinity groups rather than centralized repositories. This segmentation allows users to control which affinity groups access their data, improving accessibility within groups while maintaining privacy through decentralized organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimensional approach to data management by organizing data along affinity group dimensions rather than centralized user profiles. This dimensional change enables selective data sharing across multiple affinity groups simultaneously, improving accessibility while maintaining privacy through granular control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Ease of operation

If broad information sharing is used, then information accessibility improves, but transaction costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidtransaction costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments information sharing by affinity groups, allowing users to share information broadly across multiple relevant groups without incurring proportional transaction costs. This segmentation enables efficient information distribution targeted to specific affinity communities rather than universal broadcasting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11671895B2Online systems and methods for advancing information organization sharing and collective action
Publication Date: 2023.06.06 HOSIER JR GERALD DOUGLAS
  • US11671895B2 patent drawing
  • US11671895B2 patent drawing
  • US11671895B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods and systems and mobile device interfaces for creating, joining, organizing and managing via mobile devices affinity groups in a cloud computing environment for social and business purposes.