Buddy Subscription Authorization in IMS Presence Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IMS Presence systems lack mechanisms to enable users to extend their 'buddy' or 'friend' lists based on information from other users' presence lists, limiting social networking and viral effects, and do not provide adequate security and privacy controls for sharing social network information.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allow users to obtain and manage buddy data by storing user information associated with a presentity, authorizing requests for buddy data, and transmitting this information to authorized watchers, while implementing security and privacy mechanisms to control data sharing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If presence information is shared to enable social networking and buddy list extension, then user connectivity and social networking capabilities are improved, but user privacy and security control are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments presence information into different types (basic presence status vs. buddy list information) and implements differentiated authorization for each type. Watchers can be authorized to receive only basic presence information or both basic presence and buddy list information, allowing users to control the granularity of information sharing while enabling social networking functionality.
2Productivity
If buddy list information is made accessible to watchers, then contact list expansion and viral marketing effects are improved, but security control mechanisms become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the existing presence information authorization mechanism to also handle buddy list information authorization. The same authorization framework and document structure are used for both basic presence information and buddy list information, allowing the system to maintain security control while enabling contact list expansion without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Reliability
If users can control who accesses their buddy information, then privacy security is improved, but the ease of obtaining new contacts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authorization where users pre-configure their buddy list information sharing preferences and authorized watchers before any information sharing occurs. The authorization document is established in advance, allowing users to control privacy while enabling seamless contact acquisition for authorized users without requiring real-time interactions or complex procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A server, computer readable medium and method for accessing buddy data related to a first user (presentity) that is connected to a communication network that includes a server, the data being accessed by a second user (watcher) connected to the communication network. The method including storing, at a server, information associated with a plurality of users associated with the presentity as the buddy data, receiving, at the server, a request from a watcher for buddy data of the presentity, authorizing, at least in part by the server, the request for buddy data, and transmitting, by the server, the buddy information to the watcher.