Compound Social Graph Database for Secure Enterprise Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current social network sites are inadequate for complex entities like large multinational businesses due to their inability to manage complex internal structures, confidentiality, security, and legal requirements across different countries, leading these entities to avoid using social networks for business interactions.
Innovation Solution
A compound social network platform with a social graph database that implements graduated connections, allowing complex entities to connect securely by exposing data in stages, with initial, elevated, and trusted levels, and automatically managing updates and access to ensure data security and compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex entities connect on social networks to enable business interactions, then connectivity and information sharing are improved, but data security and confidentiality are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data into multiple hierarchical levels (public, internal, confidential, private) and implements graduated connections with staged data exposure. Entities progress through connection stages (requested, pending, approved, active) where data visibility is incrementally increased. This segmentation allows entities to maintain security while achieving connectivity by only exposing appropriate data levels to each connection stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary validation system that mediates between connecting entities. The system validates credentials, verifies organizational hierarchies, and controls data exposure between parties. This intermediary layer ensures security requirements are met while enabling business interactions, resolving the contradiction between connectivity and security.
2Loss of information
If social networks expose data to enable interactions, then information sharing is improved, but compliance with legal and security requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic data exposure controls where data visibility changes based on connection stage, organizational hierarchy, and data classification. As connections progress from requested to active status, and as entities verify credentials and compliance, data exposure dynamically increases. This dynamic approach enables information sharing while maintaining compliance by adapting exposure levels to current trust and validation states.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent requires preliminary validation actions before full data exposure occurs. Entities must complete credential verification, organizational validation, and compliance checks before accessing sensitive data. This preliminary action ensures compliance requirements are satisfied before information sharing at higher levels occurs, preventing compliance violations.
3Ease of operation
If graduated connection stages are implemented to improve security, then data control is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal graduated connection framework that handles multiple data types, connection scenarios, and organizational structures through a single standardized system. The same connection stages and data levels apply across different entities and use cases, providing ease of operation through consistency while managing complexity through standardization rather than custom solutions for each scenario.
Data Source
AI summary
A compound social network site can manage complex organizational entities, such as businesses, via a compound social network graph. Nodes of the compound social network graph are connected by compound edges which correspond to multiple tiers of profile data of the organizational entities.