Consumer Portal for Rule-Based Information Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Customers lack control over how their personal information is used by businesses, leading to unwanted telemarketing and other inappropriate uses of their data.
Innovation Solution
A method where a consumer portal software allows users to store personal information and specify rules for its sharing with third parties, ensuring that only permitted information is disclosed based on the reason for the request, such as prohibiting telemarketing calls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If customers provide personal information to businesses for service, then service can be obtained, but customers lose control over how their information is used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a consumer portal as an intermediary system between customers and businesses. The portal stores customer information centrally and releases it to third parties only according to customer-defined rules, thereby maintaining service functionality while restoring customer control over information usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system requires customers to pre-configure their information sharing preferences and rules before any third party requests their data. This preliminary setup enables automated, rule-based disclosure decisions without requiring customer intervention at the time of each information request.
2Productivity
If businesses access customer information freely, then service delivery is efficient, but unwanted telemarketing and inappropriate uses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The consumer portal implements a feedback mechanism where customer preferences and rules are continuously applied to information access requests. The system monitors and enforces these rules automatically, providing ongoing control that prevents harmful uses while allowing legitimate service delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
By positioning the consumer portal as a mediator between businesses and customer information, the system enables efficient service delivery through automated rule-based access control, while blocking unwanted telemarketing and inappropriate information uses.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all personal information is disclosed to third parties, then complete service functionality is achieved, but customer privacy and security are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The consumer portal segments customer information into different categories and applies granular disclosure rules to each type of information. This allows selective sharing of specific data elements with third parties based on service requirements, rather than disclosing all information universally.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements local quality control by applying different disclosure permissions to different pieces of information based on customer preferences and service context. Each information element can have its own access rules, enabling precise control over what is shared and with whom.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for the sharing of information in which a request for information is transmitted along with an indication of a reason for which the information is sought and, in response to the request, a subset of the information available is provided on the basis of a characteristic of the event.