User Contact Access Controls for Selective Network Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication tools and network services lack user control over access and use of contact information, posing privacy and security risks as users lose control over their personal information once it is shared.
Innovation Solution
A user interface process on client devices allows users to control and limit access to their contact information by defining access rules and strategies, enabling selective sharing of contact information with network services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users allow network services access to contact information, then services can facilitate communication and connections, but users lose control over their personal information and face privacy risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments contact information into individual contact cards, each with separate access controls. Users can grant or deny access to each contact independently rather than all-or-nothing control, allowing services to access only necessary information while maintaining security for other contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic access controls where users can modify permissions for each contact card at any time. The system transitions from static permission settings to dynamic, user-controlled access that can be adjusted based on changing privacy needs or service requirements.
2Ease of operation
If users share contact information with applications, then communication facilitation improves, but privacy and security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary permission management system between the user's contact information and network services. This intermediary layer validates and controls access requests, allowing communication facilitation while filtering out unauthorized or excessive data access attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different access permissions to different contact cards based on user preferences. Each contact card can have customized access rights, allowing users to share information selectively with specific services or applications rather than applying a uniform permission policy.
3Productivity
If contact information is made accessible to network services, then user connections and interactions improve, but control over information use is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service permission management where users directly control access to their own contact information without requiring intermediary approval or complex administrative processes. Users can independently grant, revoke, or modify permissions for each contact card, simplifying the management experience while maintaining fine-grained control.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing a contact list on a client device to enable user control of access to contacts, the method initiating a process including actions in response to a request to access user contacts. The method presents contact selection options on the client device, where the selection or control element allows for multiple controls. The user selects all, none or a subset of a user contact list and may control how the information is used by a network service.