Personal Data Access Level Indicator for Mobile Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of personal devices are often unaware of the access level to personal data generated by device resources due to low comprehension of application permissions, leading to potential privacy risks as many applications request sensitive permissions without clear user understanding.
Innovation Solution
A method that evaluates and displays a numerical or graphical indicator of access levels to personal data, independent of access rights enforcement, by assigning resource sensitivity values and calculating application and device access levels, providing users with clear indications of data usage by installed applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If application permissions are provided to control resource access, then security control is improved, but user comprehension and awareness of data access levels deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component that translates complex permission systems into simplified visual indicators. This mediator layer processes the raw permission data and presents it to users in an easily comprehensible format, bridging the gap between security control mechanisms and user understanding without compromising either.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color-coded visual indicators to represent different levels of data access sensitivity. By assigning specific colors to different permission levels (e.g., green for low sensitivity, red for high sensitivity), the system transforms abstract permission concepts into intuitive visual information that users can quickly comprehend and act upon.
2Loss of information
If detailed permission information is provided to users, then user awareness is improved, but interface complexity and user burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex permission information into hierarchical levels of detail. Users can view a simplified overview of data access levels without being overwhelmed by detailed permission configurations. The system divides information into essential visual indicators and optional detailed views, allowing users to engage with the system at their preferred level of complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of presenting users with comprehensive permission details and expecting them to understand, the patent inverts the approach by presenting simplified visual indicators first and allowing users to drill down into details only when needed. This inversion places the system's complexity management in the hands of the design rather than requiring users to navigate complex interfaces.
3Loss of information
If visual indicators of data access levels are displayed, then user comprehension is improved, but information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by calculating and displaying only the essential visual indicators of data access levels rather than processing and presenting all possible permission information. The system performs selective information processing to generate minimal sufficient visual representations that convey the necessary comprehension to users without the computational overhead of complete permission analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A method involves measuring and monitoring usage of data stored on a user device by software applications installed on the user device, the data being generated by resources of the user device. The method includes for each resource, assigning a resource sensitivity value, the resource sensitivity values of different resources being adapted to enable discrimination among resources based on sensitivity of the data they generate; for each application, calculating a respective application access level to the data by combining through a first predetermined function the resource sensitivity values of the resources that generate data accessed by the application; calculating a device access level to the data by the applications, the device access level being calculated by combining through a second predetermined function the calculated application access levels of the applications installed on the device; and associating with each application a respective indication of the calculated device access level.