Digital Footprint Visual Navigation System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulty in understanding and navigating their extensive and complex digital footprints, which include multiple data maps and a history component, across various online and physical connections, due to overwhelming information that is not easily accessible or intuitively presented.

Innovation Solution

A visual navigation system that uses intuitive and easy-to-understand visual metaphors, navigation modes such as browse, search, tap to select, spin, swipe, stretch to expand, and pinch to compress, to display and manage a user's digital footprint, including recommendations for digital safety, on various devices like mobile phones, tablets, and smart TVs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If comprehensive digital footprint data is collected and presented, then information completeness is improved, but user understanding and accessibility deteriorate due to overwhelming complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoiduser understanding
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the comprehensive digital footprint data into multiple visual maps (e.g., social media map, search engine map, messaging map) and organizes them into hierarchical structures. Each map represents a specific domain of digital presence, allowing users to access complete information through structured segments rather than facing a monolithic complex dataset.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms complex tabular data into visual spatial representations where digital footprint elements are plotted on two-dimensional or three-dimensional maps. This dimensional transformation enables intuitive navigation and understanding by representing data relationships through spatial proximity, clustering, and visual patterns rather than requiring users to process raw data tables.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If detailed digital footprint information is displayed, then data comprehensiveness is improved, but interface complexity and usability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata comprehensivenessVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces visual maps as intermediary representations between the raw digital footprint data and the user. These maps serve as a mediating layer that translates complex data structures into intuitive visual patterns, allowing users to comprehend comprehensive data without encountering the underlying complexity of data organization and retrieval mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a unified visual navigation system that handles multiple types of digital footprint data (social media, search engines, messaging platforms) through a consistent interface paradigm. The same map-based visualization and navigation mechanisms work across different data domains, reducing interface complexity while maintaining data comprehensiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If multiple data maps and history components are included, then information organization is improved, but accessibility and intuitiveness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation organizationVSAvoidaccessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic navigation capabilities including zooming, panning, and interactive exploration of visual maps. Users can dynamically adjust the level of detail and focus areas based on their needs, making the organized information accessible through flexible interaction rather than fixed rigid structures. The system adapts to user exploration patterns while maintaining consistent organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12034816B2Digital footprint visual navigation
Publication Date: 2024.07.09 ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY
  • US12034816B2 patent drawing
  • US12034816B2 patent drawing
  • US12034816B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods, computer-readable media, software, and apparatuses may assist the user in understanding their unique digital footprint and the connections from the data within the footprint to the user's connections online and in the physical world. The determined information may be visually displayed to the user along with recommendations regarding digital safety.