Dynamic Privacy Settings via Passive Behavior Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional social networking services require users to manually input and manage privacy settings, which can be burdensome and confusing, leading to unexpected sharing of information with individuals or entities.

Innovation Solution

An application server dynamically manages privacy settings based on a user's passive behavior, such as location tracking and communication patterns, to adjust settings and recommend content without explicit user input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users manually input and manage privacy settings, then privacy control is improved, but user burden and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy controlVSAvoiduser burden

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically managing privacy settings based on monitored user behavior patterns. The application server analyzes passive behavior data (location, communication patterns, social interactions) and autonomously adjusts privacy configurations without requiring manual user input, thereby reducing user burden while maintaining reliable privacy control through behavior-based automation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring user behavior and using this information to dynamically adjust privacy settings. The application server receives behavior data, processes it to determine appropriate privacy configurations, and automatically applies these settings, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to user patterns without explicit direction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If default privacy settings are used, then ease of operation is improved, but information sharing accuracy and user intent alignment worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of accessVSAvoidinformation sharing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring privacy settings based on analyzed user behavior patterns before the user needs to access or share information. The application server proactively determines appropriate privacy configurations by monitoring passive behavior and applies these settings in advance, eliminating the need for manual configuration while ensuring accuracy reflects actual user intent rather than generic defaults

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If manual privacy setting management is required, then user control is improved, but time consumption and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser controlVSAvoidtime for configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system eliminates time-consuming manual configuration through self-service automation. The application server continuously monitors user behavior patterns and autonomously manages privacy settings, freeing users from the time-consuming task of manual configuration while maintaining reliable user control through behavior-based automated decision-making

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If passive behavior monitoring is implemented, then privacy setting accuracy is improved, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy setting accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves universality by using a single multi-functional application server that handles multiple tasks: monitoring passive behavior data, analyzing communication patterns, determining privacy settings, and managing information sharing. This consolidates what would otherwise be separate complex components into one integrated system, improving privacy setting accuracy while managing overall system complexity through functional consolidation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9154564B2Interacting with a subscriber to a social networking service based on passive behavior of the subscriber

Publication Date: 2015.10.06 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

In an embodiment, an application server is configured to manage privacy settings of a subscriber for one or more social networking services. The application server determines a set of privacy settings (e.g., a manually configured or default set of privacy settings) of the subscriber for the one or more social networking services, and then receives, from the subscriber, permission to dynamically modify the set of privacy settings. The application server monitors, responsive to the received permission, passive behavior of the subscriber that is separate from interactions between the subscriber and the one or more social networking services (e.g., calls, text messages, instant messages made to/from the subscriber, a location of the subscriber, etc.). The application server triggers a modification to the set of privacy settings based on the monitored passive behavior of the subscriber.