Ghost and Proxy User Mechanisms for Social Network Anonymity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional database management techniques in cloud computing environments make it difficult for users to track the activities of other users or access relevant information in a timely and efficient manner, especially in online social networks, leading to inefficiencies and incomplete reports.
Innovation Solution
Implementing systems and methods that allow for tracking updates to records and user actions within a database system, enabling users to follow records and users, and providing features like ghost users for anonymity and proxy users to manage information access, while maintaining user invisibility levels and tracking feed content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional database management techniques are used in cloud computing environments, then users can access database resources, but users cannot efficiently track the activities of other users or access relevant information in a timely manner
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes feed tracking mechanisms that automatically capture and store user activities, record updates, and information changes as they occur. This preliminary action enables users to access relevant information immediately without manual tracking efforts, resolving the contradiction between information access efficiency and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements automated feed mechanisms that provide real-time feedback to users about other users' activities, record changes, and relevant information updates. This continuous feedback loop eliminates the need for manual information gathering, thereby improving productivity while minimizing time loss.
2Reliability
If users need to maintain anonymity in online social networks, then user privacy is protected, but user identification and information tracking become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces ghost users and proxy users as intermediaries that maintain anonymity while enabling information tracking. These intermediary entities allow users to participate in social networks and track activities without revealing their true identities, thus protecting privacy while maintaining detectability through alternative identifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates ghost user copies that represent anonymous users in the system. These copies enable anonymous participation and information access without exposing the real user's identity, resolving the contradiction between maintaining anonymity and enabling user identification for tracking purposes.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive user activity tracking is implemented, then information completeness is improved, but system complexity and user privacy concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments information tracking into organized feeds that categorize different types of activities and updates. This segmentation provides comprehensive information coverage while maintaining manageable system complexity through structured organization of tracked data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements automated feed generation and management systems that self-service the information tracking function. The system automatically captures, organizes, and delivers relevant information without requiring complex manual intervention, thus achieving information completeness while controlling system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable storage media for maintaining anonymity in an online social network. In some implementations, a user can be designated a ghost user with respect to an entity in the online social network. One or more invisibility levels can be determined for the ghost user. Data indicating content to display in accordance with one or more invisibility levels can be generated and provided to a display device configured to display a presentation of the social network feed associated with the entity in a user interface associated with a second user. Also disclosed are methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable storage media for designating a proxy in an online social network. In some implementations, a first user can be designated as a proxy user of a second user in an online social network with respect to one or more entities within the online social network.