Group Member Privacy Control in Instant Messaging Contacts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The exposure of group members' privacy information, such as mobile phone numbers, to strangers within a group communication setting is a concern in instant messaging applications.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where a terminal device and cloud server collaborate to determine if a group member's mobile phone number is present in the address book of the viewer before revealing it, using profile pictures and nicknames for unknown members, and allowing addition to the address book based on communication history or user consent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mobile phone numbers of group members are displayed in plaintext to enable instant messaging communication, then communication functionality is improved, but privacy information is exposed to strangers in the group
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (address book verification system) that mediates between the group member's contact list and the displayed information. The system checks whether the viewer has the group member in their address book before displaying the mobile phone number, thus preventing direct exposure of privacy information to strangers while maintaining communication functionality for known contacts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the display of mobile phone numbers based on the relationship between viewers and group members. The system selectively displays phone numbers only when specific conditions are met (viewer has the group member in their address book), while hiding phone numbers from strangers, thereby creating different information quality for different users
2Object-affected harmful factors
If mobile phone numbers are hidden from strangers to protect privacy, then privacy protection is improved, but the ability to add contacts is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by requiring the viewer to first add the group member to their address book before the mobile phone number becomes visible. This preliminary action (adding to address book) establishes a trusted relationship, after which the system reveals the phone number, thus balancing privacy protection with contact addition capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by monitoring whether the viewer has added the group member to their address book, and based on this feedback, dynamically adjusting the visibility of the mobile phone number. This feedback mechanism ensures that phone numbers are only displayed when the viewer has established a sufficient level of trust through the address book relationship
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal device displays a group member list of a group in an instant messaging application; the terminal device displays a first phone number of the first group member; the terminal device displays a profile picture and/or a user name of the second group member, and a control used for adding a contact; the terminal device sends a first request to a cloud server in response to a third operation for the contact adding control, where the first request is used for requesting to add the second group member as a contact; the cloud server sends a second phone number of the second group member to the terminal device; and the terminal device saves the second group member as a contact.