Hierarchical Class Tree for Cross-Platform Content Security

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current social web platforms lack the ability for users to control the security and distribution of their user-created content across different sites, relying on site-specific security policies that do not extend beyond the hosting platform, limiting users' control over their digital rights.

Innovation Solution

A data dictionary-enabled secure social web site that allows users to create and manage a hierarchical class tree structure with embedded security profiles, enabling them to control access and distribution of their content across multiple platforms, using Data Dictionary Engines (DDEs) to enforce digital rights policies and ensure secure sharing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users rely on site-specific security policies provided by each social web site, then the security implementation is simple for individual sites, but the user's security control cannot extend beyond the hosting web site and is limited to that particular platform

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity control extensionVSAvoidsecurity architecture
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments security control into two distinct layers: (1) site-specific security policies implemented by individual social web sites, and (2) a user-centric security model using hierarchical class trees that users can carry across multiple platforms. This segmentation allows each layer to operate independently while contributing to overall security, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and extendability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces hierarchical class trees as an intermediary mechanism that bridges user identity and security attributes across different social web sites. These class trees act as portable security credentials that users can present to multiple platforms, enabling security control extension without requiring complex integration between different site security systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If users download content from web sites without enforced security policies, then content accessibility is improved, but the user's digital rights and security policies cannot be enforced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent accessibilityVSAvoidsecurity policy enforcement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by embedding security policies and digital rights management rules into hierarchical class trees before content is accessed or downloaded. These pre-configured security constraints travel with the user's identity data, allowing automatic enforcement of digital rights during content access and download operations without requiring post-download control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes feedback loops where security policies embedded in hierarchical class trees continuously monitor and enforce digital rights during content access operations. The system provides real-time feedback on whether access operations comply with embedded security rules, preventing unauthorized content distribution while maintaining ease of legitimate access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If a comprehensive security model with hierarchical class trees and embedded security profiles is implemented, then user control over content distribution is enhanced, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser control capabilityVSAvoidsecurity system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal hierarchical class tree structure that serves multiple functions: storing user identity information, embedding security profiles, defining digital rights policies, and enabling cross-platform authentication. This multi-functional design reduces the need for separate systems for each function, managing complexity while enhancing user control capability.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements nesting by organizing security information hierarchically within class trees, where security profiles are nested within user identity structures, and digital rights policies are nested within security profiles. This nested organization allows complex security control capabilities to be built from simpler, reusable components, managing system complexity through structured composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS8661504B2Secure social web orchestration via a security model
Publication Date: 2014.02.25 METASECURE CORP
  • US8661504B2 patent drawing
  • US8661504B2 patent drawing
  • US8661504B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method includes receiving, by a first computer, input from a first user. The method further includes creating, by the first computer, a hierarchical class tree implementing security profiles based on the input from the user. The hierarchical class tree identifies data, actions, and behaviors pertaining to content, and the security profiles restrict access and use of that user's content. The method also includes transmitting, by the first computer, a portion of the hierarchical class tree to a second computer.