Incognito Mode Discards User Actions to Preserve Privacy

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Users face issues with media service providers recommending unwanted content and sharing their media preferences publicly, as their actions within media applications are tracked and shared, leading to embarrassing or inaccurate recommendations and social network updates.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an incognito mode in media applications that discards user actions and prevents them from being reported to the media service provider, allowing users to keep their preferences private and avoid unwanted recommendations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If user actions are tracked and reported to media service provider, then personalized recommendations and social network integration are improved, but user privacy and control over personal information are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonalized recommendationsVSAvoiduser privacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the media application operation into two distinct modes: normal mode and incognito mode. In normal mode, user actions are tracked and reported to the media service provider for personalized recommendations. In incognito mode, user actions are performed locally without being reported, preserving privacy. This segmentation allows users to switch between privacy-preserving and personalized experience modes as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a dynamic switching mechanism that allows users to transition between normal mode and incognito mode based on their privacy needs. The system dynamically adjusts its behavior: in normal mode, it collects and reports user actions; in incognito mode, it performs actions locally without reporting. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by allowing both personalized recommendations (when needed) and privacy protection (when needed).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If user actions are reported to media service provider, then content discovery and tailoring of media experience are improved, but accuracy of media preferences information is worsened when users want to keep certain preferences private

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia experience tailoringVSAvoidaccuracy of media preferences

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments user actions into two categories: public actions (performed in normal mode) that can be reported for media experience tailoring, and private actions (performed in incognito mode) that remain undisclosed. This segmentation ensures that only actions the user intends to share are reported, maintaining the accuracy of media preferences information while still enabling content discovery and personalized experience tailoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9602609B2Incognito mode in a media application

Publication Date: 2017.03.21 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

Implementations of the disclosed subject matter provide techniques for operating a media application in an incognito mode. A method may include operating a media application in a first mode and providing a first indication of a first user action in the media application to a media application provider. Next, an instruction may be received to operate the media application in a second mode. A second indication of a second user action may be received in the media application and the second user action may be performed. Then, the second indication of the second user action may be discarded without providing the second indication of the second user action to the media application provider.