Mediating Personal Information Requests via Reputation Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems that request personal information from users, such as automated kiosks and payment processors, often ask for more information than necessary and are vulnerable to malicious activities, compromising user privacy and security.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that mediates information requests by detecting requests for personal information, evaluating their appropriateness based on attributes like time, location, and reputation scores, and performing security actions such as preventing or allowing data sharing, using a device like a smartphone or smart badge, to ensure secure and privacy-compliant interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If systems request more personal information from users, then they can provide more personalized services and improve user experience, but user privacy is compromised and security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of information requests before granting access, checking device reputation scores, request attributes, and user preferences in advance. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare appropriate responses and security measures before actual information disclosure occurs, enabling personalized service while protecting privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary evaluation mechanism that sits between the information request and the actual data disclosure. This intermediary layer assesses request appropriateness based on multiple factors including device reputation, request attributes, and user preferences, acting as a mediator that enables personalized service while filtering out privacy-threatening requests.
2Reliability
If systems evaluate information requests based on multiple attributes and reputation scores, then security and privacy protection improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation system is segmented into distinct functional modules: device identification module, reputation score retrieval module, request attribute analysis module, user preference checking module, and decision-making module. Each module handles a specific aspect of the evaluation process, making the complex security system more manageable and maintainable while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal evaluation framework that can handle multiple types of information requests (camera access, microphone access, data reading, etc.) using a single multi-functional system. This universal approach evaluates different request types through common criteria (reputation scores, attributes, preferences), reducing overall system complexity compared to having separate evaluation systems for each request type.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If systems implement comprehensive request evaluation and security actions, then malicious activities are reduced, but processing time and operational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial evaluation actions based on risk levels. For high-reputation devices with standard requests, the evaluation is streamlined to essential checks only. For low-reputation devices or suspicious requests, the system performs comprehensive evaluation including multiple attributes and user preference checks. This partial action approach reduces processing time for safe requests while maintaining security for risky ones.
Solution Approach 2:
Reputation scores and device profiles are established through preliminary actions before actual information requests occur. The system pre-evaluates devices and maintains reputation databases, so when requests come in, the heavy lifting of assessment has already been done. This preliminary action significantly reduces real-time processing requirements while maintaining comprehensive security evaluation.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed computer-implemented method for mediating information requests may include (1) detecting, at the information-managing device, a request for the information-managing device to provide at least one element of personal information to a requesting device that is within physical proximity of the information-managing device, (2) evaluating, based at least in part on an attribute of the request, whether the request for the element of personal information is appropriate, and (3) performing a security action that responds to the request in a manner that is commensurate to the appropriateness of the request for the element of personal information. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.