Obscured Contact Sharing via OS-Level Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges in maintaining privacy and control over their contact information when sharing it with others, as received contact information can be misused or shared without permission, and existing solutions require cumbersome workarounds or third-party applications.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for obscured contact information sharing, where a user device receives a request to share obscured contact information, obscures specific elements based on provided data, and removes them after a predetermined time or upon user command, allowing controlled and private communication without exposing the full contact details.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If contact information is shared openly, then communication convenience is improved, but privacy and control over contact information deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact information is segmented into multiple information elements (e.g., name, phone number, email, address). Each element can be independently controlled for sharing, allowing users to share only specific parts of their contact information while maintaining privacy over other parts. This resolves the contradiction by enabling selective sharing that maintains both convenience and privacy control.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact information sharing is made dynamic through time-limited access and removable elements. Contact information elements can be automatically removed after a predetermined time period or upon detection of specific conditions. This dynamic approach allows open sharing during the communication period while automatically restoring privacy control afterward, resolving the static contradiction between open sharing and privacy protection.
2Loss of information
If contact information is masked using alternative methods, then privacy is improved, but operational complexity and device requirements deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The contact information sharing mechanism is integrated into the operating system itself, making it a universal feature available across all devices running the OS. This eliminates the need for third-party applications or specialized hardware, reducing device complexity while maintaining privacy protection capabilities. The same OS mechanisms handle both regular and obscured contact sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring complex encryption or masking systems, the invention creates a simplified copy mechanism where contact information elements can be selectively copied to the receiving device. The copying process itself is controlled by the OS to only allow necessary copies, and these copies can be automatically removed. This approach provides privacy protection through controlled copying rather than complex technical barriers.
3Adaptability or versatility
If contact information is shared indefinitely, then communication flexibility is improved, but security and user control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The contact information sharing implements periodic action through time-limited access periods. Contact information elements are shared for a predetermined time period and then automatically removed. This periodic sharing maintains communication flexibility during the active period while ensuring security control is restored after expiration, resolving the contradiction between indefinite sharing and security control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring time limits and removal conditions for contact information elements before sharing occurs. Users can set predetermined time periods and conditions in advance, and the system automatically executes the removal of contact elements when these conditions are met. This preliminary configuration maintains security control without requiring continuous user intervention, preserving communication flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for obscured contact sharing is provided. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving at a first user device a request from a second user device to provide an obscured contact, wherein the obscured contact includes a plurality of information elements. The first user device receives from the second user device the obscured contact and data about obscuring at least one of the information elements of the obscured contact. Based on the data, an operating system of the first user device obscures the at least one information element from presentation by the first user device to a user while at the same time being able to use the obscured information element for a predetermined time. The operating system of the first user device removes the at least one information element from contact information storage of the first user device in response to detection of a predetermined time indicated by the second user device or a delete command from the second user device.