Opaque Token Mediator for Anonymous Merchant Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for online shopping lack efficient real-time communication options between users and merchants, often requiring phone calls or emails that are inconvenient and may compromise user privacy, with inadequate transaction updates provided.
Innovation Solution
A social networking system facilitates anonymous communications between users and merchants through the generation and use of opaque tokens, allowing real-time chat and transaction updates while maintaining user anonymity, using plugins and pixels to integrate with merchant websites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If real-time communication between users and merchants is implemented, then communication efficiency is improved, but user privacy protection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an opaque token as an intermediary element that enables communication between users and merchants without exposing user identity. The token acts as a mediator that carries transaction information while obscuring the user's personal data, thus resolving the contradiction between enabling communication and protecting privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of user identity in the form of an opaque token that can be used for communication purposes. This token copy contains sufficient information for merchant interaction while deliberately excluding sensitive personal data, allowing communication efficiency to improve without compromising privacy protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional communication methods like email are used, then user identity is protected, but communication responsiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The opaque token serves as a mediator that enables real-time communication while maintaining privacy. Unlike email which requires direct identity disclosure, the token allows instantaneous messaging between users and merchants without exposing personal information, thus eliminating the time delay associated with traditional methods while preserving identity protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of communication from asynchronous email to real-time messaging by introducing the opaque token mechanism. This parameter change enables immediate response times while the token structure maintains privacy protection by design, resolving the contradiction between response speed and identity protection.
3Loss of information
If user identifying information is shared with merchants, then transaction tracking is improved, but user privacy protection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a copy of user identification in the opaque token that is sufficient for transaction tracking purposes but deliberately excludes sensitive personal information. The token copy enables merchants to track and manage transactions effectively while the design of the copy ensures user privacy is maintained by omitting identifying details.
Solution Approach 2:
The opaque token provides local quality by containing only the specific information needed for transaction tracking (such as order details and communication context) while excluding other sensitive user data. This selective information inclusion allows effective transaction management without comprehensive privacy exposure.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods for facilitating anonymous communications between a user and a merchant via a social networking system, wherein the user's identifying information is obfuscated from the merchant.