Peer-to-Peer Social Network Content Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Centralized social networks pose issues such as loss of control over shared content, inability to finely manage access, and security concerns when using mobile Internet devices, including the need to find friends within the network and concerns about content being copied or searched by web engines.

Innovation Solution

A peer-to-peer social network system integrated with mobile Internet devices, allowing users to create access groups and folders without needing friend invitations, using proprietary encryption for secure content sharing and storage exclusively on the user's device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a centralized social network database is used, then users can share content and manage relationships, but users lose control over their content and cannot prevent copying or searching by web engines

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent sharing capabilityVSAvoidcontent copying and loss of control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts content storage from centralized servers and places it exclusively on user devices. Each user's content remains locally stored on their mobile internet device, eliminating the risk of centralized hacking or unauthorized access while maintaining sharing capabilities through selective access control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of users uploading content to centralized servers where it becomes vulnerable to copying and searching, the patent inverts the model by having users retain exclusive local storage control. Content is never transmitted to central servers, thus preventing web engine crawling and unauthorized copying while still enabling sharing through direct peer-to-peer access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If centralized social networks pre-define relationship categories, then relationship management is simplified, but users cannot finely control access to specific content groups

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelationship managementVSAvoidaccess control flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments access control into multiple hierarchical levels: relationship categories (e.g., family, friends) and content groups (e.g., photos, videos, messages). Users can independently configure which relationship categories can access which content groups, enabling fine-grained control beyond predefined social network limitations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic access control where users can modify relationship categories and content group associations at any time. The system adapts to user needs by allowing flexible reconfiguration of access permissions without being constrained by fixed predefined categories, enabling users to respond to changing social dynamics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If content is stored on centralized servers, then users can access content from multiple devices, but content can be hacked, hijacked, or subject to ownership disputes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent accessibilityVSAvoidcontent security and ownership

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service security where each user's device independently secures and manages their own content without relying on centralized server security. Users maintain exclusive control over their content storage and can independently manage access permissions, eliminating risks associated with centralized server vulnerabilities, hacking, and ownership disputes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes security measures in advance by implementing end-to-end encryption and local storage before any content sharing occurs. Content is encrypted on the user's device before transmission, and access controls are pre-configured based on relationship categories, ensuring security is built-in rather than added later.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If users must find and invite friends to join the network, then network growth is controlled, but user onboarding becomes time-consuming and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork access controlVSAvoidfriend onboarding process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal access mechanism where a single invitation link can serve multiple functions: it can grant access to different relationship categories, different content groups, or both simultaneously. This multi-functional invitation system simplifies the onboarding process while maintaining flexible access control, eliminating the need for separate invitation procedures for different content types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10305915B2Peer-to-peer social network

Publication Date: 2019.05.28 VERTICAL COMP SYST

AI summary

A social network includes a relay server and two or more mobile Internet devices (“MIDs”) coupled to the relay server. Each of the MIDs includes a relay agent for interfacing with the relay server, a web server, an application for operating the web server, and a memory for storing social networking information comprising a contacts list, one or more access groups, one or more albums, and one or more associations between the one or more access groups and the one or more albums to specify which contacts can view which albums.