User Persona Management for Privacy in Extended Reality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network-based interactive systems face privacy concerns when capturing and sharing image data of users in extended reality environments, as individuals may not want their images captured or shared publicly, particularly in situations where they are not prepared or in specific contexts, and existing privacy-enhancing techniques like face blurring can break immersion and are imperfect.
Innovation Solution
A user persona management system that identifies user profiles based on characteristics and conditions, selecting and displaying avatars to represent users in extended reality environments, allowing customization of appearance based on identity, location, and activity, while maintaining privacy and immersion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If image data of users is captured and shared in extended reality environments, then user interaction and immersion are improved, but privacy concerns arise as users may not want their images captured or shared publicly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual avatars that are copies or representations of real users in the extended reality environment. Instead of sharing actual user images, the system generates synthetic avatar images that replicate user presence and characteristics, thereby maintaining privacy while enabling social interaction. The avatars serve as substitutes for real user images in the virtual environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces avatars as an intermediary layer between the real user and the virtual environment. The avatar acts as a mediator that represents the user in the extended reality space without exposing the user's actual image. This intermediary mechanism allows users to interact in VR/AR environments while maintaining a barrier that protects their real-world identity and appearance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional privacy-enhancing techniques like face blurring are applied, then privacy is improved, but immersion is broken and the technique is imperfect
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of distorting or blurring the user's image, the patent creates a complete virtual copy (avatar) that replaces the real user image entirely. This avatar copy maintains the visual quality and realism needed for immersion while fundamentally differing from the original image, thus protecting privacy without degrading visual fidelity. The avatar is a synthetic reconstruction rather than a degraded version of the real image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by not trying to hide or obscure the user's image through blurring, but instead by completely replacing it with a synthetic avatar. Rather than modifying the real image to protect privacy, the system generates an alternative representation that serves the same social function without the privacy risks associated with sharing real user images.
Data Source
AI summary
User persona management systems and techniques are described. A system identifies a profile associated with a first user. The profile includes data defining avatars that each represent the first user and conditions for displaying respective avatars. The system determines, based on characteristics associated with the first user, that at least a first condition is met. The system selects, based on determining that at least the first condition is met, a display avatar of the avatars. The system outputs the display avatar for presentation to a second user, for instance by displaying the display avatar on a display and/or by transmitting the display avatar to a user device associated with the second user. The display avatar can be presented in accordance with the characteristics associated with the first user.