Presence Server Filter Logic for Dynamic Access Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing presence server systems primarily allow users to filter and manage presence information based on their own watcher filters, limiting the ability to adjust access levels dynamically according to preferences set by the presentity user, which can be restrictive and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
Implementing presentity filters that allow users to define preferences for individual or groups of watchers, enabling the presence server to combine these filters with watcher filters to determine the minimum permitted presence information, thereby enhancing access control and resource conservation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the presence server allows watchers to filter presence information based on their own watcher filters, then watchers can control the amount of information they receive, but the presentity user cannot dynamically adjust access levels according to their preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional filtering model by allowing the presentity (user being watched) to define filters that restrict what watchers can see, rather than only allowing watchers to filter what they receive. This is achieved through the presentity filter mechanism where the presentity specifies conditions under which their presence information should be accessible to watchers, thereby granting the presentity control over information access levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic filter combinations where the presence server evaluates both watcher filters and presentity filters in real-time to determine what presence information to publish. This allows the presentity to dynamically adjust access levels by modifying their filters, and the system automatically combines these with watcher filters to determine the final information set to be published.
2Loss of information
If the presence server transmits all presence information to watchers, then complete information is available, but resources are consumed inefficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary filtering by the presentity before information is published to the network. The presentity filter is evaluated in advance to determine which presence information should be made available to which watchers, eliminating the need to transmit all possible presence information and reducing network bandwidth consumption and processing overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements selective information publishing where different watchers receive different sets of presence information based on their specific filter combinations with the presentity. This allows the system to transmit only the necessary information to each watcher rather than broadcasting all presence information to all watchers, optimizing resource usage while maintaining information completeness for each recipient.
3Reliability
If the system combines watcher filters and presentity filters to determine minimum permitted presence information, then access control is enhanced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the presence server as an intermediary that handles the complex filter combination logic. Rather than requiring watchers or presentities to directly manage complex filter interactions, the presence server acts as a mediator that evaluates both watcher filters and presentity filters and automatically determines the minimum permitted presence information to be published, simplifying the user interface while maintaining reliable access control.
Data Source
AI summary
The adjustability of a watcher's level of access to a presentity's presence information is enhanced by providing for the filtering of the presence information based on information that is provided by a source other than the watcher.