Privacy Control System with Automatic Context-Aware Mode Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current techniques provide an all-or-nothing approach to managing data privacy, lacking fine-grained control for users to adjust privacy settings based on various situations and interactions, leading to a binary choice between full private and full public modes.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that allows users to define multiple privacy profiles based on activity types, locations, and interactions, enabling automatic activation of appropriate privacy modes and filtering of data entities, allowing for flexible control over data sharing with different access limits and user-defined classes of individuals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an all-or-nothing approach to data privacy is used, then privacy security is improved, but user convenience and flexibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy securityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the monolithic privacy control into multiple granular privacy levels (e.g., private, semi-private, public) that can be applied to different data types, time periods, and contexts. This allows users to selectively control data sharing on a fine-grained basis rather than making an all-or-nothing choice, thereby maintaining security while improving convenience and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic privacy control where privacy settings can automatically adjust based on contextual factors such as user behavior patterns, time of day, location, and interaction history. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to automatically switch between different privacy levels without requiring constant manual user intervention, resolving the contradiction between security and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If manual switching between privacy modes is required, then privacy control precision is improved, but user time and operational complexity worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy control precisionVSAvoiduser time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary analysis of user behavior patterns and automatically pre-configures appropriate privacy settings based on predicted user needs and contexts. By anticipating when certain privacy modes will be needed and preparing them in advance, the system maintains precise control while eliminating the time users would otherwise spend manually switching between modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor user interactions and automatically adjust privacy settings based on observed patterns. The system learns from user behavior and automatically switches between privacy modes without manual intervention, maintaining precision while saving user time and reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If detailed activity records are shared, then system intelligence and service quality are improved, but privacy risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem intelligenceVSAvoidprivacy risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different privacy protection qualities to different portions of activity records based on their sensitivity, context, and intended use. Rather than uniformly protecting or exposing all data, the system selectively applies varying levels of privacy protection to specific data elements, allowing the system to maintain intelligence through access to necessary data while minimizing privacy risks by protecting sensitive information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes privacy parameters such as data aggregation levels, anonymization程度, and access permissions based on the specific context, data type, and recipient. By adjusting these parameters rather than using fixed privacy settings, the system can optimize the balance between maintaining system intelligence and protecting user privacy for each specific data sharing scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10268826B2Privacy-based degradation of activity signals and automatic activation of privacy modes
Publication Date: 2019.04.23 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • US10268826B2 patent drawing
  • US10268826B2 patent drawing
  • US10268826B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided that address issues related to data privacy by enabling users to elect various levels of data sharing. A user of a user device is enabled to indicate their comfort level with sharing, transmitting, or otherwise exposing individual activity records (data entities) with respect to various activity categories. The exposure of activity records may be controlled with respect to on-device and off-device components. Furthermore, privacy profiles may be automatically generated for the user, and the privacy profiles may be automatically activated in corresponding situations.