Privacy-Mode Device Status Display for Selective Information Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for managing device status information do not effectively allow users to protect privacy-sensitive data without compromising their ability to control devices.

Innovation Solution

A system that receives status information from a device and presents accurate information on a first user device while presenting either accurate or non-accurate information on a second user device, depending on whether a privacy mode is active, without inconveniencing the user's control over the device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If accurate device status information is shared with all users, then device control and monitoring are improved, but user privacy is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice status informationVSAvoidprivacy violation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different information presentation qualities to different users based on their relationship to the device and privacy settings. Authorized users receive accurate status information, while other users receive non-accurate or generic information, thereby protecting privacy while maintaining functional access where appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments users into different groups (authorized users vs. other users) and presents different status information to each group. This segmentation allows the system to protect privacy-sensitive information from unauthorized users while still providing full functionality to authorized users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If privacy mode is enabled to protect status information, then user privacy is improved, but device control capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoiddevice control

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the level of information disclosure based on the privacy mode setting and user authorization status. When privacy mode is enabled, the system dynamically provides control functionality to authorized users while limiting information disclosure to other users, thereby maintaining ease of operation for authorized users while protecting privacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If non-accurate status information is presented to protect privacy, then privacy is improved, but information accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidstatus information accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of presenting accurate information and filtering it, the system inverts the approach by presenting non-accurate generic information as the default to unauthorized users, and only provides accurate information to authorized users. This inversion ensures privacy protection by default while maintaining information accuracy for those who need it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4034954B1Presenting a current status of a device in dependence on a privacy mode

Publication Date: 2025.04.30 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV

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AI summary

A system (1) is configured to receive status information reflecting a current status of a device (33) and determine first status information (68,69) for presentation on a first user device (1). The first status information reflects the current status of the device. The system is further configured to cause the first status information to be presented on the first user device and cause second status information (78,79) to be presented on a second user device. The second status information reflects the current status of the device in dependence on whether a privacy mode is active for the device.