Privacy-Based User Identity Representation in Online Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Online systems face challenges in protecting user privacy, as sensitive data can be accessed by a large group of viewers without control, and users may hesitate to share detailed profiles due to concerns about inappropriate viewing by non-friends or colleagues.
Innovation Solution
A method for representing user identities within online systems that allows users to change representations based on the privacy status of the viewer, using a rule-based system to determine appropriate levels of privacy, enabling flexible and controlled data management through a user interface, allowing users to define different levels of privacy for their identity elements such as name and visual representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If users provide detailed profiles with sensitive information, then the completeness and richness of user identity data is improved, but the privacy risk and exposure to unauthorized viewers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments user identity data into multiple elements (name, photo, personal information, etc.) and applies different privacy levels to each element independently. This allows users to control which parts of their identity are visible to different viewer groups, resolving the contradiction between providing complete information and protecting privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing different privacy settings for different elements of the user profile. Each identity element can have its own visibility rules tailored to specific viewer categories, enabling users to expose only necessary information to specific groups while keeping sensitive data hidden.
2Ease of operation
If users create a single unified profile, then the simplicity of profile management is improved, but the ability to control different representations for different viewers is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the user profile dynamic by allowing the system to automatically select and present different representations of identity elements based on the viewer's relationship to the user. The profile adapts in real-time to the context, providing appropriate levels of detail without requiring manual configuration for each viewer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal profile structure that serves multiple functions simultaneously. A single profile contains all possible identity elements with layered privacy settings, enabling it to function as both a comprehensive identity repository and a context-aware presentation system for different viewer types.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the online system automatically controls profile visibility, then the privacy protection capability is improved, but the user control and direct influence over their own data representation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by requiring users to pre-configure privacy settings and define which identity elements should be visible to which viewer categories. This upfront configuration empowers users with direct control over their data representation, while the system automatically applies these preferences when viewers request profile information.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a privacy-based representation of a user identity within an online system. A method for representing a user identity within an online system is provided, comprising: requesting a user identity of a user of the online system by a viewer; retrieving a status of the viewer with regard to the user; based on the status of the viewer, determining a representation of the user identity; and providing the representation of the user identity to the viewer. Furthermore, an online system and a data structure representing a user identity of a user of an online system are defined.