Private User Onboarding with Circle-Based Identity Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current social media platforms face challenges in securely onboarding users while maintaining privacy and data integrity, often compromising user experience and security due to centralized ID systems prone to hacking and single-dimensional identities that fail to manage complex user interactions and classifications.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for secure and private onboarding using unique 16-digit user identifiers, cryptographic keys, and decentralized data storage, creating circle objects and circle of influence (COI) to manage user interactions and ensure privacy through pseudo-identities and local data storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If centralized ID systems are used to manage user identities, then user management becomes simplified, but security and privacy are compromised due to hacking vulnerabilities and data manipulation risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments user identities into multiple dimensions using circle objects (representing different social contexts like family, friends, colleagues) and circle of influence objects (representing different levels of connection). Each circle receives segmented portions of user data, preventing any single point of failure or unauthorized access to complete user profiles, thus resolving the contradiction between simplified management and security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where circle objects contain users and their associated data, which are in turn contained within the broader social media platform ecosystem. This nested organization allows hierarchical management of user identities across multiple levels (individual users → circles → platform), maintaining operational simplicity while enhancing security through layered access control.
2Device complexity
If single-dimensional identities are used, then system complexity is reduced, but the ability to manage complex user interactions and classifications is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from single-dimensional identities to multi-dimensional identities by introducing circle objects and circle of influence objects as additional dimensions. Each dimension represents a different aspect of user social life (family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances), enabling the system to manage complex user interactions without proportionally increasing overall system complexity through standardized dimensional frameworks.
Solution Approach 2:
The circle object and circle of influence object serve multiple functions simultaneously: they organize users by social context, control data visibility, manage permissions, and enable differentiated interactions. This multi-functionality allows the identity system to handle diverse user interaction scenarios without requiring separate specialized systems for each function.
3Productivity
If user data is stored centrally on company servers, then data access and management is efficient, but privacy breaches and data manipulation become more likely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by storing different portions of user data in different locations (different circles and circle of influence objects) rather than centrally. Each circle maintains local control over its portion of user data, enabling efficient access within that context while preventing centralized points of failure or unauthorized access, thus resolving the contradiction between access efficiency and privacy protection.
4Ease of operation
If traditional ID systems are used, then onboarding process is simple, but user experience is compromised due to inability to maintain anonymity and control over content visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by automatically creating circle objects and circle of influence objects during the user onboarding process, before users need to manage their social interactions. This pre-configuration establishes the multi-dimensional identity framework in advance, allowing users to immediately benefit from enhanced privacy control and anonymity capabilities without adding complexity to the onboarding experience.
Data Source
AI summary
An approach is disclosed for secured and private onboarding of a user in a social media platform. An application initiates an API call to a user ID service via a web server which requests a generation of a 16-digit unique user identifier. The user ID service generates and transmits the unique user identifier to the web server. The web server receives the unique user identifier, generates a public key and a private key and creates a default circle with one or more attributes and functions associated with the user identifier. The web server creates a circle of influence associated with a circle object which includes metrics to track the user's influence on the platform. The web server assigns a unique hash address to the created objects, encrypts the unique hash address using the generated public key, and transmits the encrypted hash address and the private key back to the application.