Profile Photo Blurring Logic for Privacy-Aware Online Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Online matching systems on devices with limited computing power and small interfaces, such as cell phones and tablets, face challenges in providing users with quick and reliable matches due to negative preferences based on timing or mood, omission of profile information for privacy, and the impracticality of providing free apps for extended periods without imposing fees.
Innovation Solution
Implement partial blurring of user profiles for basic functionality, with automatic unblurring based on predetermined conditions to enhance matching chances, and selective disclosure of private information through private cards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the matching app is provided without charge for an extended period, then users can determine the value of the app and achieve matches, but computing resources are consumed and battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes blurred portions of profile photographs, displaying only unblurred portions to users. This reduces the computational burden of processing and displaying complete high-resolution images, thereby conserving computing resources and extending battery life while still allowing users to view sufficient profile information to determine app value and achieve matches.
2Reliability
If profile information is omitted from profiles, then privacy is protected and chances of being spotted increase, but matching accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality levels to different parts of the profile photograph. Certain portions are blurred to protect privacy and increase mystery, while other portions remain unblurred to provide sufficient information for matching. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain both privacy protection and matching accuracy simultaneously.
3Loss of information
If the profile photograph is completely unblurred, then matching accuracy improves, but privacy concerns increase and basic functionality value is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial blurring where specific portions of the profile photograph are blurred while other portions remain clear. This allows users to view sufficient unblurred information for accurate matching while the blurred portions protect privacy concerns, creating a balanced solution that addresses both matching accuracy and privacy protection.
4Use of energy by moving object
If a short free introductory period is provided, then computing resources are conserved, but users cannot determine the value of the application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and displays unblurred portions of profile photographs that provide sufficient information for users to evaluate the app's value. By presenting key visual information without requiring a lengthy subscription period, the system allows users to determine app value quickly while conserving computing resources through selective rather than complete image display.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for online matching between user pairs, e.g., user-1 and user-2, where the initiating condition for all subsequent steps and functions is a negative preference for one of the users to the other. The methods and systems allow user-1 to review user profiles where user-1 previously indicated a negative preference, in both a scenario where user-2 indicates a positive preference for user-1 and a scenario where user-2 does not indicate any preference for user-1. The method and system also allow for displaying a first user's profile photograph unblurred to the second user in a list of other user's profile photographs, which are partially blurred, when the server determines that the predetermined condition for the system to automatically remove the blurring is met. The methods and systems also allow for portion(s) of a user profile (such as private cards) to be selectively indiscernibly blurred (or otherwise rendered inaccessible) to enhance the ability to disclose more information about themselves for viewing by selected other users while maintain privacy of those portion(s) until conditions are met, including the presence of an instruction to do by the user whose profile it is, by which the blurred portions can be unblurred to another user.