Selective Privacy Control in PTT Group Sessions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current push-to-talk (PTT) wireless communication systems lack the ability to selectively control the revelation of participant identities during group communication sessions, which can be problematic in environments where anonymity is desired, such as public safety operations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that enables a PTT server to process requests for selective privacy parameters, allowing participants to control which other participants receive their identification data, by creating 'permitted' or 'not permitted' lists based on user-defined preferences or group affiliations, and facilitating PTT wireless group communication sessions accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If binary on/off privacy features are used to hide user identity in PTT sessions, then user anonymity is improved, but the system lacks selective privacy control capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the binary privacy choice into multiple granular permission levels. Instead of a single on/off switch, the system divides privacy control into hierarchical segments (e.g., no one, specific groups, all participants) allowing users to selectively disclose identity to different segments of the population. This resolves the contradiction by providing both anonymity protection and selective control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic privacy parameters that can change during a PTT session. Users can modify their privacy settings in real-time based on session context, transitioning between different privacy states. This dynamic approach enables both strong anonymity when needed and selective disclosure when appropriate, resolving the rigidity of binary privacy features.
2Loss of information
If all participants receive each other's identification data in a PTT session, then communication transparency is improved, but user privacy control is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a privacy management intermediary layer between identity disclosure and reception. This intermediary processes privacy parameters and controls information flow, mediating between the desire for full transparency and privacy protection. The intermediary enables automated privacy management, reducing operational complexity while maintaining control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary privacy parameter configuration before PTT sessions begin. Users pre-define their privacy preferences and permitted recipient groups in advance, eliminating the need for complex real-time privacy management during sessions. This preliminary action simplifies operation while maintaining privacy control.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for enabling selective privacy in a push to talk (PTT) wireless group communication session provides improved control over sharing of user identity information. The method includes processing at a PTT server a request for selective privacy. The PTT server then processes one or more selective privacy parameters, whereby at least a first session participant is enabled to receive an identification of a second session participant and a third session participant is not enabled to receive an identification of the second session participant. The PTT server then facilitates the PTT wireless group communication session between at least the first session participant, second session participant, and third session participant according to the one or more selective privacy parameters.