Self-Destructing Content Links with Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Internet links lack the ability to impose flexible access restrictions, such as time limits or user permissions, for shared content like images, videos, and emails, making it difficult to control access to shared Internet resources.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method generates self-destructing content links based on user-defined access restrictions, which can include time limits, number of accesses, or user permissions, allowing for controlled access to stored content and deactivating the link accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional Internet links are used for sharing content, then ease of operation is improved, but access control capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the link functionality into two parts: a conventional URL for easy sharing and embedded metadata for access control. The metadata contains access restrictions (time limits, user permissions, number of accesses) that are separate from the visible link, allowing conventional links to remain easy to share while adding hidden access control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a server as an intermediary between the content and the user. When a user clicks a self-destructing link, the server mediates the access by checking metadata conditions (time, user permissions, access count) before allowing content retrieval, thereby adding access control without changing the user's interaction with the link itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If self-destructing links with access restrictions are implemented, then access control capability is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a metadata copy that contains access control information separate from the actual content. This metadata is stored alongside the content but is much smaller and can be independently managed. The metadata acts as a control layer that doesn't require duplicating the entire content structure, reducing the complexity burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The server infrastructure is designed to handle multiple functions: storing content, managing metadata, checking access conditions, and delivering content. By making the system multi-functional, the patent avoids needing separate specialized systems for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity while providing comprehensive access control.
3Ease of operation
If content is made accessible via conventional links, then ease of operation is improved, but security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by embedding access control metadata into the link before the user accesses the content. Conditions such as time limits, user authentication requirements, and maximum access counts are pre-configured in the metadata, so that security checks are automatically performed before content delivery, preventing unauthorized access without complicating the user experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by pre-blocking unauthorized access through metadata conditions. Before any potential security breach can occur, the metadata specifies who can access the content, when, and how many times, effectively preventing harmful access patterns before they happen while maintaining easy access for authorized users.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method performed in a computerized system incorporating a central processing unit, a network interface and a memory, the computer-implemented method involving: using the network interface to receive a content and an associated access restriction from a client computer system directly accessible by a user; causing the received content to be stored in a content storage system; using the central processing unit to generate a self-destructing content link for the stored content based on the received associated access restriction, wherein the generated self-destructing content link is configured to de-activate pursuant to the received associated access restriction; storing a metadata corresponding to the generated self-destructing content link for the stored content; and using the network interface to provide the generated self-destructing content link to the client computer system. The content storage system may be an online content storage system accessible via a network or a local content storage system.