Social Filtering of User Interface Content

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Solution Overview

Problem

Social networking systems face challenges in filtering content objects based on user proximity, maturity thresholds, and social spam reporting, leading to inappropriate content being displayed on mobile devices, which can vary by location and user preferences.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a content filtering system that dynamically adjusts displayed content objects based on user proximity, maturity thresholds, and social spam reporting, using social-graph information and location data to ensure that only suitable content is shown on mobile devices, such as a lock screen, while preventing objectionable content from being displayed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If content objects from all friends are displayed on the user interface, then the quantity of displayed content increases, but inappropriate or objectionable content may be displayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantity of content objectsVSAvoidinappropriate content display

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the filtering parameters (maturity threshold levels) based on the detected geo-location. When the mobile device is at a family-friendly location, a lower maturity threshold is applied, filtering out more content. When at an adult establishment, a higher threshold allows more content through, thus adapting the quantity and type of displayed content objects to the appropriate context.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary filtering mechanism that sits between the content source (friends' posts) and the user interface. This intermediary applies geo-location-based maturity threshold filtering to block inappropriate content while allowing suitable content to pass through, thus preventing harmful content from reaching the user interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If content filtering based on geo-location is implemented, then content appropriateness improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent appropriatenessVSAvoidfiltering system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing maturity threshold levels associated with different geo-locations before content is displayed. The social-networking system stores these threshold levels in advance, so when the mobile device determines its location, the appropriate filtering criteria are already ready to be applied, reducing the complexity of real-time decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile device autonomously determines its own geo-location using its built-in GPS or location services without requiring external assistance. This self-service capability simplifies the overall system architecture by eliminating the need for a separate location-determination service, as the device performs this function independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If dynamic content adjustment based on location is implemented, then user experience improves, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser experienceVSAvoidcontent filtering time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Loss of information

If social-graph information is used for filtering, then content relevance improves, but information privacy concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent relevanceVSAvoidprivacy protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different filtering strictness levels (local quality) based on the specific geo-location context. Instead of uniformly applying one privacy or filtering standard everywhere, it adapts the maturity threshold to the local environment - being more restrictive at family-friendly locations and less restrictive at adult establishments, thus balancing relevance and privacy appropriately for each context.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10671413B2Social filtering of user interface

Publication Date: 2020.06.02 META PLATFORMS INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a content object for display based at least in part on one or more filtering criteria. The filtering criteria is a measure of suitability of each content object for presentation based at least in part on social-graph information between a first user and one or more second users or a current geo-location of the first user. The method also includes applying the filtering criteria to the content object; and providing for display on a user interface (UI) the content object based on whether the content object is suitable for presentation based at least in part on the filtering criteria.