Social Network Authentication via Common Attribute Forwarding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing social network technologies face inefficiencies in establishing relationships due to manual input of authentication request messages and lack of sufficient parameters for users to make informed decisions, leading to inefficient relationship building and inadequate authentication processes.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize a social network server to automatically obtain and forward common social attribute information between clients, enabling clients to authenticate requests based on shared attributes, thereby improving the efficiency of relationship establishment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the authentication request message is completely subject to user A's manual input, then the system can maintain simplicity in the authentication process, but it causes inefficiency in building social relationship between two subscribers and provides insufficient parameters for user B to make authentication decisions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency in building social relationshipVSAvoidinsufficient parameters for authentication decision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-collects and stores social attribute information (such as user profiles, interests, and relationship data) in the social network server before the authentication process occurs. When user A sends an authentication request to user B, the server has already prepared the common social attribute information, eliminating the need for manual input and enabling immediate presentation of relevant parameters to user B for informed decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The social network server acts as an intermediary between user A and user B during the authentication process. Instead of relying on manual input from user A, the server automatically retrieves common social attribute information from its database and presents it to user B. This intermediary role enables the system to efficiently provide comprehensive authentication parameters without increasing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If the system automatically acquires user A's identification and social relationship information, then sufficient parameters can be provided for user B to make authentication decisions, but the device complexity and process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesufficient parameters for authentication decisionVSAvoidcomplexity of authentication process

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The social network server performs multiple functions: it stores user profiles, manages relationship data, retrieves common social attributes, and presents authentication information. By consolidating these functions in a single server, the system avoids the complexity that would arise from multiple separate components while still providing comprehensive authentication parameters automatically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service authentication information retrieval where the social network server automatically queries and presents relevant common social attribute information without requiring manual intervention. This self-service mechanism reduces the perceived complexity for users while maintaining comprehensive information provision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of time

If manual input of authentication request messages is used, then the system maintains operational simplicity, but it results in time-consuming relationship establishment process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime for relationship establishmentVSAvoidsimplicity of authentication process

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9699166B2Method and apparatus for processing authentication request message in a social network

Publication Date: 2017.07.04 ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LTD

AI summary

A method and an apparatus for processing an authentication request message in a social network are provided. To improve the inefficiency of existing technology in processing user authentication and request to establish social relationship as well as inadequacy of parameters available for said authentication, the disclosed method includes a social network server detecting an authentication request message sent by a first client to a second client requesting to establish a social relationship with the second client. The social network server obtains information social attributes that are common to the first client and the second client, forwards the authentication request message, and sends the obtained information of common social attributes to the second client. The social attribute information is used by the second client to decide whether or not to authenticate the authentication request message.