Personal Social Network Privacy Control via Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to efficiently harness the discriminatory powers of an individual's extended social network for information filtering and interaction, leading to issues in finding suitable employment, relationships, and other personal or business decisions, as they often rely on non-systematic and costly methods that lack control over information flow and visibility.
Innovation Solution
A social network system that creates a virtual, unique, private, personal network allowing users to connect with entities directly or indirectly known, providing control over information distribution and interaction through a database accessible over a data network, enabling users to manage their connections and access to information within their network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specific web-site configurations with secure access authentication are used to control visibility and accessibility, then control over information flow is improved, but costs, maintenance, administration and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into multiple levels of visibility and accessibility. Users can control which parts of their profile and network are visible to different groups (e.g., direct contacts vs. indirect contacts). This segmentation allows control over information flow without requiring complex authentication systems for entire networks, reducing overall system complexity and costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing different visibility settings for different portions of a user's network. Instead of applying uniform authentication and visibility controls across the entire network, each user can specify which contacts see which information, creating localized control zones that reduce administrative overhead while maintaining reliable control where needed.
2Reliability
If Virtual Private Networks or Intranets are deployed to provide secure networks for employees and clients, then control over network access is improved, but costs deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal system that can serve multiple functions without requiring separate secure network infrastructures. The same social network platform provides both public networking capabilities and private, controlled access features, eliminating the need for separate Virtual Private Networks or Intranets for different security requirements, thereby reducing costs while maintaining secure access control.
3Productivity
If systematic inquiry with friends is implemented to find information or opportunities, then information distribution efficiency is improved, but time and effort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by allowing users to post information, opportunities, or requests once on their profile, and the system automatically distributes this information to their entire network according to predefined visibility settings. This eliminates the need for users to systematically inquire with each friend individually, as the network automatically performs the distribution function, improving productivity while reducing time and effort investment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where users can see which of their network contacts have viewed or interacted with posted information. This feedback system allows users to track information distribution efficiency without manually following up with each contact, reducing the time and effort required while maintaining high productivity in information sharing.
4Area of stationary object
If public advertising is used to find employment or opportunities, then reach and visibility are improved, but quality and relevance of responses deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling job postings and opportunities to be visible to different segments of a user's network with different levels of relevance. Employers can target postings to specific professional groups or geographic regions within their network, achieving both broad reach and high relevance by customizing visibility for different network segments rather than using uniform public advertising.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of forming unique, private, personal, virtual social networks on a social network system that includes a database storing data relating to corresponding user entities. The method includes: a first user entity sending an invitation to a second user entity, recording in the database the second user entity as a direct contact of the first user entity and determining that third user entities, directly connected to the second user entity, are indirect contacts. A unique, personal, social network formed from direct and indirect contacts is thereby created for each user entity. Each user entity is able to control privacy of its data with respect to other user entities depending on the connection factor to that other entity and/or that other entity's attributes. Each user entity is able to take the role of provider or participant in applications where the provider provides an item or service to the participant.