Temporary Contact Information Routing and Termination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Individuals face the risk of contact information misuse when sharing it for temporary purposes, as the recipient may retain and exploit the true contact information after the purpose is fulfilled, leading to potential identity theft or misuse.

Innovation Solution

A method is implemented to generate temporary contact information that is configured to route communications to the user's true contact information while providing termination controls, such as encryption and self-executing metadata scripts, to ensure the temporary contact information is erased or invalidated after a specified event or time, preventing further use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If true contact information is shared for temporary purposes, then communication functionality is enabled, but risk of information misuse and identity theft increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication functionalityVSAvoidrisk of information misuse
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces temporary contact information as an intermediary between the user and recipient. This intermediary enables communication functionality while preventing direct exposure of true contact information. The temporary contact information acts as a mediator that can be safely shared for temporary purposes without compromising user privacy or security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates temporary contact information that is short-lived and disposable. This temporary contact information is generated for a specific purpose and time period, then automatically terminated or deleted afterward. This approach allows communication functionality while eliminating long-term security risks associated with sharing permanent contact information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If temporary contact information is generated to prevent misuse, then user privacy is protected, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser privacy protectionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service mechanisms where temporary contact information automatically manages its own lifecycle. The system generates temporary contact information, tracks its usage, and automatically terminates it after the specified purpose is fulfilled or time expires. This automation reduces the need for complex manual management while maintaining strong privacy protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms to monitor and control temporary contact information usage. The system tracks whether the temporary contact information has been used for its intended purpose and automatically terminates it when the condition is met. This feedback loop ensures privacy protection without requiring complex continuous monitoring or manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If termination controls are implemented to invalidate temporary contact information, then security against misuse is improved, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against misuseVSAvoidoperational simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring termination controls when temporary contact information is created. The system sets expiration times, usage conditions, or automatic termination triggers in advance. When these pre-set conditions are met, the temporary contact information is automatically invalidated, providing security without requiring complex real-time decision-making or manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10068066B2Providing temporary contact information
Publication Date: 2018.09.04 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION
  • US10068066B2 patent drawing
  • US10068066B2 patent drawing
  • US10068066B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Contact information associated with a user is identified. Temporary contact information, exclusive of the contact information, is generated and associated with the user. Termination controls, configured to prevent use of the temporary contact information after the occurrence of an event, are generated and associated with the temporary contact information.