Virtual Assistant Temporary Data Access Authorization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing conference systems lack efficient and secure methods for users to access and share data during meetings, requiring users to bring their own devices or manually log in, which can be inconvenient and hinder data sharing among participants.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that allows a virtual assistant to temporarily access a user's data set during a meeting session through user authentication, enabling participants to request and share electronic content items using spoken commands, with access limited to the meeting duration for enhanced convenience and security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users bring their own devices or manually log in to access data during meetings, then data access is secured through authentication, but user convenience and efficiency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of data accessVSAvoiddata security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication and authorization before the meeting session begins. Users authenticate once beforehand, and the system pre-establishes authorized data access permissions. During the meeting, the virtual assistant can access authorized data without requiring users to manually log in again, thus maintaining security while improving convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual assistant acts as an intermediary between meeting participants and the data storage system. It receives natural language commands from users, validates them against pre-established permissions, and retrieves or shares data accordingly. This intermediary layer eliminates the need for manual device operation and repeated authentication while maintaining security through permission verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If users manually access and share data during meetings using individual devices, then data security is maintained through user control, but meeting efficiency and productivity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata sharing efficiencyVSAvoidsystem operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual assistant provides universal access to multiple users within the meeting session through a single authenticated connection. Once one user authenticates and authorizes data access, the virtual assistant can serve multiple users' data requests during the meeting without requiring each user to operate individual devices or perform separate authentication, thus simplifying the system while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service data access during meetings by allowing users to issue natural language commands to the virtual assistant. The virtual assistant automatically retrieves, processes, and shares data based on pre-established permissions without requiring manual device operation or complex user intervention, thereby improving efficiency while reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If temporary session-limited access is granted to virtual assistant during meeting, then data security is enhanced with time-bound access, but authentication and authorization complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidauthentication system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication and authorization setup before the meeting session begins. Users authenticate once in advance, and the system establishes time-bound permission scopes. During the meeting, the virtual assistant operates within these pre-defined boundaries, automatically enforcing session-limited access without requiring complex real-time authentication decisions, thus enhancing security while managing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication system dynamically adjusts access permissions based on the meeting session state. Permissions are automatically activated at the start of the meeting and expire at the end, creating dynamic time-bound access control. This dynamic approach enhances security by ensuring access is only valid during the meeting window, while the automation reduces the perceived complexity for users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Loss of time

If users authenticate and authorize data access before meetings, then secure data sharing is enabled, but time is lost in the authentication process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication timeVSAvoiddata security
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs authentication and authorization as a preliminary action before the meeting session begins. Users complete the security verification process in advance, and the system stores the authenticated credentials and authorized data scopes. During the actual meeting, no additional authentication time is required, as the virtual assistant operates with pre-validated permissions, thus minimizing time loss while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3973666B1System and method for authorizing temporary data access to a virtual assistant
Publication Date: 2023.09.20 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3973666B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3973666B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3973666B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

Methods and systems for authorizing and enabling a virtual assistant or meeting host temporary access to one's own data during an activity or meeting event. A user is offered various options for enabling the temporary access to the virtual assistant prior to a scheduled meeting, and during impromptu meetings. The user can specify the duration that the access should be valid, a system can automatically disable the temporary access at the termination of the meeting event and/or if the user is no longer a participant at the meeting event. The authorization can be configured to target specific types of data and types of access.