Virtual Contact Sharing System for External Social Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inefficiencies in sharing user-generated content across multiple social networks, as existing solutions require installing browser extensions or third-party applications, which are resource-intensive and lack granularity in sharing options.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that allows users to treat external social networks as contacts on a primary social network, using an authenticator to store credentials, a contact generator to create virtual contacts, and a content copier to modify and post content to external networks, enabling simultaneous sharing without external applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If browser extensions or third-party applications are installed for each social network, then sharing capability across multiple networks is enabled, but resource consumption increases and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesharing capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple social network sharing capabilities into a single integrated system. Instead of installing separate browser extensions for each social network, the system creates a unified interface where users can select multiple external social networks and share content to all selected networks simultaneously through one action, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal sharing mechanism that works across multiple social networks through a single application. The system provides multi-functional capability by enabling users to share to different types of external networks (microblogs, forums, blogs, video-sharing sites, etc.) using one unified interface, eliminating the need for network-specific extensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If browser extensions or third-party applications are installed for each social network, then sharing capability across multiple networks is enabled, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesharing capabilityVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple social network sharing operations into a single resource-efficient process. By merging the functionality of multiple network-specific extensions into one system, the patent reduces cumulative resource consumption while maintaining the ability to share across numerous networks simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If manual interaction is required to enable sharing to other social network accounts, then security is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidsharing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by requiring users to authenticate and select their external social networks in advance. During this initial setup phase, users grant permissions and configure their preferred networks. Once configured, the system automatically handles subsequent sharing operations without requiring repeated manual authentication, thus maintaining security while improving productivity for ongoing sharing tasks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a dynamic sharing system where user permissions and network selections can be adjusted based on needs. The system adapts between requiring manual interaction for initial setup (maintaining security) and enabling automated sharing for routine operations (improving productivity), with users able to modify their configuration at any time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Loss of time

If content is posted to multiple social networks simultaneously, then user time is saved, but content compatibility issues may arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser timeVSAvoidcontent compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by customizing content for each target social network based on its specific requirements. The system analyzes the characteristics of each external network (such as character limits, formatting requirements, or content type preferences) and automatically adjusts the shared content to match each network's native settings, ensuring compatibility while maintaining simultaneous posting capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9871757B1Sharing user-generated content to external social networks

Publication Date: 2018.01.16 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

A system and method for sharing user-generated content to external social networks from a primary social network by treating them as contacts is disclosed. The system includes an authenticator, a contact generator, a link establisher, and a content copier. The authenticator receives an address and user credentials for external social network websites. The contact generator generates virtual contacts for each of the external social networks. The link establisher identifies external social networks targeted for sharing on the primary social network and creates a link to the accounts. The content copier modifies user-generated content on the primary social network to match native settings on the external social network accounts before posting to them.