Virtual-Space Avatar Action Processing for Consent-Aware Attribute Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies fail to collect user attribute information in virtual spaces without user consent, due to stringent data protection regulations like GDPR.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that acquires action information from avatars in virtual spaces, determines user interest, and collects attribute information only with explicit user consent, or collects interest data without consent.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If attribute information of users is collected without permission, then data for advertising optimization can be acquired, but data protection regulations like GDPR cannot be complied with

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattribute information collectionVSAvoidcompliance with data protection regulations

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by obtaining user consent before collecting attribute information. The consent acquisition unit requests and stores user permission in advance, ensuring that subsequent data collection activities are legally compliant. This resolves the contradiction by establishing a lawful basis for information collection before the actual collection occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an intermediary mechanism - the consent acquisition unit and consent information storage - that mediates between the need for attribute information collection and data protection requirements. This intermediary layer ensures that collection only occurs when users have explicitly permitted it, thus satisfying both information gathering needs and regulatory compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If only degree of interest is collected without attribute information, then privacy protection is improved, but advertising targeting precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoiduser interest measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the level of information collection based on user consent status. When consent is given, detailed attribute information is collected for precise advertising targeting. When consent is not given, only anonymized degree of interest data is collected, maintaining privacy protection. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by adapting the collection strategy to user preferences while maintaining advertising effectiveness where permitted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameter of information collection depth based on consent status. With consent, the system collects comprehensive attributes (age, gender, location, etc.) for high-precision targeting. Without consent, it collects only aggregated interest metrics, reducing privacy intrusion while maintaining some advertising utility. This parameter adjustment resolves the trade-off between precision and privacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If comprehensive user data is collected for advertising optimization, then advertisement delivery accuracy is improved, but user privacy protection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadvertisement delivery accuracyVSAvoiduser privacy intrusion

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments user data collection into two distinct categories: (1) personal attribute information collected only with explicit consent, and (2) anonymized behavioral data (degree of interest) collected without consent. This segmentation allows the system to maintain advertising accuracy using anonymized data while protecting user privacy by separating identifiable information and requiring consent for its collection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and separates the essential advertising metric (degree of interest) from sensitive personal attributes. By taking out the anonymized interest measurement that can be collected without consent, the system maintains core advertising functionality while removing the privacy-intrusive element of mandatory personal data collection. This extraction resolves the contradiction by isolating the useful signal from the privacy-risk components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20250308157A1Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 NEC CORP

AI summary

An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a computer readable medium capable of appropriately collecting attribute information of a user in a virtual space are provided. An information processing apparatus includes: an action information acquisition unit that acquires action information which is information regarding an action of an avatar viewing content in a virtual space; a determination unit that determines a degree of interest of a user corresponding to the avatar in the content on the basis of the action information; and a collection unit that collects attribute information and the degree of interest of the user as reaction information in a case where there is a consent of the user and collects the degree of interest as the reaction information in a case where there is no consent of the user.