Accessing on-line services

• US 20060031505A1
• Filed: 11/05/2003
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Ashley, Alexis S. R.
• Application Number:
  US10/534,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031505A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6254 by anonymising data, e.g. decorrelating personal data from the owner's identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

Method is provided for controlling access by a client computer to an on-line user group hosted by a second computer, wherein the first computer stores personal data of a user. A privacy policy (16) identifying the personal data required to be provided to permit access to the user group is transmitted (18) from the host to the client as a part of the access routine. At the host a determination is made (22) as to whether a received privacy policy is acceptable and, if so, the client selects (30) from store the personal data identified in the privacy policy and transmits (28) the same to the host A programmable device configured as a client is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for controlling access by a first computer to an on-line user group hosted by a second computer, wherein the first computer stores personal data of a user, comprising:

providing (18) from said second computer to said first computer a privacy policy identifying the personal data required to be provided to permit access to said user group;

at said first computer determining (22) whether a received privacy policy is acceptable; and

if acceptable, at the first computer selecting (30) from store the personal data identified in the privacy policy and transmitting (28) the same to the second computer.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first computer presents a received privacy policy to a user, and acceptance or otherwise of said policy is determined by user input (24).

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first computer formats the received privacy policy prior to presentation to the user.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first computer stores privacy policy preference data for a user and, based (26) on the same, determines (30) automatically whether a received privacy policy is acceptable.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step (22) of determining acceptance includes a process of negotiation (38) between the first computer user and the user group host.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a received privacy policy may be partly accepted (22.B), with only a part (30.B) of the requested personal data being transmitted (28) as a result, and only limited access being granted to the on-line user group.

12. A software utility operable to configure a programmable device to perform the functions of the first computer in a method as claimed in claim 1.

13. A storage device (68) holding a software utility as claimed in claim 12.

7. Computer apparatus configured for accessing an on-line user group hosted by a second computer and comprising:

storage means (54, 56, 68) for personal data of a user of the apparatus;

communications means (58) operable to exchange data with the second computer over a data link (60) and receive from said second computer a privacy policy identifying the personal data required to be provided to permit access to said user group;

programmable processor means (50) configured to determine whether a received privacy policy is acceptable and, if so, to select from said storage means (54, 56, 68) the personal data identified in the privacy policy and, via the communications means (58), transmit the same to the second computer.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising an output device (64) wherein the processor means (50) presents a received privacy policy to a user, and user input means (62) by operation of which a user determines acceptance or otherwise of said policy.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the processor means (50) is arranged to format the received privacy policy prior to presentation by the output device (64).

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the storage means (54, 56, 68) holds privacy policy preference data for a user and, based on the same, the processor means (50) determines automatically whether a received privacy policy is acceptable.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the processor means (50) is further operable to determine partial acceptance of a received privacy policy, and to select from said storage means (54, 56, 68) only a part of the requested usage data.