System and method for privacy setting differentiation detection

• US 9,294,333 B1
• Filed: 08/06/2014
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Staddon, Jessica, McPhie, Jonathan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moorthy, Aravind
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kanaan, Simon
• Application Number:
  US14/453,319
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services

Abstract

A system and method for generating a notification of privacy settings difference is disclosed. A request is received. A first set of privacy settings is received from a first social network, and a second set of privacy settings is received from at least one other social network. The first set of is compared to the second set. A difference between the first set and the second is detected, and a notification is generated. The notification includes an indication that a difference was detected. The notification is sent for display to the user. In one embodiment, the notification allows the user to request to view, or edit, the first set of privacy settings. In one embodiment, the notification sends the user to a webpage on the first social network where the first set is typically displayed and/or edited. In another embodiment, the notification displays the first set and/or receives the edits.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, using one or more processors, a first set of user privacy settings of a user from a first service and a second set of privacy settings of the user from at least one other service, the first set of privacy settings of the user including user-defined accessibility to one or more features associated with the user of the first service, and the second set of privacy settings of the user including user-defined accessibility to one or more features associated with the user of the at least one other service;

detecting, using the one or more processors, a difference between the first set of privacy settings and the second set of privacy settings, wherein the difference exists when the privacy setting of the first set of privacy settings is less restrictive than the privacy setting of the second set of privacy settings; and

responsive to detecting the difference between the first set of privacy settings and the second set of privacy settings, using one or more processors, performing an action related to the first set of user privacy settings including generating a notification and sending the notification over a network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the difference between the first set of privacy settings and the second set of privacy settings comprises:

comparing the first set of privacy settings to the second set of privacy settings; and

determining equivalent privacy settings among the first set of privacy settings and second set of privacy settings; and

comparing the equivalent privacy settings to determine whether different privacy settings levels exist.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification identifies the at least one other service having the detected difference from the first service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification includes the detected difference between the first set of privacy settings and the second set of privacy settings.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification allows the user to request to view or edit one or more of the privacy settings of the first service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the action related to the first set of user privacy settings comprises:

receiving from the user a request to view or edit the first set of privacy settings; and

sending the user a webpage on the first service where the first set of privacy settings are typically displayed or edited.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the action related to the first set of user privacy settings, further comprises:

receiving from the user a request to edit and one or more edits to the first set of privacy settings; and

updating the first set of privacy settings according to the one or more edits received from the user.

8. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to;

receive a first set of privacy settings of a user from a first service and a second set of privacy settings of the user from at least one other service, the first set of privacy settings of the user including user-defined accessibility to one or more features associated with the user of the first service, and the second set of privacy settings of the user including user-defined accessibility to one or more features associated with the user of the at least one other service;

detect a difference between the first set of privacy settings and the second set of privacy settings, wherein the difference exists when the privacy setting of the first set of privacy settings is less restrictive than the privacy setting of the second set of privacy settings; and

perform an action related to the first set of user privacy settings responsive to the difference between the first set of privacy settings and the second set of privacy settings, the action including generating a notification and sending the notification over a network.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein detecting the difference between the first set of privacy settings and the second set of privacy settings comprises:

comparing the first set of privacy settings to the second set of privacy settings, determining equivalent privacy settings among the first set of privacy settings and second set of privacy settings, and comparing the equivalent privacy settings to determine whether different privacy settings levels exist.

10. The system of claim 8,

wherein the notification identifies the at least one other service having the detected difference from the first service.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the notification includes the detected difference between the first set of privacy settings and the second set of privacy settings.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the notification allows the user to request to view or edit one or more of the privacy settings of the first service.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the system to:

receive a request from the user to view or edit the first set of privacy settings, and sends the user a webpage on the first service where the first set of privacy settings are typically displayed, or edited.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the system to:

receive a request from the user to edit and one or more edits to the first set of privacy settings; and

update the first set of privacy settings according to the edits received from the user.

15. A computer-implemented method for generating a notification of privacy settings difference, the method comprising:

receiving, using one or more processors, a request for access to information on a service, wherein the information includes privacy settings information of a user;

receiving, using one or more processors, a first set of user privacy settings of the user from a first service and a second set of privacy settings of the user from at least one other service, wherein the first set of privacy settings of the user include user-defined accessibility to one or more features associated with the user of the first service, and wherein the second set of privacy settings of the user include user-defined accessibility to one or more features associated with the user of the second service;

detecting, using one or more processors, a difference between the first set of privacy settings and the second set of privacy settings, wherein the difference exists when the privacy setting of the first set of privacy settings is less restrictive than the privacy setting of the second set of privacy settings; and

responsive to detecting the difference between the first set of privacy settings and the second set of privacy settings, generating, using one or more processors, a notification that includes an indication that the difference has been detected, and sending the notification over a network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the request is the user'"'"'s login request that is sent to a first social service.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the request is the user'"'"'s request to edit the first set of privacy settings.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the request is the user selecting a button or hypertext link on a first social service.