Methods, data processing systems, and computer program products for assigning privacy levels to data elements

• US 20080127298A1
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Craine, Ari, Reeves, Jonathan, Cartwright, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 8,239,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2113 Multi-level security, e.g. mandatory access control

Abstract

Methods, data processing systems and computer program products for assessing and assigning privacy levels to data elements are provided. A method of assigning privacy levels to data elements (e.g., text files, web page files, image files, audio files, video files, and portions thereof) includes assigning a predetermined privacy level to a data element; storing the data element with the assigned privacy level; determining if the assigned privacy level for data element is proper; and assigning a different privacy level to the data element in response to determining that a currently assigned privacy level for the data element is not proper. A predetermined privacy level may be assigned to a data element under various conditions, such as when the data element arrives at a device, when the data element is created by a device, and/or when the data element is modified by a device.

Claims

1. A method of assigning privacy levels to data elements, comprising:

assigning a predetermined privacy level to a data element;

storing the data element with the assigned privacy level;

determining if the assigned privacy level for the data element is proper; and

assigning a different privacy level to the data element in response to determining that a currently assigned privacy level for the data element is not proper.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning a predetermined privacy level to a data element occurs when the data element arrives at a device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning a predetermined privacy level to a data element occurs when the data element is created by a device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning a predetermined privacy level to a data element occurs when the data element is modified by a device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data element is selected from group consisting of text files, web page files, image files, audio files, video files, and portions thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined privacy level is selected from a plurality of privacy levels, wherein each privacy level corresponds to a respective different degree of privacy.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the data element comprises attaching metadata to the data element.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if the assigned privacy level for the data element is proper comprises analyzing the data element and determining what degree of privacy the data element should have.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing a user to change a privacy level assigned to a data element.

20. A computer program product for assigning privacy levels to data elements, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code being configured to carry out the method of claim 1.

10. A data processing system that assigns privacy levels to data elements, comprising:

means for assigning a predetermined privacy level to a data element;

means for storing the data element;

means for determining if the assigned privacy level for the data element is proper; and

means for assigning a different privacy level to the data element in response to determining that a currently assigned privacy level for the data element is not proper.

11. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the means for assigning a predetermined privacy level to a data element comprises means for assigning a predetermined privacy level to a data element that arrives at the data processing system.

12. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the means for assigning a predetermined privacy level to a data element comprises means for assigning a predetermined privacy level to a data element that is created by the data processing system.

13. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the means for assigning a predetermined privacy level to a data element comprises means for assigning a predetermined privacy level to a data element that is modified by the data processing system.

14. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the data element is selected from group consisting of text files, web page files, image files, audio files, video files, and portions thereof.

15. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the predetermined privacy level is selected from a plurality of privacy levels, wherein each privacy level corresponds to a respective different degree of privacy.

16. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the means for storing the data element comprises means for attaching metadata to the data element.

17. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the means for determining if the assigned privacy level for the data element is proper comprises means for analyzing the data element and determining what degree of privacy the data element should have.

18. The data processing system of claim 10, further comprising means for allowing a user to change a privacy level assigned to a data element.

19. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the data processing system is hosted by a device in communication with a communications network.