Pseudonymous browsing mode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11416635-B1
Application number	US-202016926220-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 10, 2020
Priority date	Jul 10, 2020
Publication date	Aug 16, 2022
Grant date	Aug 16, 2022

Abstract

Various examples are directed to computer-implemented systems and methods for providing a pseudonymous browsing mode. A method includes receiving, by a processor of a computer, input from a user requesting a level of anonymity for a session on an application or website, where the level of anonymity is between open browsing and completely incognito browsing. The processor programs an avatar configured to provide the level of anonymity to an identity of the user and data generated by the user based on the received input. The processor uses the avatar to control an amount of data shared by the user with the application or website to provide the level of anonymity to an identity of the user and data generated by the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving, by a processor of a computer, an input from a user requesting a level of anonymity for a session on an application or a website, wherein the level of anonymity is between open browsing and completely private browsing;
programming, by the processor, an avatar configured to provide the level of anonymity to an identity of the user and data generated by the user based on the received input;
storing, by the processor, the avatar in a local data store accessible to local applications and remote applications;
determining, by the processor, that the user is attempting to access the application or the website;
retrieving, by the processor, the avatar from the local data store based on the accessed application or the accessed website; and
controlling, by the processor, an amount of data shared by the user with the application or the website using the avatar to provide the requested level of anonymity to an identity of the user and data generated by the user.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein programming the avatar includes programming a first avatar for a first application or a first website and programming a second avatar for a second application or a second website.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first avatar and the second avatar provide the same level of anonymity to the identity of the user and data generated by the user.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first avatar and the second avatar provide a different level of anonymity to the identity of the user and data generated by the user.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein programming an avatar includes programming a first avatar for a first session on a first application or a first website and programming a second avatar for a second session on the first application or the first website.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first avatar and the second avatar provide the same level of anonymity to the identity of the user and data generated by the user.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first avatar and the second avatar provide a different level of anonymity to the identity of the user and data generated by the user.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the avatar provides for sharing or saving browsing history of the user, but not sharing or saving passwords or logins with the application or website.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the avatar provides for not sharing or saving browsing history of the user, but sharing or saving passwords or logins with the application or website.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the avatar provides for sharing or saving browsing history of the user, and sharing or saving passwords or logins with the application or website.

11. A system comprising:
a computing device comprising a processor and a data storage device in communication with the processor, wherein the data storage device comprises instructions thereon that, when executed by the processor; causes the processor to:
receive an input from a user requesting a level of anonymity for a session on an application or a website, wherein the level of anonymity is between open browsing and completely private browsing;
program an avatar configured to provide the level of anonymity to an identity of the user and data generated by the user based on the received input;
store the avatar in a local data store accessible to local applications and remote applications;
determine that the user is attempting to access the application or the website;
retrieve the avatar from the local data store based on the accessed application or the accessed website; and
control an amount of data shared by the user with the application or the website using the avatar to provide the requested level of anonymity to an identity of the user and data generated by the user.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the avatar provides for sharing or saving browsing history of the user, but not sharing or saving passwords or logins with the application or website during the session.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the avatar provides for not sharing or saving browsing history of the user, but sharing or saving passwords or logins with the application or website during the session.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the avatar provides for sharing or saving browsing history of the user, and sharing or saving passwords or logins with the application or website during the session.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the avatar provides for not sharing or saving browsing history of the user, and not sharing or saving passwords or logins with the application or website during the session.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by computers, cause the computers to perform operations of:
receiving an input from a user requesting a level of anonymity for a session on an application or a website, wherein the level of anonymity is between open browsing and completely private browsing;
programming an avatar configured to provide the level of anonymity to an identity of the user and data generated by the user based on the received input;
storing the avatar in a local data store accessible to local applications and remote applications;
determining that the user is attempting to access the application or the website;
retrieving the avatar from the local data store based on the accessed application or the accessed website; and
controlling an amount of data shared by the user with the application or the website using the avatar to provide the requested level of anonymity to an identity of the user and data generated by the user.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the medium further includes instructions that, when executed by computers, cause the computers to perform operations of:
creating an avatar key associated with the avatar.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the medium further includes instructions that, when executed by computers, cause the computers to perform operations of:
distributing the avatar key associated with the avatar to the user.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the avatar key is configured to provide the user with control for modifying privacy settings of the avatar during the session.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the avatar key is configured to provide the user with control for reuse of the avatar during future sessions.

Assignees

• Wells Fargo Bank Na

Inventors

• Miranda Darius A
• Ranjan Rajiv
• Meyyappan Uma
• Montenegro Dennis E
• Parekh Pankaj
• Kalaboukis Chris Theodore
• Maeng Joon
• Ramanathan Ramanathan
• Rao Abhijit
• Shetti Abhijit
• Ketharaju Rameshchandra Bhaskar
• Subramanian Chandramouli

Classifications

• G06F21/6263 Primary

  during internet communication, e.g. revealing personal data from cookies · CPC title

• G06F21/6254 Primary

  by anonymising data, e.g. decorrelating personal data from the owner's identification · CPC title