Abstract:
A system and method for assigning unique and immutable attributes to user profiles and associated image(s) to facilitate the dynamic indication of supervisory control and monitoring through iconic representation, steganographic processing and/or encryption processing.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/352,504, filed Jun. 8, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates in general to data security and integrity and, in particular, to systems and methods for remote dynamic indication of supervisory control and monitoring of individuals who are engaged in the use of digital social media on the Internet. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Individuals using social media often have a profile that is resident to the social media platform they are using. The profile often allows a digital photograph to be included as part of the profile. In most instances, it is the profile and its associated digital photograph that is representative of the individual using the social media platform. The photograph is typically displayed to other individuals concurrently using the social media platform. 
         [0004]    Presently, social media security systems and methods make no provision to ensure the image attached to the profile is representative, secure, or feature an independent process for secure management. Existing systems predominately rely upon the use of single factor security implementations, or password based systems, to secure the user account in its entirety and not the discrete photograph associated with a user account. 
         [0005]    U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0265757 contemplates a system of security where the attribute includes an icon to indicate protection activity and settings. However, there is no provision for encryption or stenography with respect to an image or icon. 
         [0006]    An advantage exists, therefore, for a system and method having the ability to modify an image such as a digital photograph with a dynamically generated, digitally encrypted icon that is both specific and unique to a subordinate or user account. The digitally immutable icon will visually represent that the subordinate profile account activity is being remotely monitored and/or recorded. 
         [0007]    A further advantage exists for a system and method that employs a security identifier that may be undetectably embedded in an image using steganographic and/or encryption techniques to monitor, track, and potentially recall the image. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Broadly, the present invention is directed to a method and process for assigning unique and immutable properties to online profiles and images to indicate that a form of monitoring is present. More particularly, the invention provides a system and method to digitally alter an image to visually represent that the person depicted in the image is being monitored by some form of supervisory control, and/or the image includes a visually undetectable cipher that uniquely identifies the image and its control authority. 
         [0009]    Other details, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description of the presently preferred embodiments and presently preferred methods of practicing the invention proceeds. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a view of a representative output of a computer display in which the system and method according to the invention may be implemented prior to implementation; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a view of a representative output of a computer display in which the system and method according to the invention may be implemented post implementation; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an algorithm of one embodiment of a method according to the invention for integrating discrete visual elements to provide dynamic indication. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Referring to the drawings wherein like or similar references indicate like or similar elements throughout the several views, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a computer display in which the system and method according to the invention may be implemented prior to implementation, which display is identified generally by reference numeral  2 . Display  2  may be the visual output means (typically a screen) of any suitable Web-enabled computerized device comprising, at minimum, a microprocessor coupled to a memory, including, without limitation, any presently known or hereinafter developed stationary or portable computer, personal digital assistant, or smart phone. 
         [0015]    According to the invention, display  10  may convey any desired information regarding a user. In the illustrated example, display  10  generically includes certain information that may be observed on a user&#39;s profile page  4  of a typical social media website such as facebook.com, linkedin.com, or the like. As is conventional, profile page  4  may include either a stock (default) or personalized image  6  depicting a user as well as certain textual information  8  including, without limitation, the user&#39;s name (and possibly “interests”). It will be understood, however, that textual information may include some or all of the information one normally encounters on a social media website such as “education”, “hometown”, “current city”, “present employer”, “favorite books”, “favorite music”, “favorite movies”, etc.  FIG. 2  differs from  FIG. 1  in that it further includes an icon  10   a  that may be displayed on the user&#39;s profile page and/or any page of the user&#39;s electronic social media location that bears the user&#39;s image  6 . Preferably, icon  10   a  may be visible to the user and/or any visitor to such page(s). 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a process flow diagram according to the invention whereby a security identifier is assigned to a digital image. Initially, a digital photographic image  10  is linked to a subordinate or user account  11 . Programmatically, a determination is made at  12  by evaluation of a control parameter as to whether the account is to feature dynamic indication of remote dynamic supervisory control and monitoring as contemplated by the present invention, i.e., whether the account  11  is to be a monitored account. If the control parameter does not indicate the need for remote dynamic supervisory control, then, as shown at  13 , the process terminates with no change to the user account parameters and/or referenced photographic image. 
         [0017]    However, as indicated at  14 , if the control parameter does indicate the need for remote dynamic indication of supervisory control and monitoring, then a parameter is set in a supervisory account  15 . The parameter governs access to the user account at  17  and related elements in addition to establishing access supervisory preferences  16  for the user account and related elements, including attached images and whether the image will be subject to steganographic encryption. 
         [0018]    The user profile is accessed at  18  to determine if an image is present in the profile. If an image is not present, then, at  19 , a default, generic image stored in memory is used by the system prior to additional processing. 
         [0019]    If the user profile contains an image  10  uploaded by the profile owner for association with the user profile as indicated at  20 , or is utilizing the default system image referenced at  19 , both instances lead to the image being processed and prepared at  21  as an indicator for remote dynamic supervisory control and monitoring. The processing and preparation of the image that is now associated with the user profile can be iconic in nature as indicated by reference numeral  10   a  in  FIG. 2  and/or include steganographic data and/or an encryption key depending on the preferences enabled in  16 . 
         [0020]    An example of steganographic alteration of the image as part of the process articulated in  21  could include, without limitation, minor transposition of the values of the red, green and blue values for a series of individual pixels, or hue, saturation, and intensity values of a series of individual pixels. The minor transposition of these values alters the digital values of known pixels, the elements that comprise the icon and/or image, but does not detectably alter the image when viewed. Other known steganographic techniques will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and would be suitable for use in connection with the present invention. 
         [0021]    The transposed pixel values achieved through the process of stenography can serve as means for serializing the image and could also serve, without limitation, as the encryption key to both the image and/or the profile itself. The process of encryption, i.e., transformation of the data to make it unreadable by anyone other than the intended party, requires a digital key for both encryption and decryption. To the extent that the process calls for encryption or decryption of information, it is contemplated that the steganographic values articulated in  21  could constitute the key required for encryption or decryption irrespective of the encryption methodology employed. 
         [0022]    At  22  the profile image  10  and image indicator (e.g., icon  10   a ) are combined. When completely integrated, the result is an integrated profile that includes a uniquely identifiable and immutable image/indicator contained within the user profile  23 . 
         [0023]    The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, the ability to dynamically provide an indication that a user account, such as that used in social media, is being monitored by some form of supervisory or parental control, and that an associated image or images are being dynamically monitored and can be managed using steganographic technologies where the image itself contains immutable data that uniquely identifies the profile with which it is associated. 
         [0024]    Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed herein.