Knapsack graph-based privacy checking for smart environments

A smart environment consisting of sensors and actuators that network a physical space makes the lives of users extremely convenient. In such environments, service providers collect, store, and process a huge amount of personal information from the users, and provide appropriate services in return. Processing personal information helps service providers dispense personalized services to users. The flow of personal information requires legal documents such as privacy preferences and privacy policies from the users and service providers, respectively. A software agent (to be installed either at the client’s or server’s end) performs the privacy checking (i.e., matches the service provider’s privacy policies with the user’s privacy preferences), and produces a decision based on a “take it or leave it” approach. Often,…