Wireless Accessory Beacon Key Rotation for Private Location Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless accessory devices such as earbuds, headphones, and smartwatches cannot determine their location or communicate with remote tracking services, making them difficult to track when lost or stolen.
Innovation Solution
A wireless accessory periodically broadcasts a beacon signal with a public encryption key, which is detected by finder devices that determine their location using satellite or terrestrial positioning systems. The location data is encrypted and sent to a device locator server, where it is stored and retrieved by the owner using a public key exchange and anti-tracking secrets to maintain privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless accessory devices broadcast beacon signals with encryption keys for location tracking, then location tracking capability is improved, but device security and privacy protection may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic key rotation where the wireless accessory periodically changes its public key used in beacon signals. This dynamic approach allows the device to maintain location tracking capability while enhancing security, as each beacon uses a different key that expires after use, preventing long-term tracking and protecting user privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary cryptographic key exchange mechanism between the wireless accessory and finding devices. Instead of exposing permanent identifiers, the system uses temporary public keys as intermediaries that enable location reporting while protecting the accessory's permanent identity and user privacy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless accessories without network access implement location tracking, then tracking coverage is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses finding devices (smartphones, other wireless devices) as intermediaries to bridge the gap between wireless accessories without network access and the location tracking server. These intermediary devices receive beacon signals, determine their own locations, and relay location information to the server, enabling tracking coverage extension without adding complexity to the accessory itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless accessory performs self-service by autonomously generating and broadcasting beacon signals with cryptographic keys without requiring network connectivity. This self-service capability allows the device to maintain tracking functionality independently while the system handles the complexity of key management and location relay through other components.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments described herein provide for system and methods to crowdsource the location of wireless devices and accessories that lack a connection to a wide area network. One embodiment provides for a data processing system configured to perform operations comprising loading a user interface on an electronic device, the user interface to enable the determination of a location of a wireless accessory that is associated with the electronic device, generating a set of public keys included within a signal broadcast by the wireless accessory, the signal broadcast during a first period, sending the set of public keys to a server with a request to return data that corresponds with a public key in the set of public keys, decrypting the location data using a private key associated with the public key, and processing the location data to determine a probable location for the wireless accessory.