Anonymous Token Alert Delivery via Location Mediator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing alert systems require users to register with services, raising privacy concerns and incurring costs for data protection, as they need to store and manage private user data such as phone numbers and IP addresses to deliver location-specific alerts.
Innovation Solution
A web-based alert service and smartphone app that delivers rich media information to specific locations without knowing the user's private information, using anonymous tokens and location services to target devices within defined areas, allowing entities to generate and serve alerts without storing or processing private data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users register with alert services to receive location-specific alerts, then alert delivery capability is improved, but user privacy is compromised and data protection costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where a location service acts as a mediator between the alert server and mobile devices. The location service assigns anonymous tokens to devices and handles location matching, preventing the alert server from directly accessing or storing private user information while still enabling targeted alert delivery based on location.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses anonymous tokens as copies or representations of user devices instead of using actual private identifiers. These tokens allow the system to track and target devices for alert delivery without requiring the alert server to know or store sensitive user information like phone numbers or device IDs.
2Measurement precision
If the alert server stores private user data for targeted alert delivery, then location-specific alert accuracy is improved, but data protection compliance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The location service serves as an intermediary that handles the complex task of managing user location data and anonymous token assignments. This separates the data protection compliance burden from the alert server, allowing the alert server to focus on delivering alerts while the location service manages the sensitive data and compliance requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system collects and stores user private information for alert delivery, then alert personalization is improved, but user registration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces direct collection of private user information with anonymous token copies. Users can receive personalized location-specific alerts without the system needing to store their actual personal data, thereby reducing registration barriers while maintaining alert personalization capabilities through the token-based identification system.
Data Source
AI summary
An alert system and method with a web based alert server configured with an alert creation portal allowing a customer to generate and store alert information specific to a location. An alert application for mobile devices is configured to upload to the alert server an anonymous token and mobile device location information. The alert server searches for anonymous tokens for mobile devices located within the alert location and serves stored alert information to the alert applications of the mobile devices located within the alert location.