Anonymous Traffic Density Monitoring via Lead Device Polling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for monitoring traffic density, such as GPS, reveal identifying information and require positioning capabilities in all devices, lacking anonymous and efficient solutions for tracking individuals in areas over time.

Innovation Solution

A lead device with positioning capabilities polls nearby wireless-enabled devices within its range, calculates density by erasing device identification information, and maintains anonymity through wireless communication, allowing for real-time traffic density monitoring without the need for every device to be located.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If GPS or similar positioning methods are used to monitor traffic density, then traffic density can be tracked, but identifying information is revealed and all devices must have positioning capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic density measurementVSAvoidanonymity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary information (device presence and count) while leaving out identifying information. The lead device polls wireless devices and counts their presence to calculate density, but deliberately does not collect or store device identifiers, thus achieving anonymity while maintaining measurement capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring all devices to actively report their position (which would reveal identifying information), the system inverts the approach by having a lead device passively poll and count nearby wireless devices. This reversal allows density measurement without compromising anonymity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Measurement precision

If all devices have positioning capabilities, then accurate location tracking is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation tracking accuracyVSAvoidpositioning capability requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the lead device multi-functional by giving it both positioning capabilities and polling/counting functionality. This allows a single device type to perform both location tracking and density measurement, eliminating the need for all devices to have positioning capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The lead device acts as an intermediary between the monitoring system and the polled wireless devices. It collects presence information from devices that don't need positioning capabilities, processes this data, and generates density measurements, thus mediating between simple devices and the need for accurate tracking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11166143B1Traffic density monitoring

Publication Date: 2021.11.02 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A lead device with positioning capabilities can be initiated. The lead device can poll wireless enabled devices within a wireless range. Device identification information associated with the polled wireless enabled devices can be removed. Density can be calculated within the wireless range based on the number of polled wireless enabled devices within the wireless range.