Beacon Privacy Network Using Relevancy Scores
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing proximity-based systems face challenges in protecting user privacy, conserving battery power, and accurately delivering relevant notifications and communications, due to inaccurate methods of calculating relevance and potential exposure of sensitive information.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of privacy-centric data relevancy tools using low-powered beacons, such as iBeacons, which analyze proximity data to provide personalized notifications by calculating beacon relevancy scores based on user and beacon profiles, and enable secure, anonymous communication through proximity networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If proximity-based notification systems are implemented to personalize user experience, then user relevance and personalization are improved, but user privacy is compromised due to exposure of sensitive location and profile information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces beacon devices as intermediaries that enable proximity-based notifications without requiring direct access to sensitive user information. The beacons transmit anonymous identifiers that the server uses to match users with relevant notifications, thereby mediating between the need for personalized service and the requirement to protect user privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts sensitive personal information from the notification delivery process. Instead of requiring the system to access and process detailed user profiles and location data, only anonymous beacon identifiers are transmitted and processed, separating the essential functionality from the privacy-sensitive data elements.
2Measurement precision
If continuous proximity monitoring is performed to deliver relevant notifications, then notification accuracy is improved, but battery power is consumed excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic beacon transmissions rather than continuous monitoring. Beacons transmit their identifiers at regular intervals, allowing user devices to detect and process only these periodic signals, thereby significantly reducing the energy required for proximity detection while maintaining adequate notification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The beacon devices autonomously transmit their identifiers without requiring active querying or continuous power from user devices. This self-service approach allows the beacons to perform the monitoring function independently, reducing the energy burden on mobile devices while maintaining proximity detection capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If detailed user profile data is collected to calculate beacon relevancy scores, then notification personalization is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that handles the complex task of processing user profiles and calculating relevancy scores. This centralizes the computational complexity in a dedicated system rather than requiring complex processing in each user device, thereby enabling sophisticated personalization while managing system complexity through architectural separation.
4Loss of information
If anonymous beacon identifiers are used to protect user privacy, then user privacy is improved, but communication capability between users is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as a communication intermediary that receives anonymous beacon identifiers from users and facilitates connections between compatible users based on their profiles and preferences. This intermediary service enables communication capability to be restored through the server's coordination, while users' identifiers remain protected and anonymous throughout the process.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosed tools use a plurality of substantially low powered data signal transmitters and receiving tools, such as beacons to provide a location and contextually aware system. Specifically, the disclosed technology can greatly enhance personalization of information or advertising that is delivered to a user via analyzing the proximity data that is transmitted by a beacon.