Beacon Signal Filtering for IoT Privacy and Relevance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless network technologies lack efficient methods for selectively displaying information based on beacon signal strength and user intention, leading to privacy concerns and unnecessary information display.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for user equipment (UE) that receive beacon signals, determine distance based on signal strength, and selectively display information corresponding to registered category IDs, allowing users to receive preferred information while protecting privacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the UE displays all received beacon signal information, then the user receives comprehensive information, but privacy is compromised and unnecessary information is displayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidprivacy exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and processes specific attributes from beacon signals (category ID, unique ID, signal strength) rather than displaying all raw information. It selectively displays only relevant information based on registered categories and signal strength thresholds, removing unnecessary and privacy-sensitive data while preserving useful information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different processing rules to different parts of the beacon signal data. Category IDs match against registered interests, unique IDs are used for identification, and signal strength determines display priority. This localized quality approach ensures that each data element is handled according to its specific purpose and sensitivity level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of information

If the UE displays information from all beacon devices, then the user receives maximum information, but the display becomes cluttered with unnecessary information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation availabilityVSAvoidinformation usability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-registering category IDs that represent user interests before receiving beacon signals. When beacon signals are received, the system quickly matches category IDs against the pre-registered list and displays only matching information, eliminating the need to process and display all possible information in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses signal strength as feedback to determine which beacon information to display. Beacons with stronger signals (indicating closer proximity) are prioritized for display, while weaker signals are filtered out. This feedback mechanism dynamically adjusts information display based on the user's current environment and proximity to various beacons.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If the UE processes all received beacon signals, then complete information is obtained, but processing time and energy increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata completenessVSAvoidprocessing energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by processing only the essential elements of beacon signals (category ID, unique ID, signal strength) rather than analyzing all possible data. It performs selective matching against registered categories and applies signal strength thresholds to filter results, achieving sufficient information processing with minimal energy expenditure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by using signal strength as a filtering criterion to reduce the volume of data requiring detailed processing. By converting physical distance information into a signal strength parameter, the system can quickly eliminate distant beacons before performing more energy-intensive category matching and information retrieval operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables electronic devices to selectively display user-preferred information, enhancing privacy and providing relevant merchandise information based on signal strength, thereby improving user experience in wireless network environments.

Implementation Method 1

The method includes receiving a first signal including a first category identification (ID) and a first unique ID from a first beacon device, determining a distance from the first beacon device based on the first signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSignal strength indication (RSSI):

Data Source

PatentEP3387847B1Method and apparatus for providing service in wireless network
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3387847B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3387847B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3387847B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A technique for sensor network, Machine to Machine (M2M), Machine Type Communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT) is provided. The present disclosure can be applied to intelligent services (smart homes, smart buildings, smart cities, smart cars or connected cars, health care, digital education, retail, security and safety service) based on the technique. A method for operating a user equipment (UE) is provided. The method includes receiving a first signal comprising a first category identification (ID) and a first unique ID from a first beacon device, determining a distance from the first beacon device based on the first signal, if the distance is below a threshold, registering the first category ID, and if a second signal comprising the registered first category ID from a second beacon device, displaying information corresponding to a second unique ID of the second signal.