Web Browser Whitelist for Location-Based Content Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack efficient methods for accessing location-based content while ensuring user privacy and optimizing content presentation based on device location, with existing solutions often relying on uncontrolled sharing of location data and lacking precise control over which services receive this information.
Innovation Solution
A system where a web browser retrieves a list of trusted online services, allows users to control which services receive location data, and sends location information only to preapproved services, optimizing content selection and presentation based on device location while ensuring privacy through encryption and precision reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If location data is shared with online services to optimize content presentation, then content relevance is improved, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the set of online services into trusted and untrusted categories. The browser maintains a whitelist of trusted services and selectively shares location data only with those services, while preventing access to untrusted services. This segmentation allows location-based content optimization for trusted services without compromising user privacy to untrusted ones.
Solution Approach 2:
The web browser acts as an intermediary between the device's location data and online services. Instead of direct access, the browser mediates by checking whether requesting services are in the trusted whitelist before allowing location data transmission. This intermediary role enables controlled sharing that balances content relevance with privacy protection.
2Productivity
If location data is sent to multiple online services, then content selection is optimized, but control over data sharing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing a whitelist of trusted online services before any location data sharing occurs. Users can configure this whitelist in advance, specifying which services are authorized to receive location data. This preliminary configuration enables efficient content selection across trusted services while maintaining user control over the approved service list.
3Adaptability or versatility
If location data is shared without restrictions, then service functionality is enhanced, but security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating access rights for different online services. Instead of uniform restricted or open access, each service is individually evaluated against the trusted whitelist. Trusted services receive location data access (enhanced functionality), while untrusted services are denied access (maintained security). This localized quality control enables selective functionality enhancement without compromising overall security.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for accessing location-based content include retrieving, via a web browser, a list of one or more trusted online services. The retrieved list may be used to determine whether an online service from which content is to be requested. If so, the location of the requesting device may be provided to the service in conjunction with the content request.