Cloud Location Vault for Cross-Device Data Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Developers lack a standardized method to collect and analyze location data from various devices and report it to cloud services, leading to redundant development efforts and limited capabilities for big data and machine learning applications.

Innovation Solution

A location collection system that provides a uniform facility for reporting location data to cloud-based services, enabling aggregation, analysis, and visualization of location data across devices and users, utilizing a mobile application to collect and report location information, and leveraging cloud computing for enhanced analytics and data visualization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If proprietary location data collection methods are used on individual devices, then location data can be collected for device-specific use, but developers cannot easily share or analyze location data across different devices and services

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross-device location data sharingVSAvoidcustom infrastructure development
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal location data collection service that works across multiple device types (mobile phones, tablets, laptops, gaming devices) and operating systems. The service provides a common interface and data format that enables location data to be collected, stored, and analyzed uniformly across different platforms, eliminating the need for device-specific proprietary solutions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a cloud-based location service as an intermediary between individual devices and developers. This service collects location data from various devices, standardizes the data format, and provides it back to developers through uniform APIs. The intermediary handles the complexity of cross-device data collection, allowing developers to focus on application logic without building custom infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If cloud-based services depend on information provided by individual user devices, then device-specific location services can be provided, but cloud services cannot aggregate or analyze location data across users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation data aggregation and analysisVSAvoidcentralized location data access
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges location data from multiple individual devices into a centralized cloud-based location service. The service aggregates location information from various users and devices, creating a comprehensive location database that can be analyzed for patterns and trends. This combining of data sources enables big data analytics and machine learning applications that would be impossible with isolated device data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary data collection and standardization at the cloud service level. Location data is collected, validated, and normalized before being stored in the centralized database. This preliminary processing ensures data quality and consistency, enabling efficient aggregation and analysis while maintaining data integrity across different sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If developers create custom location collection infrastructure for each solution, then specific application requirements can be met, but redundant development effort is performed and no centralized repository exists for big data analytics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication-specific location servicesVSAvoidredundant development effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables developers to self-service location data collection needs through a standardized cloud API. Instead of building custom infrastructure, developers can invoke the location service API to obtain location data in a consistent format. The service automatically handles data collection, validation, and delivery, allowing developers to focus on application development rather than infrastructure creation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal location service that can serve multiple application types and use cases through a single interface. The service provides location data for various purposes (tracking, analytics, user services) without requiring separate infrastructure for each application, eliminating redundant development while maintaining adaptability to specific needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8621653B2Secure location collection and analysis service
Publication Date: 2013.12.31 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • US8621653B2 patent drawing
  • US8621653B2 patent drawing
  • US8621653B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A location collection system is described herein that provides a uniform facility for reporting location data to a cloud-based service from a variety of devices, and that provides a uniform facility for accessing aggregated location data collected by the cloud-based service. The system collects location information related to a user and reports the location information to a central service to provide a variety of useful services to the user. By providing a big, secure location vault in the cloud, the system enables big data analytics to be used to allow current and future questions to be asked of this data and to correlate this with other data to enable new scenarios not yet enabled. Thus, the location collection system provides a model to report, gather, and analyze location data across devices and users.