Context-Based Sensor Data Anonymisation With Phased Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing user device technologies provide inadequate privacy protection for sensor data, often requiring users to manually manage app access and compromising privacy for functionality, and lack seamless transitions between real and obfuscated data.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that obfuscates sensor data at the operating system level, using historical data and dynamic context recognition to generate plausible obfuscated data, with phased-in and phased-return periods to ensure seamless transitions and protect privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If sensor data is obfuscated to protect privacy, then user privacy is improved, but app functionality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary obfuscation layer between the sensor data source and the applications. This intermediary generates plausible fake data that maintains the statistical properties and patterns expected by applications, thereby preserving functionality while protecting privacy. The obfuscated data acts as a mediator that satisfies application requirements without revealing true sensor information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of sensor data with modified properties. Instead of using real sensor data directly, the system generates synthetic data copies that replicate the structural characteristics, temporal patterns, and statistical distributions of authentic sensor data. These copies are sufficiently similar to maintain application functionality while being indistinguishable from real data only at aggregate levels.
2Ease of manufacture
If abrupt transition is made between real and obfuscated data, then implementation simplicity is improved, but data believability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic transition mechanisms that adapt the obfuscation level based on contextual factors. Rather than using static, abrupt transitions, the system dynamically adjusts the degree of obfuscation and transition timing based on sensor data patterns, application requirements, and environmental context. This dynamic approach maintains data believability by ensuring smooth, context-appropriate transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary actions by gradually introducing obfuscated data before fully switching from real sensor data. This phased transition allows the system to prepare the data stream incrementally, maintaining continuity and believability. The preliminary obfuscation phase helps bridge the gap between real and fully obfuscated data, preventing abrupt changes that would compromise data authenticity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If contextual awareness is added to obfuscation, then privacy protection is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the obfuscation system into distinct functional modules: context analysis components, obfuscation generation components, and data transformation components. Each module handles specific aspects of contextual awareness independently. This segmentation allows the system to incorporate sophisticated contextual understanding without creating an intractably complex monolithic system, as each segment can be developed and optimized separately.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer-implemented method of obfuscating user sensor data is provided. The method comprises collecting sensor data from one or more sensors of one or more user devices, assessing the user's current behaviour from the sensor data, and determining that an obfuscation period is required. The method further comprises generating obfuscated sensor data for the one or more sensors, different to the collected sensor data, during the obfuscation period, and providing the obfuscated sensor data to the one or more programs on the one or more user devices. During the obfuscation period, the obfuscated sensor data is provided to the one or more programs on the one or more user devices includes one or both of a phased-in period at the beginning of the obfuscation period during which the obfuscated data initially matches the collected sensor data, and deviates from the collected sensor data, and a phased-return period at the end of the obfuscation period during which the obfuscated data returns to match the collected sensor data.