Dynamic Demographic Profiling via Location Data Extraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current demographic profiling methods lack the ability to accurately capture dynamic demographic changes of individuals and locations over time, particularly in commercial and urban areas where the demographic mix changes significantly throughout the day or week, leading to insufficient information for retail expansion or outdoor advertising decisions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for privacy-preserving mobile demographic measurement that estimates demographic information associated with mobile device users and locations by receiving location and time data, providing substitute identifiers, and associating them with demographic information, allowing for the computation of Device Demographic Profiles and Location Demographic Profiles without storing location traces, thus preserving user privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional demographic profiling methods are used, then demographic information can be obtained, but the information lacks dynamic updates and cannot capture changes over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic demographic profiling by continuously updating device demographic profiles as devices move between locations with different demographic characteristics. The system captures temporal changes in demographics by recording profiles at different times and locations, transforming static census data into dynamic, time-varying demographic information that reflects actual population movements and composition changes.
2Measurement precision
If location traces are stored to enable demographic measurement, then demographic information can be computed, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary demographic information from location data without retaining actual location traces. The system computes device demographic profiles by processing location information temporarily and then discarding the raw location data, keeping only aggregated demographic characteristics. This extraction approach enables demographic measurement while removing the privacy-sensitive location information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces device demographic profiles as intermediary representations that mediate between raw location data and final demographic insights. Instead of storing and processing actual location traces, the system uses these intermediate profile summaries that capture demographic characteristics without containing identifiable location information, thus protecting user privacy while enabling demographic analysis.
3Measurement precision
If detailed location data is collected, then demographic insights can be improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses substitute identifiers to represent geographical areas instead of processing actual detailed location coordinates. Rather than analyzing raw GPS data or detailed location traces, the system maps locations to area identifiers and uses pre-computed demographic data for these areas. This copying approach simplifies data processing while maintaining the ability to generate accurate demographic insights.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, techniques are provided for estimating demographic information. A current device demographic profile for a mobile device is retrieved. An estimated geographic location of the mobile device and a time at which the mobile device visited the estimated geographic location is determined. Based on this, a location demographic profile for a geographic area that includes the estimated geographic location and for a time frame that includes the determined time is retrieved. The current device demographic profile for the mobile device is updated based on the location demographic profile. Further, the location demographic profile is updated based on a plurality of device demographic profiles of a plurality of mobile devices that visit geographic locations within the geographic area, the plurality of mobile devices including the mobile device.