Dynamic Electronic Vehicle Registration Plate for Privacy Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Static vehicle registration plates can be used to track a vehicle's routes and locations, raising privacy concerns as they can be scanned and correlated with other data, leading to the aggregation of sensitive information about individuals.
Innovation Solution
An electronic registration plate system that periodically displays unique, randomly generated registration numbers, which are stored in a data store and retrieved in a non-sequential order, and can be disabled when the vehicle is stationary, using a data access module and display module to enhance privacy by avoiding reuse and maintaining security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If static registration plates are used for vehicle identification, then vehicle identification is simple and reliable, but privacy is compromised as vehicles can be tracked and location data aggregated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the Dynamics principle by transitioning from static registration plates to dynamic electronic display plates that can change their displayed registration number over time. The system randomly selects and displays different registration numbers from a pre-loaded set, making the plate's identification value changeable rather than fixed. This dynamic behavior prevents continuous tracking while maintaining reliable identification when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by having the electronic display plate periodically change its displayed registration number at predetermined intervals or when triggered by specific events. This periodic change in displayed information ensures that tracking attempts are thwarted while the system maintains reliable vehicle identification capability when activation is required.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If registration numbers are frequently changed to protect privacy, then tracking difficulty increases, but system complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-loading a large set of unique registration numbers into the electronic display plate before deployment. This pre-prepared pool of identification values allows the system to frequently change displayed numbers without requiring real-time generation or external communication, thereby reducing system complexity and energy consumption while maintaining high tracking difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements the cheap short-living objects principle by using a large pool of disposable-like registration numbers that are randomly selected and discarded after use. Each registration number in the pre-loaded set is used once or a limited number of times, then replaced with another from the pool, mimicking disposable usage patterns without the actual cost or complexity of continuous generation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the electronic registration plate is always active to maintain identification capability, then vehicle tracking is prevented, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by activating the electronic display plate only at predetermined intervals or when specific triggering events occur, rather than maintaining continuous operation. This periodic activation reduces energy consumption significantly while still providing sufficient tracking prevention through intermittent changes in displayed registration numbers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the electronic display plate to autonomously determine when activation is needed based on pre-programmed criteria or triggered events. The system automatically switches between active and dormant states without requiring constant external control, optimizing energy usage while maintaining security functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Various systems and methods for protecting privacy with secure digital signage in vehicle registration plates are described herein. A system with an electronic registration plate for protecting privacy with secure digital signage, the electronic registration plate attached to a vehicle, the system may include a data access module to: access, a data store of registration numbers, the data store including a plurality of unique registration plate numbers and assigned to the vehicle; and retrieve a registration plate number from the data store; and a display module to present the registration plate number on the electronic registration plate.