Dynamic Geofence for Privacy and Battery Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices face challenges in protecting user privacy regarding location tracking, as existing solutions often require all-or-nothing access to location information, leading to battery drain and excessive data transmission, and lack user control over geofenced regions.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device system that allows users to define and manage user-authorized geofenced regions, adjusting location sampling rates based on proximity and user consent, thereby controlling when and how location data is transmitted, with features like incognito mode and customizable geofence definitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If location tracking is enabled continuously to provide navigation and location services, then service functionality is improved, but battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the location sampling rate based on the device's proximity to geofenced regions. When outside authorized regions, the sampling rate is reduced to minimize battery consumption. When approaching or inside authorized regions, the sampling rate increases to ensure accurate location tracking for navigation and service functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different location tracking quality levels to different geographic areas. Location tracking is performed at a lower sampling rate in areas outside authorized geofenced regions, and at a higher sampling rate when inside or near authorized regions, optimizing the balance between battery life and service functionality.
2Measurement precision
If location data is transmitted frequently to backend servers for real-time tracking, then location accuracy and service responsiveness are improved, but data transmission volume and privacy exposure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments location data transmission based on geographic context. Location data is transmitted at different frequencies depending on whether the device is inside or outside authorized geofenced regions. This segmentation allows the system to maintain location accuracy when needed while minimizing privacy exposure by limiting transmission to only necessary moments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from location determinations to control data transmission. When the device determines it is outside authorized regions, transmission is minimized or halted. When the device enters or approaches authorized regions, transmission is activated or increased. This feedback mechanism ensures location accuracy is maintained only when the device is in authorized areas, reducing overall privacy exposure.
3Ease of operation
If all-or-nothing location access is provided to application programs, then ease of operation is improved, but user privacy control and battery life are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments location access control into two categories: authorized geofenced regions where location data can be transmitted for services, and unauthorized regions where transmission is limited. This segmentation maintains ease of operation by requiring no user intervention while providing granular privacy control through automated geographic-based filtering.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service privacy control by automatically determining the device's location relative to authorized geofenced regions and adjusting data transmission accordingly. This eliminates the need for users to manually configure privacy settings while maintaining granular control over location data sharing, balancing ease of operation with detailed privacy management.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device periodically determines its location and compares its location to a set of user-authorized geofenced region definitions. The proximity to any of the geofenced regions, as determines how often the mobile device determines its location (location sampling), and how it handles location information. Initially, when the mobile device is well outside of any of the geofenced regions a low location sampling rate is used. When the mobile device is within any of the geofenced regions, location information is transmitted, generally, to a backend server over a network. When the mobile device is not within any of the geofenced regions, transmission of location information can be inhibited. Further, when the mobile device is within a threshold distance of one of the geofenced regions, the sampling rate can be increased.