Geofencing Gateway with Micro Agents for Data Capsule Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data geofencing solutions are inadequate in ensuring data remains within designated geographical boundaries, particularly due to limitations in addressing Virtual Private Network (VPN) bypasses and lack of strict geolocation constraints, necessitating improved mechanisms for secure and compliant data transfer, storage, and access.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of data capsules with self-executing micro agents that encrypt data blocks and verify the geolocation of destination hosts before allowing access, using continuous geolocation assessment and trusted third-party certifications to enforce context-based access policies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If source IP address restrictions are used for data geofencing, then data transfer control is implemented, but VPN services can bypass these restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a geofencing gateway as an intermediary component that sits between the data source and destination. This gateway intercepts data transfer requests and performs comprehensive geolocation verification using multiple methods (IP address geolocation, GPS coordinates, cell tower triangulation) before allowing data to pass through. The gateway acts as a mediator that enforces geofencing policies regardless of VPN usage, thereby maintaining data geofencing effectiveness while blocking VPN bypass attempts.
2Reliability
If Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) & Route Origin Authorization are used to bond to an Autonomous System, then data transfer authorization is improved, but the Autonomous System footprint extends beyond country limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements location-specific access policies that are enforced at the geofencing gateway level rather than at the Autonomous System level. Each data transfer request is evaluated against location-specific criteria (country borders, restricted zones, approved destinations) regardless of which Autonomous System the data originates from. This allows PKI authorization to work effectively while preventing data from being transferred to locations outside approved geographical boundaries, effectively limiting the functional footprint to only authorized areas.
3Ease of operation
If reverse Domain Name Server (DNS) lookups are used for geofencing, then domain-based access control is implemented, but domains are not tightly bound to territorial limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple geolocation verification methods into a unified geofencing enforcement mechanism. Instead of relying solely on reverse DNS lookups, the system integrates IP address geolocation, GPS coordinates from mobile devices, cell tower triangulation, and reverse DNS verification. These multiple verification methods work together to provide both the ease of domain-based access control and precise territorial boundary accuracy, as the combined approach can definitively determine whether a data transfer destination is within approved geographical boundaries.
4Productivity
If Locator/ID Separation Protocol (LISP) is used for geofencing, then network routing control is improved, but LISP was not designed to add strict geolocation based constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a geofencing gateway as an intermediary that sits in the data path between LISP routing and actual data transfer. The gateway receives data transfer requests, performs strict geolocation verification using multiple methods (IP geolocation, GPS, cell tower data), and either permits or blocks the transfer based on approved destination criteria. This intermediary approach maintains the productivity benefits of LISP routing control while adding the missing reliability of strict geolocation constraint enforcement that LISP was not originally designed to provide.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for context-based transfer and access of data include a producer which receives a request from a consumer to access a data block. The producer verifies whether a context associated with the consumer will allow access the data block, by providing a challenge to the consumer and obtaining a response, the response including a certification that the context associated with the consumer will allow the consumer to access the data block. Upon verifying that the context allows the consumer to access the data block, the producer transfers a data capsule, the data capsule including an encrypted version of the data block and a micro agent for monitoring access to the data block. The micro agent can interact with an operating system at the consumer to allow decryption and local access of the data block upon the data capsule being transferred.