Geofencing-Based Mobile Device Licensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing licensing solutions for mobile devices do not consider geographical location, and geofencing technologies are not integrated with licensing systems, leading to a lack of location-based access control for mobile applications.
Innovation Solution
A geofencing-based licensing system that uses a geographically enabled mobile device with a location receiving device, such as a GPS or RFID module, to receive and activate licenses based on device fingerprints and real-time geographic data, ensuring that access to licensed applications is granted or blocked according to predefined geographical boundaries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing licensing solutions bind a device to a license, then device access control is provided, but geographical location is not considered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines geofencing technology with licensing systems into an integrated solution. The licensing system now includes geographical location validation by merging GPS/RFID/Wi-Fi location tracking with license activation, so that licenses are only activated when the device is within the designated geofenced area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a license activation server as an intermediary that receives location data from the mobile device, validates it against the geofenced area, and then activates or deactivates the license accordingly. This intermediary coordinates between the device, location services, and licensing database.
2Ease of operation
If geofencing is used for marketing and advertising, then location-based triggers are provided, but integration with licensing applications is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal licensing framework that can handle both traditional device-bound licensing and location-based licensing through the same system architecture. The license activation server can process various license types (device-specific, user-specific, location-specific) using a unified validation mechanism.
3Extent of automation
If a virtual geographical boundary is created using GPS or RFID, then automated triggers are provided, but license validation based on real-time location is not implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous feedback loops where the mobile device continuously reports its location to the license activation server, which then validates the license status in real-time. When the device enters or exits the geofenced area, the server receives location updates, validates them against the license terms, and activates or deactivates the licensed application accordingly.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system (100) or method (400) for geofencing based licensing on a geographically enabled mobile device (102) includes receiving (402) a geofencing based license at the geographically enabled mobile device along with geographic data defining a geofence, activating (404) the geofencing based license on the geographically enabled mobile device using a device fingerprint and a location receiving device (106) in the geographically enabled mobile device, and obtaining (406) real time geographic data and providing the real time geographic data to a licensed application within the geographically enabled mobile device using the location receiving device in the geographically enabled mobile device. If the geographically enabled mobile device requests a protected function of the licensed application, the licensed application validates (408) the geofencing based license based on the real time geographic data and licensing terms using one or more processors (103), memory, and the location receiving device operatively coupled to the one or more processors.