Geolocation Access Control with Privacy Levels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for controlling geolocation access on communication devices only offer a binary option of enabling or disabling access, lacking intermediate settings that allow for nuanced control over location data sharing, which limits user privacy and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that implement multiple privacy access level settings, including a first setting for enabling access, a second for disabling access, and at least one intermediate setting for one-time access, allowing users to select from a sliding scale of options such as anonymous or non-anonymous one-time access, enabling user control over geolocation services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If binary access control (enabled/disabled) is implemented, then system simplicity is maintained, but user privacy control granularity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the binary access control into multiple discrete privacy access levels (first, second, and intermediate levels). Each level represents a distinct state of geolocation access permission, allowing users to granularly control application access to location data rather than facing a simple on/off choice.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts access control by allowing users to transition between different privacy access levels. The intermediate privacy access level enables one-time access as a dynamic state between permanent enabled and permanently disabled states, providing flexible adaptability to varying privacy needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple privacy access level settings are implemented, then user privacy control granularity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different privacy access levels for different applications individually. Each application can be assigned a specific privacy access level (first, second, or intermediate) based on its specific needs and the user's privacy preferences for that application, rather than applying a uniform control mechanism system-wide.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of access permission from a binary state to a multi-level state. By introducing intermediate privacy access levels between enabled and disabled states, the system expands the parameter space of access control while maintaining manageable complexity through clear hierarchical structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device may be configured to control access to geolocation services for applications on the communication device utilizing a first privacy access level setting that enables access to the geolocation services when selected, a second privacy access level setting that disables access to the geolocation services when selected, and other privacy access level settings that are different from, and fall between, the first privacy access level setting and the second privacy access level setting, and enable one time access to the geolocation services for the communication device when selected. The applications can include applications on the communication device that are managed and/or handled by a particular application service provider. The privacy access level settings comprise an anonymous one-time access and a non-anonymous one-time access.