Geolocation Verification via Digital Signature Infrastructure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing geolocation verification methods lack reliability, as they can be easily spoofed, making it difficult to provide non-repudiable evidence of a device's location.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a digital signature infrastructure, such as a distributed hash tree-based verification system, to securely verify the geolocation of a device by combining location data from multiple sources and generating a digital signature that can be verified later, incorporating additional corroborating data to prevent manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If plaintext or graphical geolocation indication is transmitted from the device, then the location information is easily obtained and displayed, but the reliability and verifiability of the location data deteriorates due to susceptibility to spoofing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a digital signature infrastructure as an intermediary between the geolocation data source and the verifying entity. This intermediary (digital signature system) provides cryptographic verification that authenticates the location data without requiring direct trust in the transmitting device, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of obtaining location data and reliability of verification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual verification method (trusting plaintext or graphical geolocation indications) with a cryptographic/digital verification system. By substituting the trust-based mechanical system with a mathematically secure digital signature system, the reliability of geolocation verification is dramatically improved while maintaining ease of operation
2Measurement precision
If multilateration/hhyperbolic capabilities are used to locate a device using transmission strength at cell towers, then approximate location can be determined, but the degree of reliability deteriorates as these methods cannot provide verifiable geolocation evidence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a digital signature infrastructure and pre-authenticating the geolocation data sources before actual location verification is needed. The digital signatures are generated in advance using cryptographically secure methods, so when location verification is required, the pre-established trust framework immediately provides high-reliability verification without requiring complex real-time analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The patent fundamentally changes the verification parameter from trusting transmission strength measurements (which are susceptible to manipulation) to verifying cryptographic digital signatures (which provide mathematical proof of authenticity). This parameter change from physical measurement trust to cryptographic verification trust resolves the reliability issue while maintaining measurement precision
Data Source
AI summary
Location data from one or more geolocation engines such as GPS, a system that determines location from relative signal strengths or transit times, etc., within and/or connected to a device, such as a mobile phone, vehicle, movable electronic device, computer, etc., is included in a digital record that submitted to obtain a digital signature such that the presence of the device at the particular location can later be proven. The digital record may include data that encodes a message, as well as other parameters such as time. The digital signature may include recomputation parameters for recomputing a verifying calendar value, formed by a keyless, hash tree-based signing infrastructure as an uppermost hash value in a calendar period.