Geolocation Privacy via False Fingerprint Data Injection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current geolocation methods for communication devices, such as GPS, are limited in indoor and urban areas, and existing alternative approaches do not adequately preserve user privacy by tracking location information.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a communication device sends a request to a dedicated network device with fingerprint data summarizing radio information from access points and cellular towers, allowing the device to determine its location while obscuring the true location with false fingerprint data, thus preserving privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS is used for location determination, then location accuracy is improved, but it cannot function well in indoor or urban areas with limited sky visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces access points and cellular towers as intermediary objects to enable location determination in environments where GPS cannot function. These intermediaries provide alternative signal sources that can be received indoors and in urban areas, allowing the communication device to determine its location through analyzing signals from these intermediaries rather than directly from satellites.
2Adaptability or versatility
If signal analysis from access points or cellular towers is used, then location determination works in indoor and urban areas, but user privacy is compromised due to location tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary information for location determination from the signal analysis data, rather than transmitting or storing complete location information. The system determines location based on signal characteristics without creating a detailed trackable record of user movements, thereby reducing privacy intrusion while maintaining functionality.
3Measurement precision
If complete location information is transmitted to positioning system, then location determination accuracy is improved, but privacy protection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by processing and analyzing signal data locally at the communication device rather than transmitting raw signal information to a centralized positioning system. This allows location determination to be performed with sufficient accuracy while keeping detailed location information local to the device, thereby protecting user privacy.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An apparatus for preserving privacy of a determined location(s) of a device may include a processor and memory storing executable computer code causing the apparatus to at least perform operations including receiving a request for determining a location of a device based on received fingerprint data corresponding to a summary of radio information identifying a physical place, location, area, or region. The summary based on information received from radio frequency (RF) devices. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to determine whether fingerprint data associated with a geographical location of the RF devices is stored locally for determining whether to request a network device to determine the location of the device based on providing the network device with fingerprint data and false fingerprint data relating to a location(s) that does not correspond to a current location of the device. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided.