Group Location Sharing via Server Relay and Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, such as Push-To-Talk (PTT) networks, lack the ability to share geographical location information among group members, limiting coordination and communication beyond voice transmissions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enables wireless devices to generate and share geographical location information through a group communication server, allowing selective sharing with predesignated group members while maintaining user privacy, and displaying this information on devices or maps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If geographical location information is shared among all group members, then coordination and communication capabilities are improved, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selective location sharing where each user can independently control which group members receive their location information. This is achieved through a permission management system where users can grant or revoke location access rights for individual group members, allowing location data to be shared with some members while maintaining privacy from others.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts location sharing permissions based on user preferences and group interactions. Users can modify their location sharing settings at any time, and the system updates the distribution of location information in real-time according to these changing permissions, enabling flexible control over privacy versus coordination needs.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If location information is selectively shared with predesignated members, then user privacy is protected, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that manages the complex permission and location information distribution logic. Instead of implementing complex peer-to-peer permission management between devices, the server centralizes the control of location sharing permissions, handling user preferences, group member relationships, and information distribution, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining privacy protection.
3Speed
If all group members have access to each other's location data, then real-time coordination is improved, but data security requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements differential access control where different group members have different levels of access to location data based on explicitly granted permissions. Each user's location information is protected with granular access controls that specify exactly which members can receive it, ensuring that data security is maintained while still enabling real-time coordination among authorized members.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for sharing geographical location information among a set of wireless telecommunication devices, such as mobile telephones. A first wireless telecommunication device generates geographical location information of that wireless telecommunication device, either through a resident device such as a GPS device, or has another computer device on the network provide the geographic location information, and then shares the geographical location information through sending the location information to one or more servers for relay to a predesignated target set of wireless telecommunication devices. The server stores the identity of member devices of the target set and controls communication between the first wireless telecommunications device and the member devices of the target set. A second server can be used to modify the geographical information, such as providing a map showing the location of the first wireless telecommunication device and other member devices of the target set.