Location Data Sharing via Time-Bound Authorization Server
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing geolocation devices, such as sports watches, do not allow for real-time sharing of location data with third parties, limiting the ability of family and friends to track athletes during events.
Innovation Solution
A process and system for managing and sharing location data, which enables authorized third parties to access a user's geolocation information temporarily through a remote server, allowing for real-time tracking and storage of location data for a defined validity period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If location data is shared with third parties continuously, then real-time tracking capability is improved, but user privacy and data security are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic authorization where third-party access to location data is temporary and time-limited rather than permanent. The system automatically revokes access after a predefined validity period, dynamically adjusting the data sharing state from open to closed without user intervention. This resolves the contradiction by enabling real-time tracking during the valid period while automatically protecting privacy after expiration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of data access validity from indefinite to time-bound. By introducing a validity period parameter that automatically expires, the system transforms continuous data sharing into temporary sharing, thus enabling real-time tracking capability while limiting privacy exposure to a controlled time window.
2Loss of information
If location data is stored permanently on server, then data availability for multiple requests is improved, but data security and user control are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of permanently storing all location data, the system stores only the minimum necessary data (device identifiers and validity period) required to authorize temporary access. The actual location data is transmitted only when needed within the validity period, not continuously stored. This partial storage approach maintains data availability during the valid period while minimizing security risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically discards location data and access authorization after the validity period expires. The server removes stored data for authorized devices once their access window closes, eliminating the need for permanent storage while maintaining availability during the active period. This resolves the contradiction by temporarily holding data when needed and discarding it when no longer required.
3Ease of operation
If third parties can access location data without restrictions, then ease of tracking is improved, but user authorization control is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authorization by pre-defining validity periods and authorized device identifiers before data sharing begins. Users configure who can access their location data and for how long in advance. This preliminary setup enables easy tracking during the valid period while maintaining strong authorization control through pre-established rules that automatically enforce user intentions.
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for managing the sharing of location data between a source device of a user and at least one destination device of a third party, comprising receiving a first identifier of the source device of the user, a first identifier of the destination device of the third party and an authorisation message indicating whether the destination device of the third party is authorised to obtain the location data of the source device of the user, constructing or updating a correspondence table associating the first identifier of the source device of the user with the first identifier of the destination device of the third party, receiving location data of the source device of the user, receiving a request for transmission of location data of the source device of the user, the request comprising a second identifier of the source device of the user, corresponding to the first identifier of the source device of the user, and a second identifier of the destination device of the third party, determining, by using the second identifier of the source device of the user and the correspondence table, whether the first and second identifiers of the destination device of the third party correspond, and transmitting, to the destination device of the third party, location data of the source device of the user, in response to the request, when the first and second identifiers of the destination device of the third party correspond.