Location Granularity Control for Privacy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing location services systems do not allow users to selectively limit the granularity of location data provided to applications, only offering options to allow or deny access without granularity control.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that enables users to specify coarse or fine location granularity for applications, adjusting the location data to reduce spatial and temporal resolution based on user preferences, using a satellite-based location estimation system and providing adjusted locations to applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the system provides precise location data to applications, then the location accuracy is improved, but the user privacy is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidprivacy risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the precision parameter of location data by providing different granularity levels (coarse vs. precise) to different applications based on their authorization status. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the same location data to serve multiple purposes at different precision levels, protecting privacy while maintaining accuracy where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different quality levels of location data to different applications based on their specific needs and authorization. Some applications receive coarse-grained location data for basic functionality, while authorized applications receive precise location data, thus balancing privacy protection with application requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the system provides coarse location data to all applications, then user privacy is protected, but the location utility for applications is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidapplication functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the granularity of location data provided to each application based on its authorization status and functional requirements. This resolves the contradiction by making the location data precision adaptable rather than static, allowing coarse data for privacy-protected applications and precise data for authorized applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the granularity parameter of location data on demand, providing coarse-grained location information to applications that only need general area identification, while providing fine-grained location information to applications that have been authorized and require precise positioning, thus maintaining both privacy and functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the system implements granular location control, then user control over privacy is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser controlVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the location data into different granularity levels (coarse and precise) and provides them through separate authorization pathways. This resolves the contradiction by organizing the complex control mechanism into distinct, manageable segments that can be independently managed, reducing the perceived complexity for users while maintaining comprehensive control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Measurement precision

If the system processes and adjusts location data for different granularities, then the location precision control is improved, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation granularity controlVSAvoiddata processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary processing of location data to create both coarse-grained and fine-grained versions in advance, so that when an application requests location data, the appropriate precision level is already prepared and can be provided immediately. This resolves the contradiction by eliminating real-time processing delays while maintaining precise granularity control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11653324B2User selectable location granularity

Publication Date: 2023.05.16 APPLE INC

AI summary

A location control subsystem is provided that allows a user of an electronic device to define the granularity used to provide location coarseness. A user can define a coarse location granularity for an application. When a coarse device location is reported to an application, the location can be provided with at least a minimum degree of variable specificity based on the selected location coarseness. When an application is granted a coarse location, the application is to interpret the provided location indicating that the user may be anywhere within a geographic region of variable specificity, as opposed to being close to a center point with a horizontal accuracy based on the precision of the location fix, as when a fine granularity location is provided. In addition to reducing the spatial resolution of the location that is reported to the application, the temporal resolution may also be reduced.