Location Information Publishing with Region-Based Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Social networking platforms face challenges in managing geographically-based information, particularly in balancing user privacy and scalability when sharing location data, as users may want to restrict who views their information and handle the overwhelming volume of data effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for publishing and collecting location information using a cloud service that allows users to broadcast their location to associates or strangers, with privacy protections enabling users to control what information is visible, and a region-based subscription model that filters notifications based on user interests and relationships.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If location information is broadcast to all users, then discoverability and communication between entities are enhanced, but user privacy is compromised and information overload occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making information visibility selective rather than uniform. Different users can view different aspects of location information based on their relationship to the user and their subscription level. For example, friends may see private information while strangers only see public information, and region subscribers receive filtered notifications based on their interests. This resolves the contradiction by allowing discoverability for subscribed users while protecting privacy from unauthorized users.
2Adaptability or versatility
If location information is made available to all users, then communication between entities is enhanced, but scalability is compromised due to overwhelming data volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the user base into different categories (friends, associates, region subscribers, strangers) and segments information into different levels (public, private, region-specific). This segmentation allows the system to scale efficiently by only notifying relevant users about relevant location information, rather than broadcasting to all users. Region subscribers receive targeted notifications based on their subscribed regions and interests, dramatically reducing unnecessary data transmission and improving system scalability.
3Reliability
If privacy restrictions are implemented to protect user information, then user privacy is improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple access control levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic access control where privacy restrictions are not static but adapt based on user relationships and subscriptions. The system automatically adjusts what information is visible to different users based on their relationship to the location user and their subscription status. This dynamic approach manages complexity by using automated relationship-based rules rather than requiring manual configuration for each user pair, making the system both privacy-protective and manageable.
Data Source
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AI summary
The claimed subject matter provides a method for publishing location information. The method includes receiving the location information from an entity. The entity may be associated with a geographic location. The method further includes identifying one or more entities to be notified of the location information. Additionally, the method includes sending the location information to the identified entities.