Mobile Camera Access Control via Physical Object Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile device applications with camera features face challenges in ensuring data integrity, particularly when capturing images of tangible real-world objects, as users may inadvertently or fraudulently capture incorrect or misleading images due to poor angles, lighting, or fraudulent behavior, compromising the accuracy of the data.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that selectively activates access to the camera of a mobile device only when the physical object intended for imaging is present at the user's location, utilizing a physical object provider service to deliver objects and a machine learning model for verification, ensuring that images accurately represent the intended objects and preventing fraudulent behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If camera access is always enabled in mobile applications, then ease of operation is improved, but data integrity deteriorates due to fraudulent or inaccurate image capture
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification by detecting the physical object's presence at the user's location before enabling camera access. This advance check ensures that only users who actually possess the intended object can capture images, preventing fraudulent behavior while maintaining ease of operation for legitimate users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the physical object provider service continuously monitors object location and communicates availability status to the application. This feedback loop dynamically controls camera access based on real-time object presence verification, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and data integrity.
2Reliability
If camera access is restricted based on physical object location, then data integrity is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional verification systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a physical object provider service as an intermediary layer between the mobile application and the physical object. This mediator handles the complex location verification and camera access control logic externally, reducing the complexity burden on the mobile device itself while maintaining data integrity through centralized verification.
3Measurement precision
If physical object delivery and verification system is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time occurs during object delivery and verification processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs object delivery and location verification in advance before the image capture process begins. By completing the verification process preliminarily, the system ensures measurement precision without causing time loss during the actual image capture operation, as the verification status is already determined and stored for quick access.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method are disclosed for selectively activating access by an application to a camera. In an embodiment, a physical object provider receives a request, from an application installed on a mobile device of a user, for a physical object to be delivered to an address corresponding to the user, wherein access by the application to a camera of the mobile device is de-activated. Responsive to receiving the request, the physical object is caused to be delivered to the address. The physical object provider receives a notification that the physical object has been delivered to the address, and transmits an instruction to the application to activate access by the application to the camera. The physical object provider receives, from the application, an image captured by the camera, and publishes the image to an additional user.