Mobile Device Identifier Mapping via Calendar Mediation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile devices cannot accurately determine the individuals they are in proximity to, as they lack the ability to map unique identifiers from nearby devices to specific individuals, which is essential for understanding social context and interactions.
Innovation Solution
A method that accesses user data and calendar information to correlate device identifiers with nearby individuals, using a combination of local processing and cloud-based intelligence to map these identifiers over time, allowing for tracking of interaction frequency and time of day.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If mobile devices collect unique identifiers from nearby devices, then the quantity of sensed information increases, but the ability to determine individual identity remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces calendar data as an intermediary element that bridges the gap between anonymous device identifiers and individual identities. By using calendar events (which contain known attendee information) as a mediator, the system can indirectly map device identifiers to individuals without direct identification, thus resolving the contradiction between collecting identifier quantity and maintaining identity information.
2Area of stationary object
If mobile devices use RF-based communications to sense unique identifiers, then the coverage of detection increases, but the precision of individual identification deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback mechanisms by continuously collecting device identifiers over time and cross-referencing them with calendar attendance data. This iterative process allows the system to refine and improve identification precision while maintaining broad RF detection coverage, as each calendar event provides feedback that helps associate identifiers with specific individuals.
3Loss of information
If mobile devices track device identifiers over time to determine social context, then the depth of contextual understanding increases, but the complexity of data processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-processing and organizing calendar data before it is needed for identification. Calendar events and attendee information are structured in advance, creating a ready-to-use reference framework that simplifies the subsequent matching process with collected device identifiers, thereby reducing real-time processing complexity while enabling deep contextual analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for accessing user data and determining one or more nearby individuals at a first time, receiving one or more device identifiers transmitted from other computing devices, and mapping the one or more device identifiers with the one or more nearby individuals. The method, apparatus, and computer program product may also be configured for determining whether each of one or more device identifiers are mapped to a specific individual, and if not, access stored data from previous occurrences in order to map the device identifiers to specific individuals.