Mobile Device Presence Verification With Zero-Knowledge Proofs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for verifying the presence of mobile devices at amusement parks are inefficient and prone to abuse, leading to overwhelmed park operations and poor guest experiences due to requests from devices not physically present.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing zero-knowledge proofs, specifically witness-indistinguishable proofs, to verify a mobile device's presence within a defined geographical area without disclosing its exact location, by exchanging and modifying values using public/private key pairs with network nodes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If location verification is not implemented, then mobile devices can access all features freely, but park operations become overwhelmed and guest experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepark operations efficiencyVSAvoidfeature access control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary location verification system that mediates between mobile devices and park features. The system uses geofencing technology and mobile device location data as an intermediary layer to control access to park features, preventing direct uncontrolled access while maintaining operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service location verification where mobile devices automatically provide their location data and verify themselves against the geofence boundary. This self-verification mechanism reduces the burden on park operations while maintaining reliable access control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If exact location data is collected, then presence verification is accurate, but guest privacy is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation verification accuracyVSAvoidguest privacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary location information (binary inside/outside geofence) rather than collecting exact location data. The system takes out just the essential verification data needed for presence confirmation while leaving detailed location information private, thus maintaining both accuracy and privacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different data collection qualities to different purposes: exact location data is collected locally on the device for accurate verification, but only the essential verification result (verified/not verified) is transmitted to the server, maintaining privacy while ensuring accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250330773A1System and method for verifying presence at location

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC

AI summary

A network node includes processing circuitry and memory. The memory is accessible by the processing circuitry and stores instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform operations that include establishing a connection with a mobile device, transmitting, to the mobile device, a value, receiving, from the mobile device, a modified value generated by the mobile device in response to receiving the value, comparing the modified value to an expected value of the modified value, in response to the modified value matching the expected value of the modified value, generating a verification that the mobile device is within range of the network node, and transmitting the verification to a server.