Secure Indoor Navigation via NFC Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current location services often lack indoor positioning data due to security concerns, limiting the availability of location assistance within secure areas like buildings.
Innovation Solution
The use of near field communication (NFC) modules in mobile devices to communicate with door access control points, authorizing the download and execution of a local secure navigation module, and receiving location assistance data based on authentication levels to provide secure and detailed location services within secure locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If location assistance data is made available in secure areas, then indoor positioning capability is improved, but security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements location assistance data with varying levels of detail based on authentication levels. Different users receive different granularities of location information corresponding to their security clearances, allowing the system to provide useful positioning data while restricting access to sensitive areas through controlled information quality rather than complete data denial
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an authentication level mechanism as an intermediary between the secure location data and the user. This mediator controls what location information is delivered based on verified credentials, enabling the system to balance positioning utility with security requirements by filtering and tailoring data delivery according to authentication status
2Measurement precision
If detailed location assistance data is provided to all users, then positioning accuracy is improved, but data security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent varies the quality and detail of location assistance data based on the user's authentication level. High-authentication users receive detailed, high-precision location data for accurate positioning, while lower-authentication users receive less detailed data with reduced precision, thereby maintaining data security while still providing functional positioning capabilities to all authorized users
3Speed
If location data is stored on mobile devices, then positioning speed is improved, but data protection worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent downloads location assistance data to the mobile device in advance before positioning is needed, enabling fast real-time positioning without continuous network dependency. This preliminary data loading speeds up positioning operations while the data is restricted to authorized users through authentication mechanisms, balancing speed requirements with security constraints
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices are described for providing localized secure navigation in conjunction with near field communication access control systems. In one potential embodiment, a mobile device such as a cell phone may communicate with a door access control point using near field communication to receive location access system information. The mobile device may then authorize download and execution of a local secure navigation module from a location access system using the location access system information for use in receiving location assistance data, based on an authentication level associated with the mobile device. Such location assistance data may be used by the local secure navigation module to provide location assistance when the mobile device is in a secure location. The location of the mobile device may then be tracked using at least the location assistance data and the communication with the door access control point.