Target Device Location Tracking with Partial Coordinate Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location tracking methods for lost electronic devices using wireless local area network (WLAN) signals face limitations, including user reluctance to share location information and potential misuse of tracking, and existing methods may expose personal information.
Innovation Solution
Electronic devices transmit only one of latitude or longitude information to a location tracking server, along with identification information, to enhance privacy and accuracy while minimizing data exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If both latitude and longitude information are transmitted to the tracking server, then location tracking accuracy is improved, but personal information exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides complete location information (latitude and longitude) into two separate segments. Only one segment (either latitude or longitude) is transmitted to the tracking server at a time, while the other segment remains with the electronic device. This segmentation reduces the amount of personal information exposed to the server while still enabling location tracking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary portion of location information (one coordinate out of two) for transmission to the tracking server. By taking out just half of the location data (either latitude or longitude), the system minimizes personal information exposure while maintaining sufficient tracking capability.
2Productivity
If adjacent terminal users are requested to provide location information for tracking, then tracking functionality is improved, but user privacy protection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Adjacent terminal users are requested to provide only segmented location information (one coordinate out of two) rather than complete location data. This segmentation approach enables the tracking functionality to work while significantly reducing the privacy exposure for users of adjacent terminals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial action by requesting only half of the location information (either latitude or longitude) from adjacent terminal users, rather than complete location data. This partial information provision is sufficient for tracking purposes while protecting user privacy.
Data Source
AI summary
According to certain embodiments, an electronic device comprises: a communication module configured to perform wireless communication, a location sensor, a processor, and a memory configured to store at least one instruction executable by the processor, wherein execution of the at least one instruction by the processor causes the processor to perform a plurality of operations comprising: receiving, from a tracking target device, a tracking request signal, the tracking request signal comprising identification information of a tracking target device via the communication module, obtaining location information of the electronic device via the location sensor, and transmitting, to a location tracking server, the identification information of the tracking target device and only one of latitude information and longitude information comprised in the location information via the communication module.