Pathogen Distribution Map Granularity Control for Privacy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for reporting virus propagation information, such as those for influenza, do not provide timely infection prevention insights as they rely on symptoms development, and existing solutions fail to protect the privacy of virus sensor managers by revealing sensitive location information.
Innovation Solution
A pathogen distribution information provision system with air-detecting sensors, a communication network, storage, and a controller that associates detection information with positional data, allowing for granular display adjustment and privacy protection by inhibiting small-area superimposition of pathogen information on maps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pathogen detection information is collected and displayed with fine granularity, then infection prevention information becomes more accurate and useful, but privacy of sensor managers is compromised due to location revelation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating display granularity based on location characteristics. Pathogen information is displayed with fine granularity in areas where privacy is less sensitive, while coarse granularity is applied in areas where privacy protection is prioritized. This allows the system to maintain useful infection prevention information while protecting manager privacy in specific locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts display granularity based on multiple factors including location type, user preferences, and sensitivity settings. The granularity level is not fixed but changes according to contextual conditions, allowing optimal balance between information usefulness and privacy protection in different scenarios.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If pathogen information is displayed with coarse granularity, then privacy is protected, but infection prevention information becomes less useful and accurate
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the map receive different granularity treatments based on their characteristics. High-granularity display is applied where it provides maximum public health benefit without excessive privacy risk, while low-granularity display is applied where privacy concerns dominate. This spatially differentiated approach resolves the contradiction locally rather than uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The display area is segmented into multiple zones with different granularity levels. Each zone is independently configured based on its specific context, allowing the system to provide fine-grained pathogen information in some areas while maintaining coarse-grained display in others, thus balancing accuracy and privacy across the entire system.
3Speed
If pathogen detection is performed continuously, then real-time infection prevention information is available, but energy consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic pathogen detection and information updating rather than truly continuous operation. Detection and data transmission occur at predetermined intervals, which provides timely infection prevention information while significantly reducing energy consumption and system complexity compared to continuous real-time monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial continuous monitoring by focusing computational and communication resources on periods when pathogen presence is detected or when conditions warrant updated information. Rather than uniformly high-frequency updates, the system applies monitoring intensity proportional to actual need, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
An infection risk map provision system includes virus sensors for detecting viruses in the air, the virus sensors being provided at different positions, a communication unit that collects detection information obtained by the virus sensors, and a control unit that provides, on the basis of the detection information, an infection risk map representing the distribution of infection risk information. The control unit sets display granularity for the infection risk information on the infection risk map displayed on an information terminal on the basis of granularity information corresponding to the virus sensors and creates the infection risk map by superimposing the infection risk information upon a map on the basis of the set display granularity and positional information.