Crowdsourcing Privacy Control via Server-Mediated Access Permissions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices face challenges in reliably estimating their location indoors due to the unavailability of satellite signals and cellular base station signals, and there is a need for controlling privacy in crowdsourcing data collection from wireless access points and femtocells, with unclear privacy requirements for these devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that enable control of privacy for crowdsourcing by a server determining the level of observation permitted for specific wireless access points and femtocells, allowing mobile devices to query and receive permissions, thereby ensuring compliance with privacy requirements and reducing the need for preconfigured information in devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mobile devices crowdsource measurements and information from wireless access points and femtocells for position estimation, then position estimation accuracy is improved, but privacy requirements may be violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between mobile devices and wireless access points/femtocells. The server receives crowdsourced measurements from mobile devices, determines privacy requirements for each source, and controls which measurements are permitted. This mediator architecture allows position estimation to proceed while privacy is protected through centralized control and verification.
2Reliability
If mobile devices preconfigure privacy information for all wireless access points and femtocells, then privacy compliance is ensured, but device complexity and memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the server determine and store privacy requirements for wireless access points and femtocells in advance. When a mobile device needs to crowdsource from a source, it queries the server which has already performed the privacy assessment. This shifts the preliminary privacy compliance work from individual devices to a centralized server, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If mobile devices implement diverse privacy procedures for different sources, then privacy requirements are met, but the burden on devices to manage multiple procedures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a single server-based system that handles all privacy determination operations for different wireless access points and femtocells. Instead of each mobile device implementing diverse privacy procedures, the server provides a universal privacy control mechanism that works across all sources, simplifying operation while maintaining compliance.
4Reliability
If privacy requirements change for wireless access points and femtocells, then updated privacy protection is achieved, but mobile devices must be updated to reflect changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making privacy requirements changeable on the server side without requiring mobile device updates. When privacy requirements for wireless access points or femtocells change, the server updates its stored requirements and mobile devices automatically receive updated information through queries. This allows the system to adapt to changing privacy requirements dynamically while keeping mobile devices relatively static.
Data Source
AI summary
Example methods, apparatuses, or articles of manufacture are disclosed herein that may be utilized, in whole or in part, to facilitate or support one or more operations or techniques for enabling control of privacy for crowdsourcing, such as for use in or with a mobile communication device within an indoor or like environment. In certain embodiments, control of privacy may be enabled by designating by a server certain sources of crowdsourcing such as WiFi or Bluetooth® APs as being tentative. A mobile device that encounters a source designated as tentative may query a server for information concerning permitted and/or not permitted types of crowdsourcing for the source. The server may return an indication of the permitted level of crowdsourcing for the source which the mobile device may then use to perform, or refrain from performing, crowdsourcing.