Privacy Preservation Platform for Mobile Location Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile computing devices allow untrusted location-based applications to indiscriminately request and transmit latitude/longitude coordinates, compromising user privacy and wasting energy through unnecessary location data transmission.

Innovation Solution

A computing platform with an operating system that exposes an application programming interface (API) allowing location-based applications to register triggers with location constraints, enabling the platform to request and manage location data, ensuring only necessary location information is shared and reducing energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If untrusted applications are allowed to directly access location sensors via exposed API, then applications can obtain location information freely, but user privacy is compromised and energy is wasted through unnecessary data transmission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication access to location dataVSAvoidprivacy compromise and energy waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a trusted intermediary component (location service daemon) that sits between the location sensor and applications. This intermediary receives location requests from applications, validates them against user-defined policies, and only grants access when appropriate. The intermediary acts as a mediator that preserves both application functionality and user privacy/energy by filtering and controlling data flow based on contextual rules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts location data access based on real-time conditions. Instead of static permission grants, the patent implements dynamic policy evaluation that considers current location, application behavior, user preferences, and contextual factors. The intermediary continuously evaluates whether to grant or deny location access based on changing conditions, making the system adaptive rather than rigid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If applications indiscriminately request location data from sensors, then applications can function without restrictions, but energy consumption increases significantly reducing device usage time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication functionalityVSAvoiddevice energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial action by having the intermediary evaluate and selectively grant location access only when necessary for specific applications or under specific conditions. Instead of allowing all applications unlimited access (excessive action), the system provides just enough location data access to fulfill specific application needs while denying access when not required, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining necessary functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the intermediary monitors application location usage patterns, evaluates policy compliance, and adjusts access decisions based on observed behavior. The intermediary receives feedback from applications about their location needs and provides feedback to users about location access decisions, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes energy usage while maintaining application functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a trusted platform mediates location data access by evaluating triggers and policies, then user privacy is preserved and energy is conserved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protection and energy conservationVSAvoidplatform architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the location data access control system into distinct modular components: a location service daemon (intermediary), policy evaluation modules, trigger monitoring components, and application interface layers. Each component has a specific responsibility, making the overall complex system manageable through functional segmentation. The intermediary is further divided into sub-components for policy evaluation, trigger matching, and access decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The trusted platform intermediary serves as a mediating layer that simplifies the interface between applications and the location sensor while handling the complexity of policy evaluation internally. Applications interact with the simplified intermediary interface rather than directly with the complex policy engine, hiding the complexity from applications while maintaining strong privacy and energy conservation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11425525B2Privacy preservation platform

Publication Date: 2022.08.23 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A platform that facilities preservation of user privacy with respect to location-based applications executing on mobile computing devices is described. The platform registers triggers that are set forth by location-based applications, where a trigger specifies one or more rules and includes a location constraint. The platform causes a sensor on the mobile computing device to output location data, and the platform determines if the trigger has been satisfied by comparing the location constraint with the location data. If the trigger is satisfied, the platform transmits a callback to the application. Accordingly, the application does not receive location data from the sensor.