Wireless Probe Packet Control via Geofencing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The constant broadcasting of wireless probe packets by mobile devices reveals user habits and location information, posing security risks as attackers can use this data for malicious purposes, and traditional solutions that disable probe functionality diminish user experience by preventing seamless network connections.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that stores the geolocation of previously accessed wireless networks and only allows devices to send probe packets when within a predetermined distance of these networks, thereby preventing the broadcast of extraneous probe packets that reveal user habits and location information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless probe packets are constantly sent to determine available networks, then seamless network connection is achieved, but user location information and habits are exposed to attackers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseamless network connectionVSAvoiduser information exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores the geofenced areas where wireless networks are available before the user travels. When the user's device enters these pre-defined geofenced areas, probe packets are automatically sent only for networks within those areas, eliminating the need for constant probing and protecting user privacy while maintaining seamless connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of sending probe packets universally, the system applies location-specific quality control by restricting probe packet transmission to only those geographic areas (geofences) where specific wireless networks are known to be available. This localizes the probing action to relevant spatial contexts, reducing unnecessary information exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If wireless probe functionality is disabled entirely to protect security, then user information exposure is reduced, but seamless network connection capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser information exposureVSAvoidseamless network connection

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing geofenced areas and storing network location data before travel begins. This allows the device to reactively enable probe functionality only when and where needed, rather than constantly probing or being completely disabled, thus balancing security with connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The probe functionality transitions from a static disabled state to a dynamic, conditionally enabled state based on the user's location relative to pre-defined geofences. The system dynamically adjusts probe packet transmission based on real-time location data, enabling seamless connection only in relevant geographic contexts while maintaining security elsewhere.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If probe packets are sent to all previously accessed networks regardless of location, then network connectivity is maintained, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoiddevice resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates geofenced areas and stores network location information before travel, allowing the device to determine in advance which networks are worth probing for. This eliminates wasted energy on probing networks that are geographically impossible to reach, while ensuring connectivity to relevant networks is maintained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of probing all previously accessed networks universally, the system applies partial action by sending probe packets only for networks located within the user's current geofenced area. This reduces the number of probe packets sent significantly while maintaining connectivity to the subset of networks that are actually accessible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9918224B1Systems and methods for preventing computing devices from sending wireless probe packets

Publication Date: 2018.03.13 GEN DIGITAL INC

AI summary

The disclosed computer-implemented method for preventing computing devices from sending wireless probe packets may include (1) storing a geolocation of at least one wireless network that was previously accessed by the computing device, (2) determining a current geolocation of the computing device, (3) determining that the current geolocation of the computing device is not within a predetermined distance of the geolocation of any previously accessed wireless network, and (4) preventing the computing device from sending any wireless probe packets in response to determining that the current geolocation of the computing device is not within the predetermined distance of the geolocation of any previously accessed wireless access point. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.