Secure Mobile Device Location via Verified Signatures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices pose security concerns due to the risk of loss or theft, as they often store sensitive information and large amounts of content, and existing solutions do not effectively allow users to securely locate or manage their devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that securely locates a mobile device by receiving and verifying identification information, providing the device's geographic location to the user, and optionally erasing data if the device is outside a specified region, using a Domain Name System message or digitally signed text messages for authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If geographic location information is transmitted without verification, then location tracking is simple and fast, but security is compromised and location data cannot be trusted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a verification server as an intermediary between the mobile device and the location requestor. This server receives location information from the device, verifies it using cryptographic signatures, and then provides the verified location to authorized users. This mediator approach maintains security while keeping the overall system manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification of location information before making it available to users. The verification server authenticates location data using digital signatures or other verification mechanisms before storing and distributing the location information, ensuring security is established in advance rather than added later.
2Reliability
If data is erased when device is lost, then security is improved by preventing unauthorized access, but loss of information occurs for legitimate users who need to locate their device
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification to determine device status before erasing data. By verifying location information and comparing it against authorized regions, the system can distinguish between legitimately lost devices and stolen devices, erasing data only when appropriate while preserving it when the user needs to locate their device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from verified location information to make intelligent decisions about data erasure. Location data serves as feedback that helps determine whether a device is truly lost or merely misplaced, allowing the system to adjust its response accordingly rather than automatically erasing data in all cases.
3Reliability
If location verification using digital signatures is implemented, then authentication reliability is improved, but processing time and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The verification server performs cryptographic verification only when necessary - that is, when receiving location information from devices or processing location requests. Not all location operations require full cryptographic verification, allowing the system to balance security with efficiency by applying verification selectively rather than universally.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer-readable medium for securely locating a mobile device. In one implementation, a method is provided. The method includes receiving first information from a first device, where the first information is usable to identify a geographic location of the first device. The first information is verified as originating from the first device. A first request for the geographic location of the first device is received, where the first request includes second information associated with a user associated with the first device. The geographic location of the first device is provided to the user at a second device.