Secure Personal Map Layer with Privacy Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mapping services lack the ability to provide a personal context for mapped items, failing to differentiate between personal relationships and public information, leading to inefficiencies in user interactions and privacy concerns.
Innovation Solution
A secure personal map layer system that determines geographic locations and associates them with user relationships and privacy levels, allowing for secure sharing of personal context information based on user-defined descriptions and privacy settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If mapping services store and display all location information publicly, then information completeness is improved, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments location information into multiple layers: public map data and personal context layers. Each layer can be independently controlled for visibility and sharing. Users can selectively share specific personal locations (e.g., office, home, child's school) with different privacy levels, while keeping other locations private. This segmentation allows the system to maintain information completeness for mapping purposes while protecting user privacy by separating public and personal information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different privacy qualities to different locations based on their personal significance to the user. Each geographic location is associated with a specific privacy level and sharing configuration. For example, a user's office location might be shareable with colleagues, while a child's school location might be restricted to immediate family only. This local quality approach allows tailored privacy control for each location rather than applying a blanket privacy policy to all data.
2Productivity
If mapping services add personal context information to locations, then user interaction efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested data structure where personal context information is embedded within the existing map data framework. The personal map layer contains context data (descriptions, relationships, privacy levels) that is nested within or associated with geographic location records. This nested structure allows the system to leverage existing map infrastructure while adding personalization capabilities, avoiding the need for entirely separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal personal map layer framework that can handle multiple types of personal contexts (office, home, child's school, parent's workplace) through a single unified system. The same data structures and privacy control mechanisms apply across all location types, making the system scalable and maintainable. The personal context layer works with standard mapping services, allowing the system to serve multiple functions without requiring separate specialized systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mapping services allow selective sharing of personal locations, then privacy control is improved, but data management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic privacy controls where sharing configurations can be adjusted in real-time based on user preferences and context. Users can modify which locations are shared, with whom, and under what conditions at any time. The system dynamically evaluates sharing requests against stored privacy rules and user relationships. This dynamic approach allows flexible adaptation to changing privacy needs without requiring complex manual configuration for each scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables users to self-manage their personal map layer data through intuitive interfaces. Users can independently add, remove, or modify personal location entries, adjust privacy levels, and control sharing permissions without requiring administrator intervention or complex configuration procedures. The system provides automated privacy enforcement based on user-defined rules, reducing the burden of data management while maintaining fine-grained control.
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques to provide a secure, shared personal map layer include determining a geographic location. The geographic location is associated with operation of a device. The techniques also include determining indication that describes a relationship between the geographic location and a first user of the device. The techniques also include determining a privacy level for the indication. Then, the first user of the device is associated with the indication and the geographic location and the privacy level. In some embodiments, the techniques also include determining a personal description vocabulary word based, at least in part, on the geographic location and a context for the device. Then it is determined to present on the device a prompt that includes the personal description vocabulary word.