Service Layer Location Management and Privacy Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current M2M systems lack effective location management and privacy control mechanisms, limiting their ability to securely manage and share location information among devices, which is crucial for enabling device-independent services and applications.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a service layer that allows devices to report their location and set privacy policies based on distance or relationships, enabling secure sharing of location information and facilitating service requests and advertisements among proximate devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If devices share location information freely in M2M systems, then service capabilities and device connectivity are improved, but privacy security and information protection deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice capabilitiesVSAvoidprivacy security
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The service layer acts as an intermediary between devices, managing location information centrally. Devices report location to the service layer, which then controls distribution to other devices based on privacy policies. This mediator approach enables service capabilities while protecting privacy, as the service layer enforces access control rules between communicating devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Privacy policies are applied locally to each device's location information, allowing different privacy settings for different devices or device groups. The service layer stores and enforces device-specific privacy policies, enabling fine-grained control over who can access which device's location data, thus balancing service versatility with individual privacy protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If location information is managed without centralized control, then device autonomy is improved, but location management effectiveness and privacy control deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice autonomyVSAvoidlocation management effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments location management functions between devices and the service layer. Devices autonomously report their own location and set their own privacy policies, maintaining device autonomy. The service layer segments the responsibility of storing, managing, and controlling distribution of location information, ensuring reliable centralized management and privacy control without requiring devices to directly manage each other's location data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If privacy policies are strictly enforced, then information security is improved, but service availability and device connectivity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation securityVSAvoidservice availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Privacy policies are dynamically applied based on device relationships, location contexts, and service requirements. The service layer evaluates privacy policies in real-time when processing service requests, allowing location information to be shared when policies permit and restricting access when policies require. This dynamic approach maintains information security while enabling service availability when appropriate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3025482B1Service layer device location management and privacy control
Publication Date: 2020.05.13 CONVIDA WIRELESS LLC
  • EP3025482B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3025482B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3025482B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A machine to machine (M2M) service layer can facilitate acquiring and providing location information for use by M2M devices. The service layer can also ensure that privacy controls are maintained and enforced for location information. A device can report its location and its privacy preferences to a service layer device. Other devices can receive this location information subject to qualifying to receive it based on the privacy preferences. Devices in an area may advertise services with the service layer acting as a filter and relay point ensuring that such advertisements satisfy the privacy policies of the devices involved.