Terminal Position Determination Using UUID-MAC Association
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing position estimation techniques risk user privacy violations by transmitting MAC addresses, allowing unauthorized access to user information.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system that associates MAC addresses with universally unique identifiers (UUIDs) and IP addresses, storing these in association, and using UUIDs for position estimation requests to prevent direct MAC address transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If MAC address is transmitted for position estimation, then position estimation can be performed, but user privacy is violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary identifier (such as a temporary ID or anonymized identifier) that mediates between the position estimation system and the user's MAC address. This intermediary allows the position estimation device to identify and estimate the position of the terminal without directly exposing the MAC address to surrounding devices or networks, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving position estimation and protecting user privacy.
2Measurement precision
If MAC address is transmitted to surrounding base stations, then position estimation can be performed, but information security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of MAC address identification and separates it from the actual MAC address data. By using an intermediary identifier that carries the same identification function without containing the actual MAC address, the system achieves position estimation while removing the security risk associated with transmitting sensitive MAC address information to surrounding base stations.
3Measurement precision
If position estimation request includes MAC address, then position can be determined, but unauthorized information access occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy or representation of the MAC address in the form of an intermediary identifier that can be used for position estimation purposes. This copy contains sufficient information for position determination but lacks the sensitive characteristics of the original MAC address, thereby preventing unauthorized information acquisition while maintaining position determination accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
[Object] To provide a technique which is capable of reducing the possibility that information related to the user of a target terminal may be acquired by others. [Solution] There is provided an information processing apparatus including an identification information acquisition unit configured to acquire predetermined identification information associated with an IP address of a target terminal, from the target terminal, a data acquisition unit configured to acquire a MAC address of the target terminal associated with the IP address of the target terminal, from a control apparatus for a base station to which the target terminal is connected, a storage control unit configured to store the predetermined identification information and the MAC address of the target terminal in association with each other, and a position information provision unit configured to, when acquiring a position estimation request including the predetermined identification information from the target terminal, provide position information of the target terminal corresponding to the MAC address of the target terminal associated with the predetermined identification information, to the target terminal.