Trusted Location Tracking via Secure Case Mediator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile device location data is prone to manipulation and attacks due to insecurity, making it unreliable for strategic decision-making, as devices can be hacked to alter sensor and communication data, and GPS spoofing is easily achievable with low-cost materials.
Innovation Solution
A secure local communication path is established between a personal communication device and a safe case, which independently gathers location data using sensors and communication devices, compares the data sets, and calculates a trust score to verify the location, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality through secure storage and communication channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mobile devices use GPS, WiFi, and sensor data for location determination, then location data can be collected and processed, but the location data becomes vulnerable to manipulation and attacks due to device insecurity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secure element (hardware security module, Trusted Platform Module, or dedicated secure processor) as an intermediary between the location data collection components and the applications. This secure element independently verifies location data by cross-checking multiple data sources (GPS, WiFi, cellular towers, sensor data) and only releases verified location information to authorized applications, thereby preventing manipulation while maintaining collection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the location determination system into separate functional components: data collection modules (GPS receiver, WiFi scanner, cellular modem, sensor fusion unit) and a secure verification module. This segmentation allows the secure element to independently process and verify location data without compromising the collection capabilities of individual components, resolving the contradiction between data collection productivity and data reliability
2Measurement precision
If mobile devices collect location data from multiple sources (GPS, WiFi, sensors), then location accuracy can be improved, but the security risk increases due to more entry points for manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The secure element acts as a mediator that receives location data from multiple sources (GPS, WiFi, cellular, sensors) and performs independent verification by cross-checking consistency across sources. It applies security algorithms to detect anomalies and manipulation attempts while maintaining the accuracy benefits of multi-source data fusion, thus reducing security vulnerabilities without sacrificing measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the verification parameter from simple data acceptance to multi-factor cross-validation. The secure element evaluates multiple parameters simultaneously (satellite signals, WiFi signal strength, cellular tower locations, sensor acceleration data) and only accepts location data that passes consistency checks across all parameters, thereby maintaining accuracy while reducing security risks
3Reliability
If a secure verification system is implemented to validate location data, then location data reliability can be improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secure element as a dedicated intermediary component that handles all verification logic. This modular approach encapsulates the complexity of multi-source data cross-validation, security algorithms, and anomaly detection within a dedicated hardware or software module, thereby improving location data reliability while containing device complexity within a well-defined boundary
Solution Approach 2:
The secure element creates a verified copy of location data that has been independently validated through cross-checking multiple sources. This verified copy is then provided to applications without exposing the complex verification process or original unverified data, thereby maintaining simplicity for applications while achieving high reliability through the secure verification mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with some embodiments, an apparatus that enables trusted location tracking includes a housing arranged to hold a user equipment, one or more devices, a local communication device, and a controller at least partially supported by the housing. The apparatus obtains, via the one or more devices, a first set of data characterizing a location of the user equipment. The apparatus further establishes, via the location communication device, a local communication channel with the user equipment. The apparatus also obtains through the local communication channel a second set of data characterizing the location of the user equipment. The apparatus also determines a trust score characterizing the second set of data based on the first set of data. The apparatus additionally triggers an alert in accordance with a determination that the trust score is below a threshold.