UWB Privacy Settings Using Error Injection for Location Blurring

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Solution Overview

Problem

The precision of ultra-wideband (UWB) distance and angle measurements in electronic devices exposes user privacy by allowing others to determine precise location information, compromising safety.

Innovation Solution

A privacy setting method and apparatus that allows users to set a coverage range, measurement error values, and enable/disable UWB functions to control detection and measurement precision, blurring location information to protect privacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If UWB module is used for distance measurement, then positioning precision is improved, but user privacy is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidprivacy leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by providing only a portion of the precise location information. Instead of completely disabling UWB measurement, the system intentionally introduces measurement errors that prevent accurate positioning while maintaining the functional appearance of location services. This resolves the contradiction by delivering enough precision for social app functionality while withholding the exact location data that would compromise privacy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of precise measurement into a beneficial privacy protection mechanism. By deliberately adding measurement errors to the UWB distance and angle data, the system transforms the high-precision capability (which causes privacy leakage) into a tool for privacy protection. The measurement errors act as a protective layer that maintains app functionality while preventing accurate location tracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If measurement error values are added to UWB detection data, then privacy protection is improved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent directly applies parameter changes by modifying the measurement data parameters (distance and angle values) through intentional error injection. The system changes the numerical parameters of UWB detection results by adding controlled errors, which transforms accurate positioning data into privacy-protected data. This parameter modification resolves the contradiction by altering the measurement outputs to protect privacy while maintaining sufficient functionality for social applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4293558B1Privacy setting method and apparatus for UWB detection, and electronic device
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP4293558B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2A
  • EP4293558B1 patent drawingFigure 2B
  • EP4293558B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application discloses a privacy setting method and apparatus for UWB detection, and an electronic device. The method includes: in a case that a first interface is displayed, receiving a first input by a user, where the first interface includes at least one device identifier and at least one control, each device identifier is used to indicate a device that is detected by using a UWB function, each control corresponds to a privacy setting when the electronic device is detected by another device by using the UWB function, and the first input is an input by the user for a target control in the at least one control; and in response to the first input, enabling a privacy setting corresponding to the target control.