Virtual Walls for Location-Based Content Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tools lack effective methods for obtaining and utilizing real-time geographic information from mobile devices, failing to seamlessly link user-transmitted data with geographical locations in a manner beneficial to users.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for creating configurable groups of virtual walls associated with real physical locations, allowing users to view and upload content on mobile devices when proximate to these locations, with proximity-based privileges and constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users can upload content from any location, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of location-specific information deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements different access permissions for different virtual walls based on user location. Users can view all virtual walls from any location, but can only upload content to virtual walls associated with their current physical location. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational ease for viewing while ensuring reliability for location-specific content upload.
2Reliability
If proximity detection is implemented for content upload, then reliability of location-based information is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a server as an intermediary that handles the complex proximity detection logic. The mobile device simply communicates with the server, which performs the location verification against the database of physical locations and virtual walls. This mediator approach improves reliability through accurate proximity detection while minimizing device complexity by offloading the computational burden to the server.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple virtual walls are created for different physical locations, then adaptability of the system is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a universal database structure on the server that can accommodate multiple virtual walls and their associated physical locations. This centralized multi-functional database handles all location data, user permissions, and content associations in a unified manner. The approach improves adaptability by supporting multiple locations and entities while reducing device complexity by consolidating data management on the server rather than distributing it across multiple devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A group of common users each with a mobile device are provided access to information displayed on a group of virtual walls. Each wall corresponds to a different real world location or venue owned or associated with a common entity. The mobile devices are used for viewing information and, when in the vicinity of the real world locations, publishing location-based user content to the corresponding walls. Groups of virtual walls may be created from a set of configurable templates, each template representing a different business vertical.