Position privacy in an electronic device

• US 20020070890A1
• Filed: 09/25/2001
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NorthStar Systems LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,700,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/01 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0054 of actual mobile position, i.e. position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/65 using deceptive jamming or spoofing, e.g. transmission of false signals for premature triggering of RCIED, for forced connection or disconnection to/from a network or for generation of dummy target signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/68 using passive jamming, e.g. by shielding or reflection shielding of apparatus or components against electric or magnetic field H05K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/90 related to allowing or preventing navigation or positioning, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking

Abstract

A privacy enhancement device for electronic device such as a cellular telephone. The privacy enhancement device may include a jammer which may produces false information, e.g. false information indicative of pseudo ranges. In addition, the navigation information used on the position detecting device may be locally stored versions of dynamically changing information. The navigation operation may be carried out using a Web service.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a portable computer having a processor,

a location detection part and a communication part,

said portable computer acquiring at least a plurality of items of information representing a current location from said location detection part, and

said communication part communicating said plurality of items of information to a remote server, and

obtaining current position information from said remote server based on said plurality of items of information.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said processor controls assembling said plurality of items of information into a form having a specified format, and sending said form to said remote server.

3. A system as in claim 2, wherein said form is in an XML format.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein said detection part detects an indication of whether current information is being received from a satellite positioning as at least one of said items of information.

5. A system as in claim 4, wherein said detection part detects a time since said current information has been acquired as at least one of said items of information.

6. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a position blocking part, forming false information to be sent to said remote server.

7. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a position blocking part, preventing said information from being sent to said remote server.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein said portable computer includes a memory, storing navigation information therein associated with said position information, and wherein said remote server sends at least part of said navigation information to said portable computer based on a determination of a current position of said portable computer.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said items of information is information from a local transponder.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein said detection part detects visual information that is detected in an area of said portable computer as at least one of said items of information.

11. A system as in claim 1, wherein said detection part detects sounds being detected in an area of said portable computer as at least one of said items of information.

12. A system as in claim 1, wherein said portable computer includes a cellular telephone.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein said detection part detects information about at least one base station which is communicating with said cellular telephone as at least one of said items of information.

14. A system as in claim 1, further comprising an element which prevents said portable computer from sending said information to said remote server.

15. A system as in claim 14, wherein said element includes a jammer.

16. An system as in claim 15, wherein said jammer is an element which produces fake pseudoranges.

17. An system as in claim 15, wherein said jammer is an element that specifies information which indicates a false fixed location.

18. An element as in claim 15, wherein said jammer is an element that specifies information which indicates a false moving location.

19. A system as in claim 18, wherein said false moving location is a path moving along a specified area.

20. A system as in claim 9, wherein said local transponder is a device which produces fake information that simulates information that would be received from a satellite positioning system.

21. A apparatus, comprising:

a sensor, which senses information indicative of a current location;

a transceiver, which transmits said information indicative of the current location, and

receives dynamically changing positioning information based on said information indicative of a current location; and

a processor, which processes said information indicative of the current location based on said dynamically changing positioning information.

22. An apparatus as in claim 21, wherein said transceiver is a wireless transceiver that is also used for carrying out communication.

23. An apparatus as in claim 22, wherein said positioning information includes map information.

24. An apparatus as in claim 22, wherein said information indicative of a current location includes satellite positioning system information.

25. An apparatus as in claim 24, wherein said information indicative of a current location further includes environmental clues.

26. An apparatus as in claim 25, wherein said environmental clues include information on the signature of noise which is being received.

27. An apparatus as in claim 25, wherein said environmental clues include information about which of a plurality of cellular telephone sites are being communicated with.

28. An apparatus as in claim 25, wherein said environmental clues include local sounds.

29. An apparatus as in claim 25, wherein said environmental clues include local visual elements.

30. An apparatus as in claim 22, further comprising a privacy enhancement element, which prevents said transceiver from transmitting said information indicative of current location.

31. An apparatus as in claim 22, wherein said information indicative of a current location is sent as an XML form.

32. An apparatus comprising:

a computer, producing a map of an area, with sections of the map being graphically selectable according to a graphical user interface, to select a desired area on said map; and

a processing device, operating according to the graphically selectable map portion, to produce a signal to be sent to a remote server to indicate the map portion to the remote server.

33. An apparatus as in claim 32, wherein said remote server is a server running a Web service.

34. An apparatus as in claim 33, wherein said Web service is one which returns navigation information based on information that is sent thereto.

35. An apparatus as in claim 32, wherein said processing device forms XML information to be sent to said remote server.

37. An apparatus as in claim 36, further comprising a navigation part, operating to allow said apparatus to navigate position based on said information obtained by said position location device.

38. An apparatus as in claim 37, wherein said navigation part allows automatic navigation to said information into said memory, stored by actuating said current location storing element.

39. An apparatus as in claim 38, wherein said navigation part is operative to store a current location responsive to a first actuation of said current location storing element, and is operative to navigate to said current location responsive to a second actuation of said current location storing element.

36. An apparatus, comprising:

a position location device which obtains information indicative of a current location;

a memory, which stores location information; and

a current location storing element, which is selectively actuated to store current location information into said memory.