Tracking System With User-Definable Private ID For Improved Privacy Protection
First Claim
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1. A method for providing tracking information with privacy protection, comprising:
- receiving in a tracking module a private identification (ID) defined by a user and storing the private ID in a memory of the tracking module;
in response to a trigger, the tracking module sending an instance of location tracking data to a location tracking server, the location tracking data including a representation of the private ID defined by the user; and
the tracking module sending each instance of tracking data with the private ID defined by the user and without a public ID identifying the user such that the identify of the user is unknown at the location tracking server until the user makes an initial service request providing the private ID and a public ID.
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Abstract
A location tracking service includes a location tracking server and individual tracking modules. An individual tracking module can be attached or embedded in a consumer product. Each tracking module is programmable by an end-user to include a private ID that is sent along with tracking data to the location tracking server. The end-user can define and edit the private ID in the tracking module independent of the location tracking service to improve privacy protection. The tracking data may include raw (unprocessed) location data to reduce processing requirements at the tracking module.
25 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for providing tracking information with privacy protection, comprising:
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receiving in a tracking module a private identification (ID) defined by a user and storing the private ID in a memory of the tracking module; in response to a trigger, the tracking module sending an instance of location tracking data to a location tracking server, the location tracking data including a representation of the private ID defined by the user; and the tracking module sending each instance of tracking data with the private ID defined by the user and without a public ID identifying the user such that the identify of the user is unknown at the location tracking server until the user makes an initial service request providing the private ID and a public ID. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of providing tracking information on-demand with improved privacy, comprising:
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at a location tracking server, storing instances of tracking data received from a multitude of tracking modules with each instance of tracking data including a representation of a private identification (ID) and location data sent from an individual tracking module; in response to an initial location tracking service request that includes a particular private ID, searching for stored tracking data based on the particular private ID and generating location information to fulfill the location tracking service request; and wherein each private ID is independently definable and editable by end-users in charge of respective tracking modules such that the identify of a user is unknown until the user makes an initial location tracking service request providing the private ID and a public ID. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus comprising:
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a tracking module operable to receive location signals and transmit an instance of tracking data to a location tracking server in response to a trigger; a memory coupled to the tracking module; and a user interface for a user to program a private identification (ID) into the memory independently of the location tracking server; and the tracking module sending each instance of tracking data with the private ID independently definable and editable by the user such that the identify of an end-user is unknown until the end-user makes an initial service request providing the private ID and a public ID. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A location tracking service with improved privacy protection, comprising:
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a location tracking server configured to receive and store instances of tracking data received from a multitude of tracking modules, each instance of tracking data including a representation of a private identification (ID) and location data with each private ID being independently definable and editable by end-users in charge of respective tracking modules; and the location tracking service not requiring end-users to register an association between a private ID and a public ID prior to requesting a location service such that the identify of an end-user is unknowable by virtue of only instances of the private ID being stored in a database of the location tracking server.
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Specification