Tracking entities by means of hash values
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method, performed in a first sensor device, for tracking a movable entity, wherein the movable entity is a physical entity within a physical space, the method comprising:
- a) synchronizing, with one or more other sensor devices, a first data value corresponding to a first time slot associated with a current time, the first time slot being one of a series of time slots shared by all the sensor devices;
b) generating a set of data based on sensing of one or more attributes of the movable entity, wherein the set of data is uniquely identifiable data that uniquely identifies the movable entity;
c) calculating identifying data from the generated set of data for identifying the movable entity based on the identifying data, wherein the identifying data is a reduced size set of data relative to the generated set of data and is directed to identifying characteristics of the movable entity within the generated set of data;
d) calculating derivative identifying data by applying a modifying function on the identifying data, the modifying function using the identifying data as first input value and using the first data value as a second input value for modifying the identifying data based on the first data value, wherein the derivative identifying data is anonymized data which does not uniquely identify the movable entity;
e) calculating a first hash value at least by applying a hash function to the derivative identifying data; and
f) sending a message from the first sensor device to a central server for determining the position of the movable entity, the message comprising the hash value and an identifier of the first sensor device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Mechanisms for tracking an entity are provided. A time is determined by a sensor having a clock, the time being within a time slot in a series of time slots. First data of the time slot is provided and shared between a plurality of sensors. The sensor receives data from the movable entity. The sensor calculates identifying data from the received data for identifying the entity. Derivative identifying data is calculated by applying a modifying function using the provided first data for modifying the identifying data. The sensor calculates a hash value by taking the derivative identifying data as input. The sensor sends a message to a central server for determining the position of the entity, the message comprising the hash value and an identifier of the sensor.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method, performed in a first sensor device, for tracking a movable entity, wherein the movable entity is a physical entity within a physical space, the method comprising:
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a) synchronizing, with one or more other sensor devices, a first data value corresponding to a first time slot associated with a current time, the first time slot being one of a series of time slots shared by all the sensor devices; b) generating a set of data based on sensing of one or more attributes of the movable entity, wherein the set of data is uniquely identifiable data that uniquely identifies the movable entity; c) calculating identifying data from the generated set of data for identifying the movable entity based on the identifying data, wherein the identifying data is a reduced size set of data relative to the generated set of data and is directed to identifying characteristics of the movable entity within the generated set of data; d) calculating derivative identifying data by applying a modifying function on the identifying data, the modifying function using the identifying data as first input value and using the first data value as a second input value for modifying the identifying data based on the first data value, wherein the derivative identifying data is anonymized data which does not uniquely identify the movable entity; e) calculating a first hash value at least by applying a hash function to the derivative identifying data; and f) sending a message from the first sensor device to a central server for determining the position of the movable entity, the message comprising the hash value and an identifier of the first sensor device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A sensor device for tracking at least one movable entity, the sensor device comprising:
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a clock for determining a current time, the current time lying within a first time slot, the first time slot being one of a series of time slots, the clock being adapted for synchronizing the clock with clocks of one or more other sensor devices; a controller module being adapted for; synchronizing, with one or more other sensor devices, a first data value corresponding to the first time slot; a first interface being adapted for generating a set of data based on sensing one or more attributes of the movable entity, wherein the set of data is uniquely identifiable data that uniquely identifies the movable entity; a calculation unit, the calculation unit being adapted for; calculating identifying data from the generated set of data for identifying the movable entity based on the identifying data, wherein the identifying data is a reduced size set of data relative to the generated set of data and is directed to identifying characteristics of the movable entity within the generated set of data; calculating derivative identifying data by applying a modifying function on the identifying data, the modifying function using the identifying data as first input value and using the first data value as a second input value for modifying the identifying data based on the first data value, wherein the derivative identifying data is anonymized data which does not uniquely identify the movable entity; and calculating a first hash value at least by applying a hash function to the derivative identifying data; and a second interface being adapted for sending a message from the first sensor device to a central server for indicating the position of the movable entity, the message comprising the hash value and an identifier of the first sensor device.
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13. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer readable program stored therein, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to:
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a) determine synchronizing, with one or more other sensor devices, a first data value corresponding to a first time slot associated with a current time, the first time slot being one of a series of time slots shared by all the sensor devices; b) generate a set of data based on sensing of one or more attributes of the movable entity, wherein the set of data is uniquely identifiable data that uniquely identifies the movable entity; c) calculate identifying data from the generated set of data for identifying the movable entity based on the identifying data, wherein the identifying data is a reduced size set of data relative to the generated set of data and is directed to identifying characteristics of the movable entity within the generated set of data; d) calculate derivative identifying data by applying a modifying function on the identifying data, the modifying function using the identifying data as first input value and using the first data value as a second input value for modifying the identifying data based on the first data value, wherein the derivative identifying data is anonymized data which does not uniquely identify the movable entity; e) calculate a first hash value at least by applying a hash function to the derivative identifying data; and f) send a message from the first sensor device to a central server for determining the position of the movable entity, the message comprising the hash value and an identifier of the first sensor device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer system comprising:
- a centralized server;
a plurality of sensors coupled to the centralized server by one or more data networks, wherein at least one sensor in the plurality of sensors operates to; synchronize, with one or more other sensor devices, a first data value corresponding to a first time slot associated with a current time, the first time slot being one of a series of time slots shared by all the sensor devices; generate a set of data based on sensing of one or more attributes of the movable entity, wherein the set of data is uniquely identifiable data that uniquely identifies the movable entity; calculate identifying data from the generated set of data for identifying the movable entity based on the identifying data, wherein the identifying data is a reduced size set of data relative to the generated set of data and is directed to identifying characteristics of the movable entity within the generated set of data; calculate derivative identifying data by applying a modifying function on the identifying data, the modifying function using the identifying data as first input value and using the first data value as a second input value for modifying the identifying data based on the first data value, wherein the derivative identifying data is anonymized data which does not uniquely identify the movable entity; calculate a first hash value at least by applying a hash function to the derivative identifying data; and send a message from the first sensor device to a central server for determining the position of the movable entity, the message comprising the hash value and an identifier of the first sensor device. - View Dependent Claims (21)
- a centralized server;
Specification