Anonymization of geographic route trace data
AssigneeMapbox, Inc.
InventorsMorgan Herlocker, Laurier Rochon, David Michael Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trace comprising location data about a computing device is received at a mapping server, where the trace stores the location data about the computing device in an ordered set of points. The origin and destination of the trace are obscured. Then, the trace is then separated into a set of subtraces by dividing the received points of location data into a set of subtraces, and removing the links between subtraces of the set of subtraces. For example, subtraces can be divided based on size, distance, elapsed time, or features of interest present in the location data.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- receiving, at a mapping server from a client device, a first trace comprising a set of location data, the location data comprising an origin point, a plurality of intermediate points, and a destination point in an ordered sequence, wherein the first trace comprises identifying information associated with the client device;
- and
- anonymizing the first trace by:
- selecting, at the mapping server, an origin section for the first trace, the origin section comprising the origin point and one or more intermediate points;
- removing the origin section from the first trace;
- selecting, at the mapping server, a destination section for the first trace, the destination section comprising the destination point and one or more intermediate points;
- removing the destination section from the first trace;
- and
- dividing, at the mapping server, the first trace into a plurality of subtraces, each subtrace comprising a plurality of consecutive intermediate points of the location data.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:
- receiving, at a mapping server from a client device, a first trace comprising a set of location data, the location data comprising an origin point, a plurality of intermediate points, and a destination point in an ordered sequence, wherein the first trace comprises identifying information associated with the client device;
- and
- anonymizing the first trace by:
- selecting, at the mapping server, an origin section for the first trace, the origin section comprising the origin point and one or more intermediate points;
- removing the origin section from the first trace;
- selecting, at the mapping server, a destination section for the first trace, the destination section comprising the destination point and one or more intermediate points;
- removing the destination section from the first trace;
- and
- dividing, at the mapping server, the first trace into a plurality of subtraces, each subtrace comprising a plurality of consecutive intermediate points of the location data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.