Secure location collection and analysis service

A computer system for providing a secure location collection and analysis service, the system comprising:

• a processor and memory configured to execute software instructions embodied within the following components;
• a location data store that stores location data collected from multiple devices;
• a location detection component that operates at a user device to determine a present location of the device;
• a location reporting component that reports location information to a uniform interface callable by multiple applications and devices and provided by a centrally available service;
• a location aggregation component that aggregates location information reported by multiple users and multiple devices to provide summary location information, and determines if a threshold number of users has been exceeded;
• a location analysis component that provides one or more data analysis tools for detecting trends in aggregated location information, when data is available from a number of the multiple users that exceeds the threshold number of users;
• and
• a location access component that provides a uniform interface for accessing collected and aggregated location information and analysis.

A computer-readable storage device comprising instructions for controlling a computer system to aggregate and report location pattern information, wherein the instructions, upon execution, cause a processor to perform actions comprising:

• receiving multiple location data reports over a period of time, wherein the system receives the reports from multiple device types via uniform interface for reporting location data;
• aggregating the received location data and removing user identifying information from an aggregated copy of the data;
• identifying one or more patterns in the aggregated data when a number of users providing the data reports exceeds a threshold number of users;
• receiving a request to access location analysis information that includes the aggregated location data and identified patterns;
• and
• providing the requested location analysis information in response to the request.