Introduction

 

 

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Purpose of Study -- Configurable Dynamic Privacy for Pervasive Sensor Networks:
    This goal of this research is to study the privacy issue within a ubiquitous computing system through   providing a user centric control of their personal privacy setting in a sensor rich environment. There are two   sets of different functionality in a sensor system -- broadcasting information for interaction and recording   sensor data for story narrative. We will conduct different sets of experiments base on the fundamental   differences of those two functionalities and analyze the privacy issue for future references in the design and   deployment of pervasive sensor networks.

System Overview
     The System consists of two major components. The first component is the sensor network composed of 45   "Ubiquitous Sensor Portals" distributed throughout the realworld Media Lab. Each portal, mounted on pan/tilt   platform, has an array of sensors, as well as audio and video capabilities.

     

      The second part of the system will be a wearable badge -- the configurable privacy badge. The badge is  built to study the privacy concern and control for users in a pervasive sensor network. The badge can talk to  the Ubiquitous Sensor Portals through IRDA, one of the infrared protocol and Zigbee radio, a low-cost, low-  power, wireless mesh networking standard. Through sending a unique ID, the badge can be used for tagging  sensor data in order to claim ownership for further editing. Also, it can send out an opting in or opting out  signal to control the ubiquitous awareness portals. With this device, users can have on-site control of their  privacy and the immediate feedback of the privacy levels in different scenarios.

     

 

  Profile Editing --Customize the sensors around you
      In our web interface, a badge user is able to edit the privacy preferences on a location basis. After signing   up with a valid badge ID, users can login to the server and edit different sensor settings from the "Edit Profile"   page. The preferences are then set up through selecting the floor and each node. Those privacy settings will be   stored in the server along with the corresponding badge ID. The privacy badges are designed to broadcast its   badge ID constantly when they are powered on. Once a badge ID packet is received by the sensor network, it   compares the privacy settings to the badge ID and changes its data transmission dynamically according to the   users' settings.

  Profile Group Permission --Customize how you appear to who is looking
      One of the most important things for users' privacy protection in a ubiquitous computing sensor network is having the control of post processing our personal information flow. While our system which has the ability to collect video, audio and images displaying those information recorded for each user indivisually, it could also be tailored to share users' information with others. In the edit group permission page, the users are allowed to reveal their information according to the hierarchy -- user / group / world, like a UNIX system. Further, the  users are able to create their own group and send out invitations for other users to join their group. This  framawork can not only allow the user to customize how they appear to who is looking, but also can be userd  as a social networking tool.

 

 

2009 MIT Media Laboratory Responsive Environments Group