Improvement of mobile trilateration accuracy with modified geo-location techniques.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Abstract available in pdf

Constructing dummy query sequences to protect location privacy and query privacy in location-based services

© 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. Location-based services (LBS) have become an important part of people’s daily life. However, while providing great convenience for mobile users, LBS result in a serious problem on personal privacy, i.e., location privacy and query privacy. However, existing privacy methods for LBS generally take into consideration only location privacy or query privacy, without considering the problem of protecting both of them simultaneously. In this paper, we propose to construct a group of dummy query sequences, to cover up the query locations and query attributes of mobile users and thus protect users’ privacy in LBS. First, we present a client-based framework for user privacy protection in LBS, which requires not only no change to the existing LBS algorithm on the server-side, but also no compromise to the accuracy of a LBS query. Second, based on the framework, we introduce a privacy model to formulate the constraints that ideal dummy query sequences should satisfy: (1) the similarity of feature distribution, which measures the effectiveness of the dummy query sequences to hide a true user query sequence; and (2) the exposure degree of user privacy, which measures the effectiveness of the dummy query sequences to cover up the location privacy and query privacy of a mobile user. Finally, we present an implementation algorithm to well meet the privacy model. Besides, both theoretical analysis and experimental evaluation demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed approach, which show that the location privacy and attribute privacy behind LBS queries can be effectively protected by the dummy queries generated by our approach

Digital Searching: A Grounded Theory Study on the Modern Search Experience

This Grounded theory study explores US adults\u27 modern information search process as they pursue information through digital search user interfaces and tools. To study the current search process, a systematic grounded theory methodology and two data collection methods, a think-aloud protocol and semi-structured interviews, are used to develop the theory. The emerging theory addressed two tightly connected research questions that asked, “What is the process by which humans search and discover information?” and “What is the process by which search and discovery interfaces and tools support the modern search process?” The study collects participant data from US adults who have recently completed internet-based searches or were employed as reference librarians or information specialists that regularly support internet-based searches. The 40 data collection events, 20 interviews, and 20 think-aloud search activities are constant comparatively analyzed. This analysis shows the importance of validating information during the search process as 1) establishing accurate information needs and 2) verifying information results. This theory and study findings can be applied to modern search interface designs or used to update modern information literacy curriculums