On the New Architecture of Location-Based Services

This article discusses an alternative programming model for services that use location information. The paper proposes a new architecture for such services, which does not require users to share information about their location with service providers (services). This architecture is based on the author's proposed network spatial proximity model, where geo-computation is replaced by direct proximity measurement. This approach explicitly assumes that most services, using location information, describe (provide) some local services. Accordingly, geo-coordinates are used only for calculating proximity when searching (selecting) offers. It opens up the possibility of replacing geo-coordinates with direct measurement of proximity. Within the network proximity model, geo-computation is replaced by direct proximity definitions. And it is proposed to form this measurement of proximity based on the physical availability of signals of wireless network nodes, thus building cyber-physical systems.