Electronic device and method for protecting users privacy

Abstract

An electronic device protecting privacy is provided. The electronic device includes a communication module configured to perform wireless communication, and a control module configured to select one of an active scan and a passive scan by controlling the communication module.

1 . An electronic device protecting privacy, the electronic device comprising:
 a communication module configured to perform wireless communication; and   a control module configured to select one of an active scan and a passive scan by controlling the communication module.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured to control the communication module to transmit one of a virtual Media Access Control (MAC) address and an original MAC address selectively when the active scan is performed. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the control module is further configured to generate the virtual MAC address periodically. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured to activate wireless communication through a user interface of an external input. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured to execute a specified application. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the specified application comprises positioning of the electronic device, map, location-based service, wireless communication setting, wireless communication roaming, and security mode setting applications. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured to provide an indication of whether the electronic device enters a specific area. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the control module selectively transmits one of the virtual MAC address and the original MAC address based upon received Access Point (AP) information of an AP indicating whether the AP tracks movements of electronic devices within an area covered by the AP. 
     
     
         9 . A method of protecting privacy, the method comprising:
 selecting, by a control module, one of an active scan and a passive scan; and   activating, by the control module, a communication module according to the selection.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising transmitting, by the control module, after the activating of the communication module, one of a virtual Media Access Control (MAC) address and an original MAC address when the active scan is selected. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the selecting of one of the active scan and the passive scan comprises selecting, by the control module, selecting one of the active scan and the passive scan by checking one of a wireless communication activation, a specific application execution, and an entry to a specific area through a user interface by an external input. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , where in the selective transmitting of one of the virtual MAC address and the original MAC address is based upon received Access Point (AP) information of an AP indicating whether the AP tracks movements of electronic devices within an area covered by the AP. 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform the method of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured to transmit one of a plurality of virtual Media Access Control (MAC) addresses selectively while the active scan is performed. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured to transmit a virtual Media Access Control (MAC) address while the active scan is performed. 
     
     
         16 . A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:
 transmitting, by a control module, a signal comprising at least one virtual Media Access Control (MAC) address of the electronic device; and   determining, by the control module, whether at least one external electronic device is located within a specific threshold range of the electronic device based on a response of the signal.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising periodically generating, by the control module, the at least one virtual MAC address. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the transmitting comprises:
 receiving a request from the at least one external electronic device;   determining whether the request corresponds to a specified application of the electronic device.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the transmitting comprises:
 transmitting the signal comprising the at least one virtual MAC address based on the request if the request corresponds to the specific application.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the transmitting comprises:
 transmitting a signal comprising an original MAC address of the electronic device based on the request if the request corresponds to at least one other application.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting one of plurality of virtual MAC addresses selectively while the active scan is performed. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the determining comprises determining whether the at least one external electronic device is located within the threshold range based on at least one received AP information, GPS information, Cell-ID information, LTE location information, or Beacon information.