Method for preventing sound from being intercepted
By using a speaker inside the vehicle to generate a high-frequency sound signal to interfere with the microphone, the problem of eavesdropping on conversations inside the vehicle is solved, and effective anti-eavesdropping protection is achieved for dialogues and private conversations.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- AUDI AG
- Filing Date
- 2021-12-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies are insufficient to effectively prevent private conversations inside vehicles from being eavesdropped on, especially when a vehicle is hacked, as external devices may be able to eavesdrop on conversations inside the vehicle.
The system uses speakers inside the vehicle to generate sound signals at frequencies higher than those audible to the human ear, interfering with the signal reception of microphones. The speakers are distributed throughout the vehicle using an array, and the sound signals are modulated and transmitted using a built-in control unit and power supply device to prevent conversations from being eavesdropped on.
It effectively prevents in-vehicle conversations from being eavesdropped on, including dialogues, phone conversations, and private chats, reducing the risk of unintentional eavesdropping, especially against eavesdropping by external microphones and third-party devices.
Smart Images
Figure CN116711000B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for preventing sound from being eavesdropped on in a vehicle and a system for preventing sound from being eavesdropped on in a vehicle. Background Technology
[0002] Document JPH0511780A describes a system for protecting the privacy of vehicle occupants.
[0003] The vehicle and its control system are described in document DE 10 2018 221 120 A1.
[0004] Document EP 2 876 639 A2 describes a system for masking private conversations between vehicle occupants. Summary of the Invention
[0005] Against this background, the purpose of this invention is to ensure privacy in vehicles.
[0006] This objective is achieved by a method and system having the features of the independent claims. Implementations of the method and system are derived from the dependent claims.
[0007] According to the method of the invention, sound eavesdropping or eavesdropping protection is provided for at least one person in a vehicle, typically in the interior space of the vehicle, wherein at least one speaker arranged in the interior space of the vehicle is activated, wherein sound signals are generated by the at least one speaker having at least one frequency greater than or higher than the sound limit frequency audible to at least one person, wherein such sound signals are generated to interfere with the signal reception or signal reception quality of at least one microphone when at least one person speaks.
[0008] At least one microphone that can be interfered with or interfered with by a method may be located in, on, inside and / or outside the vehicle.
[0009] It is feasible to generate and transmit multiple acoustic signals simultaneously or synchronously, thereby interfering with the common acoustic signal reception or signal reception quality of at least one microphone.
[0010] In the design, at least one loudspeaker generates an acoustic signal above the audible acoustic limit frequency, which may be designed or referred to as an ultrasonic signal and / or a supersonic signal.
[0011] Here, the method is also accordingly configured to prevent the conversation of at least one person in the vehicle, i.e., only one person or multiple people, from being eavesdropped on. In the method, at least one speaker arranged in the vehicle is activated, at least during the conversation, wherein at least one speaker is used to generate an acoustic signal, i.e., at least an ultrasonic signal and / or a supersonic signal, to interfere with the microphone or its signal reception. A conversation occurs when people speak and then talk to each other, for example, chatting. It is also possible, for example, that even if a single person sings or may talk to themselves, their voice is already protected against eavesdropping.
[0012] In this method, multiple speakers spatially distributed throughout the vehicle are typically activated to prevent eavesdropping. It is feasible to modulate the acoustic signal in terms of amplitude and / or frequency above the audible limit, wherein the temporal variation of the acoustic signal is altered due to this modulation. Here, the acoustic signal is modulated within a frequency range that is above the audible limit, within the ultrasonic and / or hypersonic range. If multiple acoustic signals are generated simultaneously, they can be modulated individually.
[0013] The advantage of this method is that it can prevent conversations between multiple people in a vehicle from being eavesdropped on.
[0014] This method can be used in vehicles with enclosed interior spaces, further limited by the roof and windows, where eavesdropping prevention is possible even if at least one window is supposed to be open. Furthermore, this conversational eavesdropping prevention is also achievable for vehicles designed as convertibles. Regardless of the specific design of the vehicle, or a typical motor vehicle, acoustic signals can be propagated from at least one speaker towards the occupants and, consequently, their seating positions within the vehicle, specifically towards the head position of the corresponding occupant in a conventional seating position. The head position is located above the seat surface of the corresponding vehicle seat. Here, seat sensors can be used to detect which seat in the vehicle is currently occupied, with the acoustic signals propagating particularly towards the head position of the corresponding occupied seat.
[0015] The sound signal can be activated by manually manipulating the activation switch of the input device, such as the activation button.
[0016] Furthermore, within the scope of the method, it is specified that at least one speaker is oriented toward the microphone at a possible spatial location within the vehicle, such as its placement orientation.
[0017] In the design of the method, different microphones can be distinguished. Therefore, the microphone used for eavesdropping prevention can also be a third-party microphone not designed as part of the vehicle's infrastructure and / or an external microphone. This third-party microphone can be located externally or internally and can be referred to as an eavesdropping device. This third-party microphone is typically unrelated to the vehicle. It differs from an internal vehicle microphone or vehicle microphone, which is designed as part of the vehicle's infrastructure and installed within the vehicle, particularly in the vehicle's interior space. Here, the voice of at least one person is eavesdropped on at least relative to the third-party microphone. Because at least one person may consciously or intentionally speak into an internal vehicle microphone or vehicle microphone, the acoustic signal can be compensated for, for example, the internal vehicle microphone.
[0018] In the design, if desired by a person, the corresponding conversation is protected against eavesdropping relative to the microphone, wherein the person activates the associated eavesdropping protection. Furthermore, if at least one first microphone is interfered with by an acoustic signal, then at least one person's voice can be protected against eavesdropping using the acoustic signal against at least one first microphone. Simultaneously, if at least one person manually deactivates another corresponding activation switch to stop the eavesdropping protection against at least one second microphone, then the voice of at least one person can be received using the second microphone (to which at least one person intentionally speaks or wishes to speak) by canceling the acoustic signal.
[0019] The system design according to the invention is for preventing the eavesdropping of the voice of at least one person in a vehicle. The system includes at least one speaker in the vehicle, wherein the at least one speaker for eavesdropping prevention can be activated, and is designed or configured to generate an acoustic signal that interferes with the signal reception or signal reception quality of at least one microphone when at least one person speaks. This at least one microphone may be located in, on, or inside the vehicle, or outside the vehicle. Here, the frequency of the acoustic signal generated by the at least one speaker is greater than or higher than the audible frequency limit of at least one person.
[0020] Therefore, the system is designed to prevent eavesdropping on conversations of at least one person in a vehicle. At least one speaker in the system can be activated at least during the conversation. The at least one speaker is designed to generate an acoustic signal, such as an ultrasonic signal and / or a supersonic signal, to interfere with a microphone, at least during the conversation. This microphone, which should be used for conversation eavesdropping prevention, can also be designed or referred to as a third-party microphone.
[0021] In this design, at least one speaker is inherently arranged in or within the vehicle's interior space. Here, the at least one speaker is designed as a component of the vehicle's infotainment system or infotainment system and / or stereo system. Typically, multiple such speakers are inherently arranged in the vehicle and spatially distributed throughout the vehicle.
[0022] The proposed system may have a built-in control unit designed to control and thus drive and / or adjust at least one loudspeaker, wherein the generation of sound signals and the modulation of possible settings of these sound signals are realized by the built-in control unit.
[0023] Furthermore, the system has its own power supply device, such as an energy source, typically a battery or accumulator, which is designed to provide power to at least one speaker independently of other energy sources in the vehicle, at least during a conversation, i.e., when at least one person makes a sound, and thus be able to transmit sound signals. This self-contained power supply device is typically independent of infrastructure and, if necessary, also independent of communication connections with external devices of another vehicle.
[0024] It is feasible to implement the proposed method using the implementation of the proposed system.
[0025] The method and system make it possible to prevent eavesdropping on private conversations, and therefore also prevent eavesdropping on corresponding private chats in the vehicle.
[0026] Alternatively, if only one person is alone in the vehicle and makes a phone call, thus engaging in a conversation, and therefore consciously or intentionally speaks into the phone microphone, then the conversation can be prevented from being eavesdropped on, for example, by using the sound signal from at least one speaker. Here, in a possible design, the phone conversation is prevented from being eavesdropped on as a conversation between only one person in the vehicle. Here, the person intentionally speaks into the microphone of a terminal device designed as a telephone, such as a mobile phone, or a microphone installed in the vehicle as part of an in-vehicle telephone. Here, the terminal device can be connected to a system, typically a control unit for controlling at least one speaker, and information about the sound signal can be received in real time by the control unit, for example, in a radio-based manner. Therefore, the terminal device, unrelated to the vehicle, is aware of the possible changes in the sound signal over time due to modulation. Thus, during the phone conversation, the sound signal can be noticed by the terminal device and correspondingly canceled out, wherein, despite the presence of the sound signal, the microphone of the terminal device used for the phone conversation can still receive and / or acquire the voice of the person in the phone conversation. Conversely, the conversation set up as a phone conversation is prevented from being eavesdropped on relative to any other microphone, especially relative to eavesdropping devices, based on the sound signal. This is also feasible if the people in the vehicle deliberately speak into the microphone of the recorder and make corresponding sounds.
[0027] It is now possible, through appropriate design of methods and / or systems, for people, and thus vehicle occupants, to converse inside the vehicle without their conversations being eavesdropped on. Therefore, eavesdropping protection can be achieved against microphones designed as vehicle microphones, and also against external microphones of third-party devices. This, for example, relates to mobile phones, watches with phone functionality, such as the so-called Apple Watch. TM This is especially true when speaking into such phones unconsciously or unintentionally. Furthermore, this also applies to calls from online services such as Alexa. TM Or Siri TM The microphone. Furthermore, it can also be used to prevent or protect against eavesdropping during espionage activities conducted through microphone-based devices, such as the microphone of a bugging device.
[0028] In this design, at least one speaker transmits an acoustic signal, where multiple acoustic signals of different frequencies above the audible limit can be transmitted simultaneously. Such acoustic signals cause noise that interferes with the acoustic reception or signal reception of the microphone. Therefore, it is no longer possible to record useful human voices. Unlike third-party devices, a system with at least one speaker for generating acoustic signals, a control unit, and a power supply device can be integrated into the infrastructure, and thus into the vehicle's architecture. However, the system can also be independent of the vehicle, or even independent of other third-party devices.
[0029] Using this method and system, potential espionage, eavesdropping, or surveillance activities can also be conducted through supposedly harmless services, such as Alexa. TM Or Siri TM This counteracts (or counteracts) the risk of unintentionally eavesdropping on private conversations.
[0030] This system and method enable the targeted use of multiple speakers within a vehicle, typically speakers already installed in the vehicle, such as those in a high-end audio system. In one embodiment of the method, these speakers generate or produce acoustic signals of different frequencies above the audible limit, inaudible to occupants, and thus generate or produce corresponding noise for active interference with all microphones located within the vehicle. It is also possible to interfere with microphones outside the vehicle facing the vehicle or its interior space via the acoustic signal from at least one speaker.
[0031] In the design scheme, the eavesdropping prevention function or corresponding privacy function for the conversation, which can be performed by the available methods and systems, is activated via the activation switch and / or menu item of the vehicle's input device. The input device can communicate with the system's control unit to activate the function, regardless of whether at least one speaker is integrated into the vehicle or additionally arranged in the vehicle as part of the system.
[0032] In this method, existing and / or additional speakers in the vehicle are used to achieve the anti-eavesdropping function. High-frequency sound signals above the audible limit are emitted in a locally targeted manner, using a large number of speakers, such as tweeters. Here, the speakers are aligned with possible placement locations of mobile terminal devices within the vehicle or its interior space. For example, the center armrest, center console, side pockets in the doors, cockpit crossbeams and / or other storage compartments, slots, and / or brackets for terminal devices in the vehicle are designated as at least one such placement location for the mobile terminal device. The speakers can be positioned and thus arranged in different locations within the vehicle. This, for example, involves the headliner, A-pillar, B-pillar, and / or C-pillar trim, mirror bases, cockpit crossbeams, side lining trim, and / or seats.
[0033] In one possible design of the method, it is considered that the speakers commonly found in infotainment systems are fixedly part of the vehicle's infrastructure. Therefore, it is conceivable that these speakers would fail in the event of a vehicle hack, thus preventing the generation of the intended sound signals and enabling eavesdropping on occupants. In this case, it is feasible to selectively isolate at least one speaker, typically multiple speakers, as part of a speaker array from the vehicle's electronic infrastructure or architecture, and protect them from external internet access. For this purpose, a separate power supply device for the system is provided, such as integrated circuitry, which, using its integrated circuitry, can autonomously / intrinsically access, for example, autonomously power on, the vehicle's battery, such as a 12V battery. The speaker and system control unit are powered by this integrated power supply device to execute the method. In another design, a common hardware-based activation switch for activating at least one speaker is also connected to the system's integrated power supply device.
[0034] In another design, it is feasible for at least one speaker of the system to be located in or modified for the vehicle and powered and operated via an electrical outlet in the vehicle, such as a cigarette lighter socket. Therefore, it is feasible for the vehicle or its infrastructure to not have at least software-based access to at least one speaker. Consequently, remote access to at least one speaker is also not possible in such a design. In this design, the system, and therefore at least one speaker, is connected only to the vehicle's onboard power supply (as an energy supply device), but is isolated from the vehicle's software-based infrastructure.
[0035] This method and system allow for confidential, secret, and / or private conversations within a vehicle without the risk of unwanted eavesdropping.
[0036] It goes without saying that, without departing from the framework of this invention, the features mentioned above and the features to be explained below can be used not only in their respective specified combinations, but also in other combinations or individually. Attached Figure Description
[0037] The invention is illustrated schematically with reference to the accompanying drawings, and is described schematically and in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0038] Figure 1 An example vehicle is illustrated in the diagram, for which an embodiment of the method according to the invention is performed using an embodiment of the system according to the invention. Detailed Implementation
[0039] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of vehicle 2 is shown, in which two people 10a and 10b are present in the interior space of the vehicle.
[0040] also, Figure 1 An embodiment of the system according to the invention is shown, which includes a first speaker 4, a second speaker 6, a control unit 11, and a power supply 12 or corresponding power source. It is specified that the first speaker 4 is fixedly installed in the interior space of the vehicle 2, for example as part of an infotainment system, while the second speaker 6 is independent of the vehicle 2 and is arranged, at least temporarily but removably, in the interior space of the vehicle.
[0041] also, Figure 1 The diagram illustrates a first microphone 14, which is designed here as part of a mobile terminal 8, such as a mobile phone, unrelated to the vehicle 2; and a second microphone 16, which is designed as part of the infrastructure of the vehicle 2.
[0042] In an embodiment of the method according to the invention using the system proposed herein, it is specified that two persons 10a and 10b inside the vehicle 2 wish to have a conversation. There is a risk that their conversation could be eavesdropped on by the microphone 14 of the terminal device 8 and / or the vehicle's internal microphone 16 if a hacker attack is launched from the outside via the Internet.
[0043] To prevent this, in an implementation of the method, if necessary, upon activation by at least one person 10a, 10b, the control unit 11 operates two speakers 4, 6, which are powered by the power supply device 12. Here, the control unit 11 enables the speakers 4, 6 to synchronously generate sound signals (here, ultrasonic signals) at different frequencies, wherein the frequencies are higher than the audible limits of the persons 10a, 10b in vehicle 2. These high-frequency sound signals are emitted or transmitted by the speakers 4, 6 into the interior space, particularly towards the microphones 14, 16 or their placement, wherein the high-frequency sound signals generate noise, and the acoustic reception of the voices of persons 10a, 10b and thus the conversation is blocked by the microphones 14, 16, thereby preventing eavesdropping.
[0044] List of reference numerals
[0045] 2 vehicles
[0046] 4, 6 speakers
[0047] 8. Terminal equipment
[0048] Personnel 10a and 10b
[0049] 11 Control Unit
[0050] 12 Energy supply devices
[0051] 14 and 16 microphones
Claims
1. A method for preventing the voice of at least one person (10a, 10b) in a vehicle (2) from being eavesdropped on, wherein, At least one speaker (4, 6) in the vehicle (2) is activated, wherein an acoustic signal is generated by the at least one speaker (4, 6) having at least one frequency higher than the audible frequency limit of the at least one person (10a, 10b), wherein when the at least one person (10a, 10b) speaks, the acoustic signal is used to interfere with the signal reception of at least one microphone (14, 16), wherein if the acoustic signal interferes with at least one first microphone (14, 16) and at least one second microphone (14, 16), then the signal reception of the at least one microphone (14, 16) is affected. The method of preventing the eavesdropping of the voice of at least one person (10a, 10b) using the sound signal for the at least one first microphone (14, 16) and the at least one second microphone (14, 16) is characterized in that if the at least one person (10a, 10b) stops the eavesdropping prevention against the at least one second microphone (14, 16) by manually operating an activation switch, then by canceling the sound signal, the voice of the at least one person (10a, 10b) is received using the at least one second microphone (14, 16) that the at least one person (10a, 10b) is deliberately speaking into.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, To prevent conversations between multiple people (10a, 10b) in vehicle (2) from being eavesdropped.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The sound of at least one person (10a, 10b) in the interior space of the vehicle (2) is protected against eavesdropping by at least one speaker (4, 6) facing the interior space.
4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The at least one speaker (4, 6) is activated by at least one of the persons (10a, 10b).
5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, At least one speaker (4, 6) is positioned to face the microphone (14, 16).
6. A system for preventing the voice of at least one person (10a, 10b) in a vehicle (2) from being eavesdropped on, wherein, The system has at least one speaker (4, 6) in the vehicle (2), wherein the at least one speaker (4, 6) is activated for eavesdropping prevention, wherein the at least one speaker (4, 6) is designed to generate an acoustic signal having at least one frequency higher than the audible frequency limit of at least one person (10a, 10b), wherein the acoustic signal is designed to interfere with the signal reception of at least one microphone (14, 16) when at least one person (10a, 10b) speaks, wherein if the acoustic signal interferes with at least one first microphone (14, 16) and at least one second microphone (10a, 10b), the system will be able to prevent eavesdropping. Microphones (14, 16), wherein the at least one first microphone (14, 16) and the at least one second microphone (14, 16) are used to prevent the voice of at least one person (10a, 10b) from being eavesdropped on using the sound signal, characterized in that if at least one person (10a, 10b) stops the eavesdropping prevention against at least one second microphone (14, 16) by manually operating an activation switch, then by canceling the sound signal, the voice of at least one person (10a, 10b) is received using at least one second microphone (14, 16) that is being spoken to by at least one person (10a, 10b).
7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The system has a built-in control unit (11) designed to control at least one speaker (4, 6).
8. The system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The system has a built-in power supply (12) designed to provide power to at least one speaker (4, 6).