Anti-Eavesdrop Component Noise Injection for Audio Privacy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Devices often inadvertently capture and transmit audio from their surroundings, potentially for illicit purposes, compromising user privacy, even when not in use.

Innovation Solution

An anti-eavesdrop component is installed on devices, configured to recognize itself as the primary audio input, blocking external audio capture by injecting noise or interfering with the audio input, ensuring that only intended audio is processed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the device constantly listens for audio input to enable features, then the device functionality is improved, but user privacy is compromised due to unauthorized audio capture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidunauthorized audio capture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The anti-eavesdrop component applies preliminary anti-action by injecting noise into the audio input channel before the device can capture unauthorized audio. This counter-action prevents the harmful effect of eavesdropping while allowing legitimate audio features to function when needed by the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The anti-eavesdrop component acts as an intermediary between the environment and the device's audio processing system. It mediates the audio signal by adding noise that blocks unauthorized capture while permitting controlled access when the user intentionally activates audio features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the device captures audio from the surrounding environment, then audio processing features are enabled, but the risk of illicit use increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio processing capabilityVSAvoidsecurity against illicit use

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by pre-injecting noise into the audio input channel, which prevents illicit audio capture before it can occur. This maintains security reliability while allowing audio processing productivity when legitimately needed through user-initiated features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If noise is injected into the audio input to block eavesdropping, then privacy protection is improved, but normal audio input functionality may be interfered with

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidaudio input functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies dynamics by making the noise injection controllable and conditional. The anti-eavesdrop component dynamically adjusts between blocking mode (injecting noise for privacy protection) and active mode (allowing normal audio input when the user intentionally activates audio features), resolving the contradiction between privacy protection and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11488571B2Anti-eavesdrop security device

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A system and method to prevent eavesdropping by a device. An anti-eavesdrop component is installed on the device. The anti-eavesdrop component is configured to actively prevent the device from capturing audio from the environment. In response to installing the anti-eavesdrop component, the device recognizes the anti-eavesdrop component as a primary audio input for the device. The anti-eavesdrop component then proceeds to block the device from capturing outside audio by injecting noise or otherwise interfering with the primary audio input.