AR Sensor Data Vault Isolation for Privacy-Safe Rendering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing augmented reality (AR) systems lack robust security and privacy measures, particularly in handling raw data from cameras and microphones, leading to potential data breaches and privacy vulnerabilities.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a secure data vault system within the operating system (OS) that isolates raw data from user applications, processes it using local AI models, and ensures secure data handling through a sandbox environment and policy enforcement, minimizing attack vectors and maintaining user control over their data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If raw data from cameras and microphones is made accessible to user applications, then AR functionality and ease of operation are improved, but security and privacy are worsened due to potential data breaches

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAR functionalityVSAvoiddata breach risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a secure data vault as an intermediary component between the camera/microphone sensors and user applications. This data vault acts as a mediator that receives raw data from sensors, processes it through local AI models, and provides processed data to applications while maintaining isolation and security boundaries, thus enabling AR functionality without direct exposure of raw data to applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the data processing pipeline into distinct isolated components: sensor data collection, secure data vault processing, and application consumption. By segmenting the architecture and isolating the raw data handling within the secure data vault, the patent enables AR features while preventing direct access to raw data by applications, thereby reducing data breach risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If raw data is processed locally to enhance privacy, then data security is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidprocessing architecture
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The secure data vault implements self-service processing by autonomously handling raw data through integrated local AI models without requiring external server intervention. The system performs self-contained processing, encryption, and data management operations within the isolated vault environment, enhancing privacy while minimizing the complexity burden on the main device architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple functions including data collection, local AI processing, encryption, and security isolation into a single integrated secure data vault component. By combining these functions in one unified module rather than separate components, the system achieves enhanced privacy protection while managing device complexity through functional consolidation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If data is isolated from applications to prevent breaches, then security is improved, but adaptability and data accessibility are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata breach preventionVSAvoiddata accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The secure data vault implements feedback mechanisms that monitor data access patterns, usage requirements, and security policies. This feedback loop enables the system to dynamically adjust data sharing decisions, providing adapted access to processed data while maintaining isolation of raw data, thus preventing breaches while preserving necessary adaptability for legitimate applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes data parameters and states through processing transformations within the secure data vault. Raw data is transformed into processed data with modified characteristics, allowing the vault to maintain isolation while providing adapted access to applications through the processed output, thus balancing security with adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20260024290A1Securing of augmented reality (AR) systems
Publication Date: 2026.01.22 SNAP INC
  • US20260024290A1 patent drawing
  • US20260024290A1 patent drawing
  • US20260024290A1 patent drawing

AI summary

An augmented reality (AR) system includes a display, a camera; and a secure data vault system. The secure data vault system includes a sandbox system operatively coupled to the camera and configured to receive camera data from the camera, wherein in operations of the AR system, the camera only sends camera data to the sandbox system, and wherein the sandbox system comprises an execution environment configured to restrict execution of instructions to a predefined memory address range. The secure data vault system additionally includes a display and rending system operatively coupled to the sandbox system and configured to render an image based on the camera data processed via the instructions and to display the image via the display, wherein the display is configured to show both the image and a real-world environment surrounding the AR system.