Context-Aware Display Privacy Obfuscation via Proximity Speed Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing devices face challenges in protecting private information from being viewed by individuals other than the intended user, especially in mobile and wearable devices where traditional privacy screens are not practical.
Innovation Solution
The computing device determines the privacy level of the information to be displayed and uses sensor data to assess if nearby individuals are associated with the active user account and their relative speed, obscuring the information if they are not and their speed is below a threshold, thereby preventing unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional privacy screens are used to prevent unauthorized viewing, then privacy protection is improved, but device complexity and practicality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical privacy screen system with a software-based detection and obscuration system. Sensors detect nearby individuals and the system automatically obscures sensitive information on the display, eliminating the need for physical privacy screens while maintaining privacy protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The computing device performs privacy protection autonomously by using its own sensors to detect nearby individuals and automatically obscuring sensitive information without requiring external privacy screens or manual user intervention.
2Reliability
If information is obscured to protect privacy, then privacy protection is improved, but information accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The obscuration state is dynamic rather than static. The system continuously monitors for nearby individuals and automatically adjusts the display state between obscured and unobscured, allowing information to be accessible when needed while protected when unauthorized viewing is detected.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary action by detecting the presence of nearby individuals before unauthorized viewing can occur, and proactively obscures the information to prevent potential privacy violations rather than reacting after the fact.
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring of nearby individuals is performed, then privacy protection is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the system uses periodic sensor checks to detect nearby individuals. The sensors are activated at intervals or triggered by motion detection, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective privacy protection through periodic surveillance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system skips continuous monitoring and only performs detection when triggered by sensor events or periodic checks, rushing through the monitoring process only when necessary rather than maintaining constant surveillance that would consume excessive energy.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes determining, based at least in part on a type of information to be displayed at a display device associated with a computing device, a privacy level for the information to be displayed; and determining whether the privacy level satisfies a threshold privacy level. The method also includes, responsive to determining that the privacy level satisfies the threshold privacy level, determining whether an individual not associated with a currently active user account of the computing device is proximate to the display device. The method also includes determining an estimated speed of the individual not associated with the currently active user account relative to the display device. The method further includes determining, whether the estimated speed satisfies a threshold speed, and responsive to determining that the estimated speed satisfies the threshold speed, outputting the information such that at least a first portion of the information is obscured.