Context-Aware Privacy Protection for Computing Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing privacy protection systems for computing devices are inadequate in detecting unauthorized access or peeking threats from the environment and do not provide sufficient security at the application level, leaving sensitive information vulnerable to compromise.

Innovation Solution

A context-aware privacy protection system that employs a detector unit to capture environmental data, a processing unit to generate responses based on predefined and context-aware rules, and a recommendation unit to notify users of potential threats, triggering security actions such as alerts, device shutdown, or data hiding to protect sensitive information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If authentication methods like login ids or passwords are used, then device security is improved, but detection of intruder peeking into the device is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice securityVSAvoidintruder detection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary detection system that uses sensors (cameras, microphones, proximity sensors) as mediators to detect intruders peeking at the device screen. This intermediary system bridges the gap between device security and intruder detection, allowing the system to sense environmental threats without requiring direct user intervention or compromising existing authentication mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual security verification (user awareness of surroundings) with automated sensor-based detection systems. Instead of relying on mechanical or manual methods to detect peeping, the system uses optical sensors, acoustic sensors, and other automated detection mechanisms to continuously monitor the environment and identify potential intruders.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If existing security techniques are applied, then device-level protection is provided, but application-level security and environmental threat detection are not addressed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice securityVSAvoidsecurity coverage scope
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments security protection into multiple layers: device-level security (existing authentication) and application-level security (new environmental detection and response). By dividing the security system into separate functional modules, the patent enables independent operation of each layer while allowing them to work together, thus expanding security coverage from just device-level to include application-level and environmental threat detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal security system that combines multiple functions: traditional device authentication, environmental sensor detection, intruder identification, and automated security responses. This multi-functional system addresses various security threats (peeping, surveillance, unauthorized access) through a single integrated platform, making the security solution adaptable to different threat scenarios and device contexts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If no environmental detection is implemented, then system complexity is reduced, but privacy protection against surrounding threats is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidenvironmental threats to privacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by continuously monitoring the environment for potential threats before actual privacy breaches occur. The detection system proactively identifies peeping behavior, surveillance devices, or unauthorized users in the vicinity, allowing the system to prepare and execute security responses (such as alerting the user or blocking access) before sensitive information can be compromised.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the device to self-protect by automatically detecting environmental threats and triggering security measures without requiring constant user intervention. The system uses built-in sensors and processing capabilities to autonomously monitor surroundings, identify threats, and execute protective actions, thus providing privacy protection while maintaining relative system simplicity through automated self-service functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9959425B2Method and system of privacy protection in antagonistic social milieu/dark privacy spots
Publication Date: 2018.05.01 JIO PLATFORMS LTD
  • US9959425B2 patent drawing
  • US9959425B2 patent drawing
  • US9959425B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An efficient and robust system 100 of privacy protection to provide security of a computing device by identifying and detecting unauthorized intrusion/peek problems related to computing device's environment/surrounding is disclosed. The system 100 includes a detector unit 102 for detecting data related to environment/surrounding of the computing device; a processing unit 104 for processing the detected data and a recommendation unit 106 to notify the user about the threat posed by environment/surrounding. The present disclosure enables device owner to access his device more freely in vulnerable surroundings.