Decoupled Router Gate-Keeping Module for Always-Listening Security

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 'always listening' devices are limited in their ability to continuously process user inputs and provide intuitive responses, as they require manual activation and are vulnerable to hacking due to external data access, lacking direct speech control and robust security measures.

Innovation Solution

An always-listening-capable computing device with a gate-keeping module that decouples from external servers, enabling localized preprocessing and encryption of user inputs, allowing continuous listening and response without external data transmission unless explicitly enabled by the user, thereby enhancing security and privacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If current 'always listening' devices continuously process user inputs, then user interaction responsiveness is improved, but security and privacy protection deteriorates due to external data transmission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction responsivenessVSAvoidsecurity and privacy risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two independent parts: a gateway device that continuously listens and processes user inputs locally, and a second device that receives only encrypted commands from the gateway. This segmentation allows continuous processing without transmitting raw audio data externally, thus maintaining responsiveness while protecting privacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway device acts as an intermediary between the user and external servers. It processes user inputs locally and only transmits encrypted commands to the second device, preventing direct access to raw audio data by external parties while enabling continuous interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If manual button control is used to disable microphone, then security control is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to lack of voice-only control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity controlVSAvoidvoice-only control convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway device automatically manages microphone control based on received commands. Users can enable or disable listening functionality through voice commands sent to the gateway, which then self-manages the microphone state without requiring physical button presses, combining security control with voice-only operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If software control is used for 'always listening' status, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to hacking vulnerability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware control convenienceVSAvoidhacking resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces software-based control with a hardware gateway device that physically isolates the microphone from direct software access. The gateway runs lightweight code with minimal attack surface and manages microphone control through hardware-level commands, reducing vulnerability to hacking while maintaining ease of operation through voice commands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Loss of information

If wake up words are used to activate listening, then privacy protection is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to inability to process continuous commands

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidcontinuous command processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway device dynamically adjusts its listening state based on received commands. It can transition between different modes: continuous listening for streamlined command processing, wake-word activation for enhanced privacy, or complete shutdown for maximum security. This dynamic behavior allows the system to optimize between privacy and continuous processing based on user needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10872607B2Information choice and security via a decoupled router with an always listening assistant device

Publication Date: 2020.12.22 STACHURA THOMAS

AI summary

An always-listening-capable first computing device decoupled from a second computing device, comprising an electronic sensor and gate-keeping module. All data received by the communications module based on data from the electronic sensor passes through the gatekeeping module while a gatekeeping function is disabled, no data based on data from the electronic sensor passes through the communications module while the gatekeeping function is enabled, all data input to the gatekeeping module is received via an exclusive input lead from the electronic sensor, and all data output from the gatekeeping module is transmitted via an exclusive output lead to a component other than the electronic sensor. The first computing device retrieves responses to user input from a server different from a server that the second computing device would have retrieved data from but for prevented communication between the second computing device and the second server.