Display Privacy via Camera Detection and Blurring

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for protecting content displayed on electronic devices, such as watermarks and DRM, are ineffective in preventing unauthorized photographing and leakage through external devices.

Innovation Solution

An electronic apparatus equipped with a camera and processor that detects and responds to potential photographing attempts by turning off the display or overlaying a UI to restrict photography, using metadata to determine if content protection is enabled and detecting objects like cameras or humans in the image.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If watermark and DRM methods are used to protect content, then content storage is protected, but photographing and leakage through external devices cannot be prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent protectionVSAvoidprotection against external photographing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting photographing attempts before content leakage can occur. The camera detects external cameras or photographing actions, and the processor preemptively displays a blurred screen or warning message, preventing the unauthorized capture of content before it can be leaked.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary detection mechanism between the content display and external photographing devices. The built-in camera acts as an intermediary that monitors for photographing attempts, and the processor mediates the response by controlling the display to show blurred or warning content, creating a protective barrier against external capture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the display is turned off or blurred to prevent photographing, then unauthorized capture is restricted, but user accessibility to content is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunauthorized photographingVSAvoidcontent accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies dynamics by making the display state adaptive rather than static. The display dynamically switches between normal content display and protected states (blurred screen or warning message) based on real-time detection of photographing attempts. This allows the system to maintain ease of operation during normal use while providing strong protection when threats are detected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes display parameters dynamically - specifically the clarity and visibility of displayed content. During normal operation, the display shows content with full clarity. When photographing is detected, the processor changes the display parameter to show blurred content or warning messages, thereby restricting unauthorized capture while maintaining user accessibility during normal viewing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If continuous camera monitoring is implemented to detect photographing attempts, then content protection is enhanced, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephotographing detectionVSAvoidcamera operation energy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic action by having the processor control the camera to photograph images at regular intervals or at specific triggers rather than continuously. The camera captures images periodically to detect photographing attempts, and the processor analyzes these periodic captures to determine if external cameras are present, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3560178B1Electronic apparatus and controlling method thereof
Publication Date: 2022.10.05 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3560178B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3560178B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP3560178B1 patent drawingFigure 3c~4

AI summary

An electronic apparatus which prevents and/or reduces photographing of contents is provided. The electronic apparatus includes a camera and a processor configured to cause the electronic apparatus to turn off the display and/or control a display to display a UI for restricting photographing of the content in response to a predetermined object being detected in an image received by the camera.