Displayed Data Protection via Facial Recognition and Language Conversion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Single-layer security measures on computing devices, such as passwords or facial recognition, are vulnerable to unauthorized access, allowing unauthorized users to view private data.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a security agent that uses facial recognition and machine translation to secure displayed content by converting private data into languages or formats that unauthorized users cannot understand.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If single-layer security measures (passwords, facial recognition) are implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of data protection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments security into multiple independent layers: first authentication layer (password/facial recognition for device unlocking) and second authentication layer (continuous facial recognition for data access). Each layer provides independent security, so compromise of one layer does not expose all data. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of operation at the first layer while dramatically improving reliability through the additional security layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary facial recognition analysis continuously in the background before actual data access occurs. The security agent captures images, analyzes facial features, and determines authorization status in advance of any data viewing attempt. This preliminary action ensures that even if device unlocking is compromised, data remains protected until proper authorization is verified, thus improving reliability without significantly impacting ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If continuous facial recognition monitoring is implemented, then reliability of data protection is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiduse of energy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous monitoring, the system uses periodic facial recognition checks triggered by specific events: when the device is unlocked, when the screen is activated, or when data access is attempted. The security agent captures images at these periodic intervals rather than continuously, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable security monitoring throughout active device usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The facial recognition system leverages the device's existing camera and processor resources that are already active during normal operation. By utilizing these self-service components rather than dedicating separate power-intensive hardware, the system achieves reliable continuous monitoring with minimal additional energy consumption. The security agent repurposes existing computational resources for security functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If multiple authentication layers are implemented, then reliability of data protection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The security agent performs multiple functions using a single integrated system: it captures images via the camera, analyzes facial features using image processing algorithms, determines user authorization status, and controls data display visibility. By consolidating these multiple security functions into one multi-functional agent rather than separate systems, the patent improves reliability through layered security while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The security agent acts as an intermediary layer between the authentication system and the data display system. It receives authentication status from the first layer, performs facial recognition analysis, and then mediates whether data should be displayed or obscured. This intermediary approach adds reliability through additional verification without significantly increasing overall system complexity, as the agent integrates seamlessly with existing device architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4004789B1Securing displayed data on computing devices
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP4004789B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4004789B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP4004789B1 patent drawingFigure 3C~3D

AI summary

Techniques for securing displayed data on computing devices are disclosed. One example technique includes upon determining that the computing device is unlocked, capturing and analyzing an image in a field of view of the camera of the computing device to determine whether the image includes a human face. In response to determining that the image includes a human face, the technique includes determining facial attributes of the human face in the image via facial recognition and whether the human face is that of an authorized user of the computing device. In response to determining that the human face is not one of an authorized user of the computing device, the technique includes converting user data on the computing device from an original language to a new language to output on a display of the computing device, thereby securing the displayed user data even when the computing device is unlocked.