Dynamic Pixel Shifting for Anti-Screen Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for preventing content displayed on a screen from being replicated, such as those involving digital watermarks or camera-specific functions, are inadequate as they can be bypassed by screen capture or image capturing without the required camera functionality.

Innovation Solution

A data-generating device and method that converts electronic data into movie data by generating a series of frame images with altered pixel colors, ensuring that even if the content is replicated, it appears as a sequence of images with averaged pixel values, making accurate replication difficult.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If screen capture function is provided to store content as still image data, then ease of operation is improved, but content security deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidcontent security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static still image display to dynamic moving image display. The display unit shows a sequence of still images that form a moving image, where pixel colors change over time. This dynamic approach prevents accurate replication because captured images show blurred or averaged colors rather than clear original content, while maintaining ease of operation through automatic playback functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action by displaying still images in a repeating sequence to form a moving image. The images are displayed at regular intervals, creating a cyclic pattern that prevents accurate capture. When users attempt screenshot or photo capture, they only capture a single frame or blurred sequence, making replication ineffective while preserving the original content's accessibility through repeated viewing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If digital watermark is printed on book pages to prevent digital shoplifting, then content security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent securityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying pixel color values over time rather than adding physical watermarks. Instead of changing the structural composition of the content (adding watermarks), the system changes the temporal parameter of display by showing different color states in different frames. This approach prevents replication without requiring camera detection functions or watermark analysis capabilities, thus avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a digital camera with anti-shoplifting function is used to capture images, then content security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent securityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary anti-action by pre-processing the content into a moving image format before capture occurs. Instead of relying on the camera to detect and block replication, the system proactively transforms the display content into a form that resists accurate capture. The pixel colors are continuously changing through the sequence of still images, so any capture attempt inherently fails to produce accurate replication without requiring camera-side detection or intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP2541891B1Data-generating device, data-generating method, data-generating program, and recording medium
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 RAKUTEN GROUP INC
  • EP2541891B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2541891B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2541891B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Data is generated which can prevent content displayed on a screen from being accurately replicated. A data-generating device has: an acquiring means that acquires still image data; a still image data generating means that generates a predetermined number of items of still image data in which at least part of pixel values of the acquired still image data are changed, and that makes an average of pixel values of matching display positions between the predetermined number of items of still image data equal to pixel values of matching display positions in the acquired still image data; and a movie data generating means that generates movie data for which each of the generated still image data is displayed at a predetermined frame rate.