IoT Privacy Filter for Audio Payload Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internet-of-things (IoT) devices, especially those with microphones, pose a risk of capturing sensitive data unintentionally, which can be intercepted and used maliciously, as they are often 'always on' and aggregate various types of data, including sensitive financial or personal information.
Innovation Solution
An intermediary layer, referred to as a privacy filter, is introduced between network-connected devices and IoT services to inhibit sensitive data transmission to central servers. This layer includes a processor, profile resource, device interface, external interface, and storage, allowing users to set up filter criteria to manage and control what data is transmitted, applying these criteria to incoming payloads from IoT devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If IoT devices with microphones are made 'always on' to provide intuitive solutions and aggregate data, then the device's functionality and responsiveness are improved, but the risk of capturing and transmitting sensitive data unintentionally increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a privacy filter as an intermediary layer between the IoT device and the network provider. This filter intercepts data payloads, applies filter criteria to identify and remove sensitive information (such as financial data, work-related information, and child's content), and then transmits only non-sensitive data to the central server. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the device's always-on functionality while preventing sensitive data capture through the intermediary filtering mechanism.
2Speed
If sensors such as microphones are continuously active to enable passive listening for wake-up words, then the device's responsiveness is improved, but the potential for malicious interception and use of captured data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by establishing filter criteria before data transmission occurs. The privacy filter is pre-configured with rules identifying sensitive data patterns (financial information, personal content, etc.), and these criteria are applied proactively to incoming audio payloads before they can be intercepted or misused. This prevents harmful data interception by acting in advance rather than reacting after capture.
3Reliability
If filter criteria are applied to audio payloads to prevent sensitive data transmission, then user privacy is protected, but additional processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the data processing function into distinct components: the privacy filter module that handles filtering operations, the profile resource that stores filter criteria, and the payload processing logic. This segmentation allows the system to protect user privacy through dedicated filtering functionality while maintaining overall system manageability by organizing complexity into separate, well-defined modules.
Data Source
AI summary
A privacy filter for internet of things (IOT) devices and can include a processor, a profile resource, a device interface, an external network interface, and a storage having instructions for filtering processes and encoding processes (e.g., appropriate processes of a software development kit (SDK)). The privacy filter can receive a payload comprising audio content from a connected device; obtain filter criteria for the connected device; identify portions of the payload satisfying the filter criteria; and affect audio of the audio content corresponding to the identified portions of the payload. after affecting the audio, the privacy filter can reassemble the payload according to an IOT provider SDK and can communicate the reassembled payload to an IOT provider service.