Random-Hopping Noise Accessory for Smart Device Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart devices often listen and record user interactions without user knowledge, especially in noisy environments, making it difficult to maintain privacy when privacy is desired.
Innovation Solution
An accessory with transducers located near each receiver in the smart device generates noisy frequency signals at a power level that makes the signal-to-noise ratio negative, using a controller to randomly hop frequencies and prevent audio processing software from canceling these signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple microphones and speakers are included to improve hearing ability in noisy environments, then the smart device can clearly detect user voice requests, but the device continuously listens and records without user knowledge, compromising privacy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by generating noise canceling signals before the harmful listening occurs. The accessory continuously generates anti-noise signals that preemptively counteract the smart device's ability to detect and record user conversations, thereby preventing privacy intrusion while the device maintains its listening capability for intended functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component - the privacy protection accessory - that sits between the user and the smart device. This intermediary generates noise signals that mediate the interaction by blocking the smart device's receivers from clearly detecting user voice, thus protecting privacy without requiring modifications to the smart device itself
2Measurement precision
If noise cancellation technology is used to filter out background noise, then the smart device can clearly hear user requests, but simple covering of receivers or adding noise fails to prevent the device from hearing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the noise signal parameters (frequency, amplitude, phase) to match and counteract the smart device's voice detection capabilities. The system changes the acoustic parameters in real-time to ensure effective privacy protection while maintaining simplicity of use for the end user
3Object-affected harmful factors
If transducers generate noisy frequency signals at high power levels, then the signal-to-noise ratio becomes negative preventing recognition, but this requires precise control to prevent audio processing software from identifying and canceling the signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the noise signal characteristics dynamic and constantly changing rather than static. The system dynamically adjusts frequency, amplitude, and phase parameters in real-time, making it computationally infeasible for audio processing software to identify and cancel the signals, thereby achieving effective privacy protection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic action by using rapidly changing periodic signals with varying frequencies and phases. The transducers generate periodic noise patterns that cycle through different parameters, preventing the smart device's audio processing software from establishing a stable pattern to identify and eliminate the interfering signals
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The accessory effectively prevents smart devices from recognizing user inputs by ensuring a negative signal-to-noise ratio, thus maintaining privacy by inhibiting unwanted recording and transmission of user data.
Implementation Method 1
An amplifier outputs noisy frequency signals to each transducer at a power level sufficient to cause the signal-to-noise ratio at each receiver to be negative
Data Source
AI summary
An accessory for a smart device and a method from controlling the same includes at least one transducer per receiver of the smart device, each transducer physically located in close proximity to a physical location of each receiver. An amplifier outputs noisy frequency signals to each transducer at a power level sufficient to cause the signal-to-noise ratio at each receiver to be negative. A controller outputs the noisy frequency signals for each transducer to the amplifier according to a mode, the controller randomly hopping the noisy frequency signals for each transducer in a manner sufficient to prevent audio processing software associated with each receiver from being able to identify and cancel the noisy frequency signals.