Screen Sensitive Information Masking via Light Sensor Thresholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional techniques fail to effectively protect personal sensitive information displayed on electronic device screens from being easily spied by others, leading to information leakage and security issues.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize a light sensor to monitor light intensity thresholds, identifying and masking sensitive information areas on the screen when light intensity increases above a first threshold, and unmasking when it decreases below a second threshold, using techniques such as displaying a rectangular picture or adjusting background colors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If sensitive information is displayed directly on the screen, then information accessibility is improved, but information security deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidinformation security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic screen content adjustment based on detected light intensity. The processing unit dynamically masks or unmask s sensitive information areas by generating masked screen content when light intensity exceeds the threshold and displaying original content when it does not, allowing the system to adapt between security and accessibility states based on environmental conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies visual masking by rendering rectangular pictures or adjusting background colors in sensitive information areas. The display unit presents obscured content through color changes or overlay graphics when masking is activated, making sensitive information visually indistinguishable while maintaining the underlying data structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If light intensity monitoring and masking is implemented, then information security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation securityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple functions into existing device components. The light sensor performs its primary function of detecting ambient light for display brightness adjustment while simultaneously detecting light intensity for security masking decisions. The processing unit handles both normal display content generation and security masking operations, reducing the need for dedicated separate components

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the device's existing light sensor and processing capabilities to automatically monitor light intensity and adjust screen content masking without requiring external monitoring devices or complex additional hardware. The device serves its own security monitoring needs using already-present components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Effectively prevents leakage of sensitive information by masking it when not intended to be viewed and unmasking it when appropriate, significantly enhancing user information viewing security compared to conventional methods.

Implementation Method 1

monitoring whether light intensity detected by a light sensor increases to a first threshold

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight detection: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3208703B1Method and apparatus for processing screen sensitive information
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 ADVANCED NEW TECHNOLOGIES CO LTD
  • EP3208703B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3208703B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3208703B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present application provide a screen sensitive information processing method and apparatus. The method includes: monitoring whether light intensity detected by a light sensor increases to a first threshold, and when it is monitored that the light intensity increases to the first threshold, identifying an area where predefined sensitive information in display content of a screen is located, and masking content displayed in the area where the sensitive information is located. The embodiments of the present application improve security of information reading for users.