Selective Screen Sharing with Masked Regions for Privacy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing screen sharing applications lack ease of use and fail to protect confidential information, often requiring excessive user effort and allowing unintended content to be shared, leading to jumbled presentations.

Innovation Solution

A computing device generates shared content data based on user input, creating a mask to cover non-shared regions and sends screen data to remote devices for dynamic content sharing, using a collaboration application to ensure only intended content is displayed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional screen sharing applications are used, then screen content can be shared with other participants, but confidential information may be exposed and the sharing process is inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of confidential informationVSAvoidconvenience of content sharing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The screen content is segmented into multiple regions, with each region independently controllable for sharing. The interface divides the screen into shareable content areas and non-shareable areas, allowing users to selectively share only specific portions while maintaining protection of confidential information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the screen are assigned different sharing qualities - some regions are marked as shareable while others are protected. The system applies local quality control by allowing certain areas to be shared while restricting others, enabling selective content sharing based on sensitivity and relevance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of information

If multiple portions of content are shared simultaneously, then comprehensive information can be presented, but the content appears jumbled and is difficult to follow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of shared contentVSAvoidclarity of content presentation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple content portions are arranged in a structured spatial layout rather than overlapping or jumbled placement. The system uses dimensional organization to position different content regions in a clear, hierarchical arrangement that maintains completeness while ensuring readability and logical flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Content is divided into distinct segmented regions that are clearly separated and organized. Each portion of shared content occupies a defined spatial boundary, preventing overlap and confusion while maintaining comprehensive information delivery through systematic arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of information

If the entire screen is captured for sharing, then all visible content is transmitted, but unintended confidential information may be exposed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of screen captureVSAvoidexposure of confidential information

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and identifies confidential or sensitive regions from the full screen capture and excludes them from sharing. By taking out the harmful elements (confidential information) from the overall screen content, the system enables comprehensive sharing of legitimate content while protecting sensitive areas through automatic or manual identification and exclusion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If traditional content selection processes are used, then users can select what to share, but excessive time and effort are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol over shared contentVSAvoidtime for content selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic content analysis and classification, self-identifying which portions of the screen contain shareable content versus confidential information. This self-service capability reduces manual intervention requirements while maintaining user control through configurable settings and approval mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of screen content to pre-identify shareable regions before the user initiates sharing. By conducting preliminary classification and organization of content areas, the system reduces the time required for user selection while maintaining adaptability through user-configurable preferences and approval workflows.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250356034A1Dynamic content sharing

Publication Date: 2025.11.20 CITRIX SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

Methods and systems for sharing content is described herein. Based on receiving input associated with sharing portions of content displayed on a presenter screen, shared content data associated with sharing the portions of content may be generated. Based on the shared content data, a shared content indicator may be updated to indicate the portions of content to share. A screen capture based on the presenter screen may be generated. Screen data including the portions of content and a mask that covers regions of the screen capture that are not occupied by the portions of content may be generated. Furthermore, the computing device may send the screen data to remote computing devices that are configured to generate audience screens based on the screen data.