Software Privacy Filter for Mobile Screens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing screen privacy solutions are either expensive and cumbersome (physical filters) or restrictive and context-insensitive (software-controlled mechanisms), failing to provide fine-grained user control over when and how to reduce visibility of sensitive information on mobile devices.
Innovation Solution
User-controllable screen privacy software that utilizes sensors like touchscreen, camera, microphone, and biometric sensors to detect context and automatically or manually activate a privacy filter, allowing users to designate and adjust an 'area of interest' on the screen for clear visibility while blurring or dimming other areas, and track authorized users to ensure only they can view sensitive information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a physical filter is placed on the screen to prevent unauthorized viewing, then privacy protection is improved, but device complexity and cost increase, and screen visibility from the intended user's perspective is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical physical filter system with a software-based privacy filter system. The software utilizes device sensors (camera, microphone, location sensors, biometric sensors) to detect context and control display characteristics dynamically, eliminating the need for physical filters while maintaining or improving privacy protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the display parameters (brightness, contrast, color inversion) through software control based on detected context such as user presence, location, or biometric data. This allows dynamic adjustment of screen visibility without physical intervention, resolving the contradiction between privacy protection and screen visibility for authorized users.
2Device complexity
If software-controlled mechanisms are used to dim or polarize the display, then device complexity is reduced compared to physical filters, but user control over privacy settings is restricted and context sensitivity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service functionality where the privacy filter system automatically detects context using sensors and adjusts display parameters without requiring manual user intervention. The system can operate in automatic mode based on detected conditions (user presence, location, biometric authentication) while still allowing manual override, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining low device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where sensor data (camera detecting faces, microphone detecting voices, location sensors detecting proximity to sensitive locations) continuously monitors context and dynamically adjusts privacy filter activation. This feedback loop enables context-sensitive operation that responds to real-world conditions, enhancing user control without increasing device complexity.
3Productivity
If content-aware applications automatically determine information sensitivity, then productivity is improved by reducing manual intervention, but adaptability to all data types is limited and user control is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal privacy filter system that works across all applications and data types, not just content-aware applications. The system uses sensor-based context detection (location, biometric data, device orientation) rather than content analysis, making it adaptable to any application or type of information displayed, thereby improving both productivity and adaptability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring privacy rules based on context conditions (sensitive locations, authorized users biometric data) before sensitive information is displayed. The system proactively activates privacy filters based on predicted privacy needs rather than reactively analyzing content, improving productivity while maintaining broad adaptability through sensor-based context awareness.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure relates to software that provides fine-grained user control over when and how a software-based privacy filter is used to reduce clarity and/or visibility associated with content rendered on a display screen. For example, according to various aspects, the software may have access to display screen and various other components that can be used to detect and/or track current context associated with information displayed on screen. As such, based on current context, the software may determine an area displayed on screen having current interest to one or more authorized users and activate a software-based privacy filter configured to reduce the clarity and/or visibility associated with information displayed on the screen outside the area having current interest to one or more authorized users as needed (e.g., based on a sensitivity level associated with displayed information, sensor-based inputs indicating a sensitive context, etc.).