Operating system privacy mode

• US 10,572,691 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2015
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Baer, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Sher A
• Application Number:
  US15/567,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20180150653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6263 during internet communication, e.g. revealing personal data from cookies
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/74 operating in dual or compartmented mode, i.e. at least one secure mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

Operating system privacy mode techniques are described. In one or more implementations, techniques are described to control usage tracking of a computing device. An input is received by an operating system of the computing device to switch to a privacy mode. Responsive to the input, usage tracking is ceased by the operating system of user interaction with the computing device.

Claims

1. A method of controlling usage tracking of a computing device, the method comprising:

receiving an input by an operating system of the computing device to switch to a privacy mode;

responsive to the input, entering the privacy mode by the operating system;

for one or more of multiple applications that support the privacy mode, ceasing usage tracking of user interaction with the computing device, wherein the usage tracking comprises geographic location tracking of the computing device; and

for one or more of multiple applications that do not support the privacy mode, blocking execution of the one or more of the multiple applications by the operating system responsive to a determination that the one or more of the multiple applications lacks support for the privacy mode.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the ceasing of the usage tracking results in data otherwise obtained via the usage tracking to be unavailable to applications executed by the computing device.

3. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising responsive to the input, communicating via an application programming interface by the operating system with an application of the multiple applications that support the privacy mode to cause the application to cease usage tracking.

4. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising responsive to the input, causing output of an indication in a user interface by the operating system indicative that the operating system is in the privacy mode.

5. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising causing an output indicating lack of support for the privacy mode by the one or more of the multiple applications responsive to the determination that the one or more of multiple applications lacks support for the privacy mode.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein blocking execution of the one or more of the multiple applications that do not support the privacy mode comprises terminating execution of the one or more of the multiple applications by the operating system responsive to the determination that the one or more of the multiple applications lacks support for the privacy mode.

7. A method as described in claim 1 wherein blocking execution of the one or more of the multiple applications that do not support the privacy mode comprises preventing launching of the one or more of the multiple applications by the operating system responsive to the determination that the one or more of the multiple applications lacks support for the privacy mode.

8. A method as described in claim 1 wherein the ceasing of the usage tracking comprises ceasing synchronization of data of the computing device with a service provider via a network while in the privacy mode.

9. A method as described in claim 1 wherein the usage tracking further comprises search history tracking of the computing device.

10. A method as described in claim 1 wherein the usage tracking further comprises frequently or recently accessed data tracking of the computing device.

11. A method as described in claim 1 wherein the usage tracking further comprises behavior learning of a user tracking of the computing device.

12. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising verifying support of the privacy mode by the multiple applications executed by the computing device.

13. A method as described in claim 1, the input comprising user selection of a single dedicated control.

14. A computing device comprising

a processing system;

and

memory configured to maintain instructions that are executable by the processing system to implement an operating system having a control that is user selectable to cause the operating system to enter a privacy mode, cease usage tracking of user interaction with the computing device for one or more of multiple applications that support the privacy mode wherein the usage tracking comprises geographic location tracking of the computing device, and block execution of the one or more of the multiple applications by the operating system responsive to a determination that one or more of the multiple applications lacks support for the privacy mode.

15. A computing device as described in claim 14, wherein the operating system is further configured, while in the privacy mode, to cause an output indicating lack of support for the privacy mode by the one or more of the multiple applications responsive to the determination that the one or more of the multiple applications lacks support for the privacy mode.

16. A computing device as described in claim 14, wherein to block execution of the one or more of the multiple applications that do not support the privacy mode, the operating system is configured, while in the privacy mode, to terminate execution of the one or more of the multiple applications by the operating system responsive to the determination that the one or more of the multiple applications lacks support for the privacy mode.

17. A computing device as described in claim 14, wherein the usage tracking further includes at least one of synchronization of data of the computing device with a service provider via a network, search history, task continuity lists of frequently or recently accessed data, and behavior learning of a user performed by a personal digital assistant.

18. A computing device comprising:

a processing system; and

memory configured to maintain instructions that are executable by the processing system to implement an operating system having a control that is user selectable to cause the operating system to enter a privacy mode, verify support of the privacy mode by multiple applications executed by the computing device, cease usage tracking of user interaction with the computing device for one or more of multiple applications that support the privacy mode wherein the usage tracking comprises geographic location tracking of the computing device, and block execution of the one or more of the multiple applications by the operating system responsive to a determination that one or more of the multiple applications lacks support for the privacy mode.

19. A computing device as described in claim 18, wherein the operating system is further configured, while in the privacy mode, to cause an output indicating lack of support for the privacy mode by the one or more of the multiple applications responsive to the determination that the one or more of the multiple applications lacks support for the privacy mode.

20. A computing device as described in claim 18, wherein to block execution of the one or more of the multiple applications that do not support the privacy mode, the operating system is configured, while in the privacy mode, to terminate execution of the one or more applications by the operating system responsive to the determination that the one or more applications lacks support for the privacy mode.