Methods, Systems, And Computer Program Products For Protecting Information On A User Interface Based On A Viewability Of The Information

• US 20100266162A1
• Filed: 07/01/2010
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Armstrong Quinton Co LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Singh, Mona, Fry, Jared S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,526,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2358/00 Arrangements for display data security

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for protecting information on a user interface based on a viewability of the information are disclosed. According to one method, a viewing position of a person other than a user with respect to information on a user interface is identified. An information viewability threshold is determined based on the information on the user interface. Further, an action associated with the user interface is performed based on the identified viewing position and the determined information viewability threshold.

Claims

1. A method for protecting information on a user interface, the method comprising:

identifying a viewing position of a person other than a user with respect to information on a user interface of a computing system;

determining an information viewability threshold for the person based on the information on the user interface, wherein the information viewability threshold is variable based on at least one of a viewability of the information as presented by the user interface and a characteristic of the person; and

performing an action associated with the user interface based on the identified viewing position and a relationship of the identified viewing position to the determined information viewability threshold,

wherein at least one of the preceding actions is performed on at least one electronic hardware component.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining an information viewability threshold for the person includes determining sensitivity of the information on the user interface and adjusting the viewability threshold based on the sensitivity of the information.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein performing the action associated with the user interface includes altering at least one of a font size and a zoom level of the information.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein adjusting the viewability threshold includes adjusting the viewability threshold based on the at least one of the font size and the zoom level of the information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein performing an action associated with the user interface includes displaying an icon for indicating the presence of the person.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein performing an action associated with the user interface includes at least one of darkening and blurring a display of the information.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining an identity of the person; and

determining whether the person is authorized to view the information on the user interface,

wherein determining the information viewability threshold includes determining the information viewability threshold based on whether the person is authorized to view the information on the user interface.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein determining an identity of the person includes:

capturing an image of the person; and

comparing the image of the person to images stored in a database.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein comparing the image of the person to images stored in a database includes detecting the face of the person in the image and comparing the face of the person to facial images stored in the database.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a viewing position of the person includes:

determining a movement of the person; and

determining based on the movement of the person whether the person is staring at the user interface or glancing at the user interface.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the characteristic of the person includes at least one of an eye position of the person, an eye movement of the person, and a facial orientation of the person.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the characteristic of the person includes at least one of a friendliness factor of the person and a behavior of the person.

13. A system for protecting information on a user interface, the system comprising system components including:

a viewing position identifier component configured to identify a viewing position of a person other than a user with respect to information on a user interface of a computing system; and

an information viewability function component configured to determine an information viewability threshold for the person based on the information on the user interface, wherein the information viewability is variable based on at least one of a viewability of the information as presented by the user interface and a characteristic of the person, and wherein the information viewability function component is configured to perform an action associated with the user interface based on the identified viewing position and a relationship of the identified viewing position to the determined information viewability threshold,

wherein at least one of the system components includes at least one electronic hardware component.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the information viewability function is configured to determine determining sensitivity of the information on the user interface and adjusting the viewability threshold based on the sensitivity of the information as part of determining the information viewability threshold for the person.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the information viewability function is further configured to alter at least one of a font size and a zoom level of the information as part of performing the action associated with the user interface.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the information viewability function is further configured to adjust the viewability threshold based on the at least one of the font size and the zoom level of the information.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the information viewability function is further configured to display an icon for indicating the presence of the person.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the user interface is a display operable to display the information, and wherein the information viewability function is further configured to control the display for blurring or darkening the information shown on the display.

19. The system of claim 13 further comprising a person identifier component configured to determine an identity of the person and determine whether the person is authorized to view the information on the user interface and wherein the information viewability function component is further configured to determine the information viewability threshold based on whether the person is authorized to view the information on the user interface.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising an image capture device configured to capture an image of the person other than the user and wherein the person identifier component is configured to compare the image of the person other than the user to images stored in a database.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein comparing the image of the person to images stored in a database includes detecting the face of the person in the image and comparing the face of the person to facial images.

22. The system of claim 13 wherein the viewing position identifier is further configured to determine a movement of the person and determine based on the movement of the person whether the person is staring at the user interface or glancing at the user interface.

23. The system of claim 13 wherein the characteristic of the person includes at least one of an eye position of the person, an eye movement of the person, and a facial orientation of the person.

24. The system of claim 13 wherein the characteristic of the person includes at least one of a friendliness factor of the person and a behavior of the person.

25. A system for protecting information on a user interface, the system comprising components including:

means implemented for identifying a viewing position of a person other than a user with respect to information on a user interface;

means for determining an information viewability threshold for the person based on the information on the user interface, wherein the information viewability threshold is variable based on at least one of a viewability of the information as presented by the user interface and a characteristic of the person; and

means for performing an action associated with the user interface based on the identified viewing position and a relationship of the identified computing system and the determined information viewability threshold,

wherein at least one of the means includes at least one electronic hardware component.

26. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a computer readable medium for performing steps comprising:

identifying a viewing position of a person other than a user with respect to information on a user interface;

determining an information viewability threshold for the person based on the information on the user interface, wherein the information viewability threshold is variable based on at least one of a viewability of the information as presented by the user interface and a characteristic of the person; and

performing an action associated with the user interface based on the identified viewing position and a relationship of the identified viewing position to the determined information viewability threshold.