PRIVACY PROTECTION DEVICE

• US 20190332799A1
• Filed: 01/19/2017
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Baker, Mary G., Holder, Helen A., Robinson, Ian N., Murphy, David
• Application Number:
  US16/345,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20190332799A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/604 Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

A privacy protection device may include a disabling module to prevent at least one sensor on an always-on device from sensing input and an activation sensor to detect when the at least one sensor is to be activated on the always-on device, wherein the disabling module is integrated into the always-on device

Claims

1. A privacy protection device, comprising:

a disabling module to prevent at least one sensor on an always-on device from sensing input, wherein the disabling module is integrated into the always-on device; and

an activation sensor to detect when the at least one sensor is to be activated on the always-on device.

2. The privacy protection device of claim 1, wherein the activation sensor is a seismic sensor.

3. The privacy protection device of claim 2, wherein the seismic sensor detects the cadence of a user walking, a pattern of seismic activity, or a combination thereof.

4. The privacy protection device of claim 1, wherein the activation sensor is a microphone and wherein the microphone detects a voice of a user and provide, as output, a binary signal indicating that a user is or is not present.

5. The privacy protection device of claim 1, wherein the activation sensor provides a binary output of positive or negative wherein a positive output results in activation of the always-on device.

6. The privacy protection device of claim 5, wherein the activation sensor is a camera that provides the binary output of a user present or not present within the image.

7. The privacy protection device of claim 6, wherein the detection of whether the user is or is not present within the image comprises determining whether a specifically identified user is present or not present within the image.

8. The privacy protection device of claim 1, wherein activation of the always-on device via the activation sensor further comprises activating a visual cue that indicates that the always-on device is activated.

9. The privacy protection device of claim 1, wherein removal of the disabling module from the always-on device visually indicates to a user that the always-on device is activated.

10. A method of maintaining privacy with an always-on device, comprising:

with a disabling module, preventing the activation of at least one sensor on the always-on device; and

with an activation sensor, detecting an activation action from a user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the activation action is a seismic pattern.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the activation is a binary indication that a user is viewable or not viewable within an image.

13. A human interface device comprising:

an always-on device comprising at least one sensor; and

an activation sensor to receive input from a user before the at least one sensor of the always-on device may be activated;

wherein after activation of the at least one sensor of the always-on device, the always-on device senses a wake-up action from a user.

14. The human interface device of claim 13, wherein the activation sensor is a camera that provides to the human interface device with a binary output describing whether a user is or is not within view of the camera.

15. The human interface device of claim 13, wherein the activation sensor is a seismic sensor to detect seismic activity within a vicinity of the device.