System and method for concealing sensitive data on a computing device

• US 10,043,033 B1
• Filed: 01/08/2018
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Hadsall, Jacob L.
• Primary Examiner(s): AVERY, JEREMIAH L
• Application Number:
  US15/864,842
• Time in Patent Office: 211 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• 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 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2358/00 Arrangements for display data security
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092

Abstract

A computer-implemented method may hide sensitive information, such as sensitive information relating to auto, home, life, or renters insurance, banking, and/or vehicle loans. In one aspect, the method may commence or execute an eavesdropper detection functionality or application. The method may also detect an unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper is viewing, or potentially viewing, a display screen associated with the mobile device for more than a threshold duration of at least one second, determine that sensitive or confidential information is being displayed or about to be displayed, on the display screen, and prevent the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper from viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen to facilitate hiding sensitive or confidential information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of hiding sensitive information, the method comprising:

commencing or executing, via one or more processors in a computing device, an eavesdropper detection functionality or application;

detecting, via the one or more processors, an unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper is viewing, or potentially viewing, a display screen associated with the computing device for more than a threshold duration of at least one second;

determining, via the one or more processors, that sensitive or confidential information is being displayed or about to be displayed, on the display screen; and

preventing, via the one or more processors, the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper from viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen to facilitate hiding sensitive or confidential information.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein preventing, via the one or more processors, the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper from viewing or potentially viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen is accomplished by the one or more processors:

(a) blurring or masking the sensitive or confidential information that is being displayed, or about to being displayed, on the display screen;

(b) removing the sensitive or confidential information from being displayed on the display screen;

(c) preventing any sensitive or confidential information that is about to be displayed on the display screen from being displayed;

or

(d) generating a warning to an authorized user or owner of the computing device that an eavesdropper or unauthorized user is viewing, or potentially viewing, the display screen, and displaying the warning on the display screen to the authorized user or owner.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein detecting, via the one or more processors, that the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper is viewing, or potentially viewing, the display screen includes:

taking or capturing one or more images via a camera mounted on the computing device; and

analyzing the one or more images, or associated image data, via (i) the one or more processors, or (ii) the eavesdropper detection functionality or application to determine that the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper is viewing or potentially viewing the display screen.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein detecting, via the one or more processors, that the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper is viewing or potentially viewing the display screen includes:

taking or capturing one or more images via a camera mounted on the computing device;

analyzing the one or more images, or associated image data, via the (i) one or more processors, or (ii) the eavesdropper detection functionality or application to determine characteristics of a person that is looking at, viewing, or potentially viewing the display screen;

comparing the characteristics of the person with facial, eye, or other facial characteristics of the authorized user or owner to determine whether the person is the authorized user or owner, or a potential eavesdropper; and

blurring any sensitive or confidential information when it is determined that the potential eavesdropper is viewing, or potentially viewing, the display screen.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are local to the computing device, and the eavesdropper detection functionality or application is stored in a non-transitory memory unit or computer-readable medium associated with, or mounted within or internal to, the computing device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the method comprising:

determining, via the one or more processors, that a user is accessing the internet or another wireless communication network, and is directing the computing device to a website associated with a bank, financial services provider, or insurance provider before or after commencing or executing, via the one or more processors, the eavesdropper detection functionality or application.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein preventing, via the one or more processors, the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper from viewing, or potentially viewing, the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen is accomplished by the one or more processors:

(i) preventing internet access to the website;

or

(ii) directing the user to a secondary website associated with the bank, financial services provider, or insurance provider where at most limited confidential or sensitive information is displayed or accessed.

8. A mobile device for hiding sensitive information, the mobile device comprising a processor configured to:

commence or execute an eavesdropper detection functionality or application;

detect an unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper is viewing, or potentially viewing, a display screen associated with the mobile device for more than a threshold duration of at least one second;

determine that sensitive or confidential information is being displayed or about to be displayed, on the display screen; and

prevent the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper from viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen to facilitate hiding sensitive or confidential information.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein to prevent the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper from viewing or potentially viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen, the processor is configured to:

(a) blur or mask the sensitive or confidential information that is being displayed, or about to being displayed, on the display screen;

(b) remove the sensitive or confidential information from being displayed on the display screen;

(c) prevent any sensitive or confidential information that is about to be displayed on the display screen from being displayed;

or

(d) generate a warning to an authorized user or owner of the mobile device that an eavesdropper or unauthorized user is viewing, or potentially viewing, the display screen, and display the warning on the display screen to the authorized user or owner.

10. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein to detect the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper is viewing, or potentially viewing, the display screen, the processor is configured to:

take or capture one or more images via a camera mounted on the mobile device; and

analyze the one or more images, or associated image data to determine that the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper is viewing or potentially viewing the display screen.

11. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein to detect the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper is viewing, or potentially viewing, the display screen, the processor is configured to:

take or capture one or more images via a camera mounted on the mobile device;

analyze the one or more images, or associated image data to determine characteristics of a person that is looking at, viewing, or potentially viewing the display screen;

compare the characteristics of the person with facial, eye, or other facial characteristics of the authorized user or owner to determine whether the person is the authorized user or owner, or a potential eavesdropper; and

blur any sensitive or confidential information when it is determined that the potential eavesdropper is viewing, or potentially viewing, the display screen.

12. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the eavesdropper detection functionality or application is stored in a non-transitory memory unit or computer-readable medium associated with, or mounted within or internal to, the mobile device.

13. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine that a user is accessing the internet or another wireless communication network, and is directing the mobile device to a website associated with a bank, financial services provider, or insurance provider.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein to prevent the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper from viewing, or potentially viewing, the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen, the processor is configured to:

(i) prevent internet access to the website;

or

(ii) direct the user to a secondary website associated with the bank, financial services provider, or insurance provider where at most limited confidential or sensitive information is displayed or accessed.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable memory storing thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

commence or execute an eavesdropper detection functionality or application;

detect an unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper is viewing, or potentially viewing, a display screen associated with a computing device for more than a threshold duration of at least one second;

determine that sensitive or confidential information is being displayed or about to be displayed, on the display screen; and

prevent the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper from viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen to facilitate hiding sensitive or confidential information.

16. The computer-readable memory of claim 15, wherein to prevent the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper from viewing or potentially viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen, the instructions cause the one or more processors to:

(a) blur or mask the sensitive or confidential information that is being displayed, or about to being displayed, on the display screen;

(b) remove the sensitive or confidential information from being displayed on the display screen;

(c) prevent any sensitive or confidential information that is about to be displayed on the display screen from being displayed;

or

(d) generate a warning to an authorized user or owner of the computing device that an eavesdropper or unauthorized user is viewing, or potentially viewing, the display screen, and display the warning on the display screen to the authorized user or owner.

17. The computer-readable memory of claim 15, wherein to detect the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper is viewing, or potentially viewing, the display screen, the instructions cause the one or more processors to:

take or capture one or more images via a camera mounted on the computing device; and

analyze the one or more images, or associated image data to determine that the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper is viewing or potentially viewing the display screen.

18. The computer-readable memory of claim 16, wherein to detect the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper is viewing, or potentially viewing, the display screen, the instructions cause the one or more processors to:

take or capture one or more images via a camera mounted on the computing device;

analyze the one or more images, or associated image data to determine characteristics of a person that is looking at, viewing, or potentially viewing the display screen;

compare the characteristics of the person with facial, eye, or other facial characteristics of the authorized user or owner to determine whether the person is the authorized user or owner, or a potential eavesdropper; and

blur any sensitive or confidential information when it is determined that the potential eavesdropper is viewing, or potentially viewing, the display screen.

19. The computer-readable memory of claim 15, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

determine that a user is accessing the internet or another wireless communication network, and is directing the computing device to a website associated with a bank, financial services provider, or insurance provider.

20. The computer-readable memory of claim 19, wherein to prevent the unauthorized viewer or eavesdropper from viewing, or potentially viewing, the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen, the instructions cause the one or more processors to:

(i) prevent internet access to the website;

or

(ii) direct the user to a secondary website associated with the bank, financial services provider, or insurance provider where at most limited confidential or sensitive information is displayed or accessed.