Mobile electronic device and method of displaying on same

• US 8,369,899 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Jinsong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/695,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20100190531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/410, 455/411, 455/425, 455/432.3, 455/456.6, 455/550.1, 4555561-557
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• 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: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A mobile device and a displayed information protection method suitable for use with the mobile device are disclosed. In response to a trigger signal, a control unit determines if information presented on a display contains confidential information. If confidential information is displayed, the confidential information is concealed or removed from the display. The trigger signal may comprise, for example, an event such as an incoming telephone call, reception of electronic mail, and fingerprint authentication.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a display unit operable to display a first image on a display screen thereof; and

a control unit comprising;

a sensing unit operable to sense a trigger signal;

a determination unit operable to determine whether the first image comprises personal information, wherein the personal information comprises information that has been previously designated as personal information by a user of the mobile device and stored in a memory of the mobile device and the determination unit compares the first image to the personal information stored in the memory to determine whether the first image comprises the personal information; and

a substitution unit operable to display a second image on the display screen in response to the trigger signal to conceal the first image, if the first image comprises the personal information.

2. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is further operable to display the first image and the second image on the display screen.

3. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises an electronic mail processing unit operable to:

receive an electronic mail; and

generate the trigger signal based on the electronic mail.

4. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises a biometric authentication unit operable to:

perform a biometric authentication using biological information; and

generate the trigger signal if the biological information is authenticated.

5. The mobile device according to claim 4, wherein the substitution unit is further operable to:

maintain the second image on the display screen, if the biological information is not authenticated; and

substitute the first image for the second image otherwise.

6. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the trigger signal is generated based on at least one manipulation of a manipulation unit.

7. The mobile device according to claim 6, wherein a delay in the at least one manipulation of the manipulation unit generates the trigger signal.

8. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises a telephone call unit operable to:

perform a telephone call function to receive an incoming telephone call, and

generate the trigger signal based on the incoming telephone call.

10. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the substitution unit is further operable to display the first image on the display unit if the second image is displayed on the display unit and if a second trigger is sensed.

9. A mobile device, comprising a display unit operable to display a first image on a display screen thereof and a control unit comprising:

a sensing unit operable to sense a trigger signal;

a determination unit operable to determine whether the first image comprises confidential information; and

a substitution unit operable to display a second image on the display screen in response to the trigger signal to conceal the first image, if the first image comprises the confidential information,

wherein the control unit further comprises a telephone call unit operable to;

perform a telephone call function to receive an incoming telephone call, and

generate the trigger signal based on the incoming telephone call, and wherein the substitution unit is further operable to terminate concealing the first image, if the determination unit determines that information displayed on the first image comprises the confidential information and if the incoming telephone call comprises a predetermined phone number previously registered in the telephone call function by the user.

11. A displayed information protection method for a mobile device, the method comprising:

displaying an original image on a display screen;

sensing a trigger signal;

determining whether the original image comprises personal information, wherein the personal information comprises information that has been previously designated as personal information by a user of the mobile device and stored in a memory of the mobile device and determining comprises comparing the first image to the personal information stored in the memory to determine whether the first image comprises the personal information; and

displaying a camouflage image on the display screen in response to the trigger signal to conceal the original image, lithe original image comprises the personal information.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an electronic mail; and

generating the trigger signal based on the electronic mail.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

performing a biometric authentication using biological information; and

generating the trigger signal if the biological information is authenticated.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the trigger signal is generated based on at least one manipulation of a manipulation unit.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

performing a telephone call function to receive an incoming telephone call; and

generating the trigger signal based on the incoming telephone call.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for displayed information protection, the computer-readable medium comprising program code for:

displaying an original image on a display screen;

sensing a trigger signal;

determining whether the original image comprises personal information, wherein the personal information comprises information that has been previously designated as personal information by a user of the mobile device and stored in a memory of the mobile device and determining comprises comparing the first image to the personal information stored in the memory to determine whether the first image comprises the personal information; and

displaying a camouflage image on the display screen in response to the trigger signal to conceal the original image, if the original image comprises the personal information.

17. The computer-readable medium according to claim 16, further comprising program code for:

receiving an electronic mail; and

generating the trigger signal based on the electronic mail.

18. The computer-readable medium according to claim 16, further comprising program code for:

performing a biometric authentication using biological information; and

generating the trigger signal if the biological information is authenticated.

19. The computer-readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the trigger signal is generated based on at least one manipulation of a manipulation unit.

20. The computer-readable medium according to claim 16, further comprising program code for:

performing a telephone call function to receive an incoming telephone call; and

generating the trigger signal based on the incoming telephone call.