# US 10,503,925 B1 · System and method for concealing sensitive data on a computing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,503,925 B1 - Document ID: US10503925B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/001,293 - Filed: 2018-06-06 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-22 - Assignees: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company - Applicants: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company - Inventors: Jacob L. Hadsall - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503925B1 ## CPC - G06F 21/6245: {Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes} - G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints - G06F 21/60: Protecting data - G06F 21/604: {Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems} - G06F 21/84: output devices, e.g. displays or monitors - G06V 40/1365: {Matching; Classification} - 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)} - G09G 2358/00: Arrangements for display data security - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## 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 ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method of hiding sensitive information, the method comprising: executing, via one or more processors in a computing device, an eavesdropper detection application; detecting, via the one or more processors, an unauthorized eavesdropper is 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 eavesdropper from viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen to facilitate hiding sensitive or confidential information. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein preventing, via the one or more processors, the unauthorized eavesdropper from viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen is accomplished by the one or more processors: blurring or masking the sensitive or confidential information that is being displayed, or about to being displayed, on the display screen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein preventing, via the one or more processors, the unauthorized eavesdropper from viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen is accomplished by the one or more processors: removing the sensitive or confidential information from being displayed on the display screen. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein preventing, via the one or more processors, the unauthorized eavesdropper from viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen is accomplished by the one or more processors: preventing any sensitive or confidential information that is about to be displayed on the display screen from being displayed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein preventing, via the one or more processors, the unauthorized eavesdropper from viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen is accomplished by the one or more processors: generating a warning to an authorized user or owner of the computing device that an eavesdropper is viewing the display screen, and displaying the warning on the display screen to the authorized user or owner. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein detecting, via the one or more processors, that the unauthorized eavesdropper is 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 application to determine that the unauthorized eavesdropper is viewing the display screen. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein detecting, via the one or more processors, that the unauthorized eavesdropper is 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 application to determine characteristics of a person that is looking at or 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 the display screen. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) 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 executing, via the one or more processors, the eavesdropper detection application. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein preventing, via the one or more processors, the unauthorized eavesdropper from 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. ### Claim 10 A mobile device for hiding sensitive information, the mobile device comprising a processor configured to: execute an eavesdropper detection application; detect an eavesdropper is 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 eavesdropper from viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen to facilitate hiding sensitive or confidential information. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The mobile device of claim 10, wherein to prevent the eavesdropper from viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen, the processor is configured to: blur or mask the sensitive or confidential information that is being displayed, or about to being displayed, on the display screen. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The mobile device of claim 10, wherein to prevent the eavesdropper from viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen, the processor is configured to: remove the sensitive or confidential information from being displayed on the display screen. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The mobile device of claim 10, wherein to prevent the eavesdropper from viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen, the processor is configured to: prevent any sensitive or confidential information that is about to be displayed on the display screen from being displayed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The mobile device of claim 10, wherein to prevent the eavesdropper from viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen, the processor is configured to: generate a warning to an authorized user or owner of the mobile device that an eavesdropper is viewing the display screen, and display the warning on the display screen to the authorized user or owner. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The mobile device of claim 10, wherein to detect the eavesdropper is 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 eavesdropper is viewing the display screen. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The mobile device of claim 10, wherein to detect the eavesdropper is 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 or 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 the display screen. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The mobile device of claim 10, 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The mobile device of claim 17, wherein to prevent the eavesdropper from 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. ### Claim 19 A non-transitory computer-readable memory storing thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: execute an eavesdropper detection application; detect an eavesdropper is 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 eavesdropper from viewing the sensitive or confidential information via the display screen to facilitate hiding sensitive or confidential information. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computer-readable memory of claim 19, wherein to prevent the eavesdropper from 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 is viewing the display screen, and display the warning on the display screen to the authorized user or owner.