Privacy device for smart speakers
OwnerThomas Stachurainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for a privacy blocking device configured to prevent receipt, by a listening device, of video and/or audio data until a trigger occurs. A blocker may be configured to prevent receipt of video and/or audio data by one or more microphones and/or one or more cameras of a listening device. The blocker may use the one or more microphones, the one or more cameras, and/or one or more second microphones and/or one or more second cameras to monitor for a trigger. The blocker may process the data. Upon detecting the trigger, the blocker may transmit data to the listening device. For example, the blocker may transmit all or a part of a spoken phrase to the listening device.
Claims27
A blocking device, wherein the blocking device is configured to be installed in a listening device by cutting a communication path between a microphone of the listening device and a processor of the listening device and inserting the blocking device into one or more severed portions of the communication path, comprising:
- intercept circuitry configured to:
- prevent first environmental audio from being transmitted from the microphone to the processor by disrupting the communication path;
- cease disrupting the communication path between the microphone and the processor based on determining whether the first environmental audio comprises an audio trigger;
- and
- resume disrupting the communication path between the microphone and the processor;
- listening circuitry configured to determine, using the microphone, whether the first environmental audio comprises the audio trigger;
- output circuitry configured to allow, based on the audio trigger, second environmental audio to be received by the processor;
- and
- an indicator configured to provide an indication of when the communication path is being disrupted.
A first computing device, wherein the first computing device is configured to be installed in a second computing device by cutting a communication path between a second microphone of the second computing device and a second processor of the second computing device and inserting the first computing device into one or more severed portions of the communication path, comprising:
- a first microphone;
- one or more first processors;
- and
- memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors, cause the first computing device to:
- intercept one or more first sounds between the second microphone and the second processor;
- prevent one or more first signals associated with the one or more first sounds from being transmitted from the second microphone to the second processor by disrupting the communication path;
- provide an indication that the communication path between the second microphone and the second processor is disrupted;
- detect, using the first microphone, one or more second sounds;
- determine that the one or more second sounds are associated with an audio trigger;
- based on a determination that the one or more second sounds are associated with the audio trigger:
- cease disrupting the communication path between the second microphone and the second processor;
- disable the indication that the communication path between the second microphone and the second processor is disrupted;
- allow one or more second signals associated with one or more third sounds to be received by the second processor via the second microphone;
- resume disrupting the communication path between the second microphone and the second processor;
- and
- re-enable the indication that the communication path between the second microphone and the second processor is disrupted.
A system comprising:
- a first computing device comprising:
- a first microphone;
- one or more first processors;
- and
- first memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors, cause the first computing device to receive audio content via the first microphone;
- and
- a second computing device, wherein the second computing device is configured to be installed in the first computing device by cutting a communication path between the first microphone and the one or more first processors and inserting the second computing device into one or more severed portions of the communication path, the second computing device comprising:
- a second microphone;
- one or more second processors;
- and
- second memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more second processors, cause the second computing device to:
- intercept first signals from the first microphone to the one or more first processors;
- prevent the first signals from being received by the one or more first processors by disrupting the communication path;
- provide an indication that the communication path between the first microphone and the one or more first processors is disrupted;
- detect, using the second microphone, one or more second sounds associated with an audio trigger;
- based on detecting the audio trigger:
- cease disrupting the communication path between the first microphone and the one or more first processors;
- disable the indication that the communication path between the first microphone and the one or more first processors is disrupted;
- permit the one or more first processors to receive one or more third sounds from the first microphone;
- resume disrupting the communication path between the first microphone and the one or more first processors;
- and
- re-enable the indication that the communication path between the first microphone and the one or more first processors is disrupted.
A method comprising:
- intercepting, by a blocking device configured to be installed in a listening device by cutting a communication path between a microphone of the listening device and a processor of the listening device and inserting the blocking device into one or more severed portion of the communication path, first communications between the microphone and the processor;
- preventing, by the blocking device, all signals corresponding to the first communications from being received by the processor by disrupting the communication path;
- providing an indication that the communication path is disrupted;
- intercepting, by the blocking device, second communications between the microphone and the processor;
- determining, by the blocking device, whether the second communications are associated with an audio trigger;
- based on a determination that the second communications are associated with the audio trigger:
- ceasing, by the blocking device, disrupting the communications path;
- disabling the indication that the communication path is disrupted;
- permitting, by the blocking device, one or more signals associated with third communications to be received for processing by the processor of the listening device;
- resuming disrupting, by the blocking device, the communication path;
- and
- re-enabling the indication that the communication path is disrupted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.