# US 2021/0243360 A1 · Information processing device and information processing method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0243360 A1 - Document ID: US20210243360A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/049,290 - Filed: 2019-02-01 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-27 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Naoyuki Onoe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210243360A1 ## CPC - G06F 21/6245: {Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes} - H04N 23/611: where the recognised objects include parts of the human body - G06F 3/01: Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer (G06F3/16 takes precedence) - G06F 3/16: Sound input; Sound output (speech processing G10L) - G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback} - G06F 21/74: operating in dual or compartmented mode, i.e. at least one secure mode - H04N 23/60: Control of cameras or camera modules - H04N 23/667: Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract [Problem] To reduce psychological anxiety of the user regarding acquisition of information in utilizing agent functions. [Solution] Provided is an information processing device, including a control unit that controls an information acquisition function to acquire information regarding a state of a user, in which the control unit controls a transition to an information protection mode that restricts at least part of the information acquisition function on the basis of a start of a protection target act by the user having been estimated. In addition, there is provided an information processing method, including controlling an information acquisition function by a processor to acquire information regarding a state of a user, in which the controlling further includes controlling a transition to an information protection mode that restricts at least part of the information acquisition function on the basis of a start of a protection target act by the user having been estimated. [Selected Drawing] FIG. 1 ## Claims ### Claim 1 An information processing device comprising a control unit that controls an information acquisition function to acquire information regarding a state of a user, wherein the control unit controls a transition to an information protection mode that restricts at least part of the information acquisition function on the basis of a start of a protection target act by the user having been estimated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the information acquisition function in the information protection mode such that accuracy in acquiring information regarding the protection target act decreases. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit performs control to decrease the accuracy in acquiring the information regarding the protection target act in the information protection mode to an extent that at least one of the protection target act or the user cannot be identified. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control to stop acquisition of information regarding the protection target act in the information protection mode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines a restricted content of the information acquisition function on the basis of a protection level of the protection target act in the information protection mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a return to a normal mode that does not restrict the information acquisition function in the information protection mode on the basis of an end of the protection target act having been estimated. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the information acquisition function includes at least one of an image acquisition function, a voice acquisition function, or a positional information acquisition function. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the information protection mode includes an image protection mode, and the control unit controls a transition to the image protection mode on the basis of the start of the protection target act having been estimated, and restricts at least part of an image acquisition function in the image protection mode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The information processing device according to claim 8, wherein the protection target act includes at least an act of changing clothes by the user, and the control unit restricts, on the basis of a start of the act of changing clothes having been estimated, the image acquisition function to an extent that at least one of the act of changing clothes or the user cannot be identified. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the information protection mode includes a voice protection mode, and the control unit controls a transition to the voice protection mode on the basis of the start of the protection target act having been estimated, and restricts at least part of a voice acquisition function in the voice protection mode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The information processing device according to claim 10, wherein the protection target act includes a protection target utterance by the user, and the control unit restricts, on the basis of a start of the protection target utterance having been estimated, at least part of the voice acquisition function to an extent that a content of the protection target utterance cannot be identified. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the information protection mode includes a positional information protection mode, and the control unit controls a transition to the positional information protection mode on the basis of the start of the protection target act having been estimated, and restricts at least part of a positional information acquisition function in the positional information protection mode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The information processing device according to claim 12, wherein the protection target act includes a stay of the user in a protection target area, and the control unit restricts, on the basis of a start of the stay of the user in the protection target area having been estimated, at least part of the positional information acquisition function to an extent that the protection target area cannot be identified. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls an exhibition regarding execution of the information protection mode in the information protection mode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The information processing device according to claim 14, wherein the control unit performs control to notify the user of the information protection mode being executed by using a voice or visual information in the information protection mode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The information processing device according to claim 14, wherein the control unit performs control to express that the information protection mode is being executed by a physical motion in the information protection mode. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The information processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a recognition unit that estimates the start or an end of the protection target act on the basis of the information regarding the state of the user. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The information processing device according to claim 17, wherein the recognition unit estimates the end of the protection target act on the basis of information acquired by a remaining function of the information acquisition function in the information protection mode. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The information processing device according to claim 17, wherein the recognition unit detects the start or the end of the protection target act on the basis of an instruction of the user. ### Claim 20 An information processing method comprising controlling an information acquisition function by a processor to acquire information regarding a state of a user, wherein the controlling further includes controlling a transition to an information protection mode that restricts at least part of the information acquisition function on the basis of a start of a protection target act by the user having been estimated.