Anti-eavesdrop security device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11488571-B2
Application number	US-202016919864-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2020
Priority date	Jul 2, 2020
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

A system and method to prevent eavesdropping by a device. An anti-eavesdrop component is installed on the device. The anti-eavesdrop component is configured to actively prevent the device from capturing audio from the environment. In response to installing the anti-eavesdrop component, the device recognizes the anti-eavesdrop component as a primary audio input for the device. The anti-eavesdrop component then proceeds to block the device from capturing outside audio by injecting noise or otherwise interfering with the primary audio input.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for preventing eavesdropping by a device, comprising:
installing an anti-eavesdrop component on the device;
in response to installing the anti-eavesdrop component, recognizing by the device the anti-eavesdrop component as a primary audio input for the device;
blocking from the device outside audio by the anti-eavesdrop component by inputting an audio signal into the primary input of the device, where the audio signal is selected from the group consisting of white noise and random words; and
alerting a user when a secondary audio input on the device is active.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio signal is input at a magnitude that audio captured by a second audio input on the device cannot discern outside audio.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
deactivating the anti-eavesdrop component;
communicating by a user audibly with the device; and
reactivating the blocking of the anti-eavesdrop component in response to completion of the communication by the user.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein deactivating is performed in response to an audio command from the user recognized by the anti-eavesdrop component.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein reactivating occurs after a predetermined period of time following completion of the communication by the user.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein blocking turns off all other audio inputs present on the device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein installing further comprises:
causing a short between a microphone pin and a ground pin of an audio input jack of the device.

8. A system for preventing eavesdropping comprising:
a device, the device configured to capture audio from an environment through at least one audio input; and
an anti-eavesdrop component connected to the device, the anti-eavesdrop component configured to actively prevent the device from capturing audio from the environment by causing a short between a microphone pin and a ground pin of an audio input jack of the device.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the anti-eavesdrop device injects an audio signal into the at least one audio input.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the audio signal is white noise.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the audio signal is random words.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the audio signal is not audible to a user of the device.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the anti-eavesdrop component is integrated into a second device that a user uses with the device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the second device is a mobile phone case.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the second device is a headphone.

16. The system of claim 8 wherein the anti-eavesdrop component is configured to provide a notification to a user that a second audio input on the device is active.

17. A system for preventing eavesdropping comprising:
a device, the device configured to capture audio from an environment through at least one audio input; and
an anti-eavesdrop component connected to the device, the anti-eavesdrop component configured to actively prevent the device from capturing audio from the environment, wherein the anti-eavesdrop component is configured to provide a notification to a user that a second audio input on the device is active.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Berge Layne A
• Bjorgaard Jason J
• Dangler John R
• Doyle Matthew
• Liang Thomas W
• Schoneck Kyle
• Walther Matthew A
• Judd Jeffrey N
• Newshutz Henry Michael
• Kelly Matthew S

Classifications

• H04M1/72412

  using two-way short-range wireless interfaces · CPC title

• H04M1/72409

  by interfacing with external accessories (hands-free H04M1/60) · CPC title

• H04K3/825

  by jamming · CPC title

• G10K11/1754 Primary

  Speech masking · CPC title

• H04M1/0202

  Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets (constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03) · CPC title