Ambiguated control functions for covert communications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11765264-B2
Application number	US-202117203298-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2021
Priority date	Mar 16, 2021
Publication date	Sep 19, 2023
Grant date	Sep 19, 2023

Abstract

Some embodiments include an ambiguated application that can perform first functions, e.g., a communication application functions, when the ambiguated application is in a first state, and perform second functions, e.g., game functions, when the ambiguated application is in a second state. The ambiguated application in the first state and the ambiguated application in the second state share a same graphic user interface (GUI). When a functional object of the GUI is selected, the ambiguated application performs a first function if the ambiguated application is in a first state. In addition, when the same functional object of the GUI is selected, the ambiguated application performs a second function if the ambiguated application is in a second state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A communication device, comprising:
a transceiver configured to communicate in a wireless communication network;
an ambiguated application to be operated by one or more processors, wherein the ambiguated application comprises displaying a graphic user interface (GUI) including a functional object; and
the one or more processors coupled to the transceiver, and configured to:
perform a communication function of a covert communication application whose functions are part of the ambiguated application in a covert communication state, wherein the covert communication application is not operative in a lock state of the covert communication state, wherein placement of the functional object in a predetermined way unlocks the covert communication application;
switching the ambiguated application from the covert communication state to a game state to perform as a game application; and
perform a game function of the game application whose functions are part of the ambiguated application, wherein the functional object has a same appearance when the ambiguated application is in the covert communication state and the game state, wherein the game application is different from the covert communication application, and wherein the game function is different from the communication function.

2. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the communication function comprises a push to talk voice communication control function.

3. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the ambiguated application in the covert communication state comprises one or more images and the functional object includes a portion of the one or more images.

4. The communication device of claim 3 , wherein the one or more images correspond to communication groups, the one or more processors are further configured to switch from a first communication group to another, wherein the first communication group comprises the communication device and another communication device forming a mobile push-to-talk (PTT) group.

5. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the functional object comprises: an area defined by a shape transparent or invisible to a human, and wherein the functional object is controlled by a touch or a gesture of a user.

6. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the GUI further comprises a first visible indicator to indicate that the ambiguated application is in the covert communication state, and a second visible indicator to indicate that the ambiguated application is in a gallery state.

7. The communication device of claim 6 , wherein the first visible indicator and the second visible indicator differ in color.

8. The communication device of claim 6 , wherein the first visible indicator comprises a background image of the GUI in a a first tone the second visible indicator includes the background image in a second tone.

9. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the GUI further comprises one or more switching objects to switch the ambiguated application from the covert communication state to the game state, or from the game state to the covert communication state, and wherein to switch the ambiguated application, the one or more switching objects are activated by one or more control actions including taps, clicks, swipes, or gestures, or by a placement of a predetermined pattern formed by the one or more switching objects.

10. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the GUI is a first GUI for the ambiguated application, and the ambiguated application further includes a second GUI with substantially same functions as represented by the first GUI, and wherein the second GUI is active when the ambiguated application is in an explicit communication state.

11. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the ambiguated application is in an administrative state, and the one or more processors are configured to setup a portion of the GUI or the functional object.

12. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication network is a first wireless communication network, the communication device is further configured to wirelessly communicate via a second wireless communication network.

13. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the communication device comprises a smart phone, a laptop, a tablet, a desktop computer, a server, a personal assistant, a monitor, a wearable device, an Internet of Thing (IoT) device, a mobile station, a subscriber station, a remote terminal, a wireless terminal, or a user device.

14. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the ambiguated application is managed by an operating system of the communication device, wherein the communication device further comprises a memory coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the memory comprises one allocated memory space for the ambiguated application including the first application and the second application.

15. A method for an ambiguated application operated on a device, comprising:
selecting a functional object of a graphic user interface (GUI) of the ambiguated application to perform a communication function of a covert communication application that is part of the ambiguated application, wherein the ambiguated application is in a covert communication state, wherein the covert communication application is not operative in a lock state of the covert communication state, wherein placement of the functional object in a predetermined way unlocks the covert communication application;
switching the ambiguated application from the covert communication state to a game state to perform as a game application;
selecting the functional object to perform a game function of a game application comprising a game function that is part of the ambiguated application, wherein the game application is different from the covert communication application, wherein the game function is different than the communication function, wherein the ambiguated application is in a game state, wherein the functional object has a same appearance when the ambiguated application is in the covert communication state and the game state;
setting up a portion of the GUI or the functional object, wherein the ambiguated application is in an administrative state; and
activating one or more switching objects of the GUI to switch the ambiguated application from the covert communication state, the game state, or the administrative state, to another state.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the communication function is a control function for the covert communication application to manage a communication between the device and an other device.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the ambiguated application performs as the covert communication application with the GUI, wherein the ambiguated application has a second GUI when the ambiguated application performs as the game application, and wherein the GUI, the second GUI, share at least the functional object in common.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the functional object includes a an area that has no visible line boundary with a transient interior, and wherein the functional object is controlled by a touch or a gesture of a user; and
wherein the first function comprises a push to talk voice communication control function.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a device, cause the processor to perform operations for an ambiguated application operated on the device, the operations comprising:
operating a ambiguated application in a covert communicatio

Assignees

• Mutualink Inc

Inventors

• Mazzarella Joseph R

Classifications

• H04W12/126 Primary

  Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning · CPC title

• H04M1/72469 Primary

  for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons · CPC title

• H04W12/30

  Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications · CPC title

• A63F13/533

  for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu · CPC title

• A63F2300/308

  Details of the user interface · CPC title