Ambiguated control functions for covert communications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022303384-A1
Application number	US-202117203298-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 16, 2021
Priority date	Mar 16, 2021
Publication date	Sep 22, 2022
Grant date	—

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

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:
wherein the functional object of the GUI is selected and the ambiguated application is in a first state, perform a first function of a first application whose functions are part of the ambiguated application; and
wherein the functional object is selected and the ambiguated application is in a second state, perform a second function of a second application whose functions are part of the ambiguated application, wherein the functional object has a same appearance when the ambiguated application is in the first state and the second state, wherein the second application is different from the first application, and wherein the second function is different from the first function.

2 . The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the first application comprises a communication application, and wherein the first function comprises a photo capture function, a video recording function, an audio recording function, a sending function, a receiving function, a muting audio function, or a push to talk voice communication control function.

3 . The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the ambiguated application is in the second state, the second application comprises a game application on the communication device, and the second function represents a function of the game application.

4 . The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the ambiguated application represents one or more images and the ambiguated application is in the second state, and the object represented by the functional object includes a portion of the one or more images.

5 . The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the functional object comprises: a symbol, a shape, a color, an image, an area defined by a shape transparent or invisible to a human, an area visually bounded by a visible line with a transparent interior, or an area that has no visible line boundary with a transient or semitransparent interior, 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 first state, and a second visible indicator to indicate that the ambiguated application is in the second state.

7 . The communication device of claim 6 , wherein the first visible indicator and the second visible indicator differ in color hue, tone, brightness, or shape.

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

9 . The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the GUI further comprises one or more switching objects to switch the ambiguated application from the first state to the second state, or from the second state to the first 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 a third state.

11 . The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the ambiguated application is in a third 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 comprises the communication device and another communication device forming an ad hoc wireless network, a communication talk group, or a mobile push-to-talk (PTT) group.

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

14 . 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.

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 first function of a first application comprising first function that is part of the ambiguated application, wherein the ambiguated application is in a first state; selecting the functional object to perform a second function of a second application comprising a second function that is part of the ambiguated application, wherein the second application is different from the first application, wherein the second function is different than the first function, wherein the ambiguated application is in a second state, wherein the functional object has a same appearance when the ambiguated application is in the first state and the second state; setting up a portion of the GUI or the functional object, wherein the ambiguated application is in a third state; and activating one or more switching objects of the GUI to switch the ambiguated application from a state selected from the first state, the second state, or the third state, to another state selected from the first state, the second state, or the third state.

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

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the ambiguated application is in the second state, the second application comprises a game application to be played on the device, and the second function represents a function of the game application.

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

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the functional object includes a symbol, a shape, a color, an image, an area defined by a shape transparent or invisible to a human, an area visually bounded by a visible line with a transparent interior, or an area that has no visible line boundary with a transient or semitransparent interior, and wherein the functional object is controlled by a touch or a gesture of a user; and
wherein the first function comprises a

Assignees

• Mutualink Inc

Inventors

• Mazzarella Joseph R

Classifications

• A63F13/533

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

• H04W12/126 Primary

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

• G06F3/04883

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• H04W12/30

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