Device display security with user-specified filtering of display contents

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments provide a temporary privacy mode for an electronic device. The user selects one or more regions of allowable content and/or unallowable content. The user then invokes a temporary privacy mode of the device. While the device is in the temporary privacy mode, only the allowable content is viewable on the display of the electronic device. The unallowable content is obfuscated or hidden from view. The third party therefore cannot see the content deemed private by the user. When the third party has completed review of the content, the user can exit the temporary privacy mode to return to normal operation.

1 . A computer-implemented method for obfuscating displayed content on an electronic device, comprising:
 receiving a selection of one or more regions of allowable content on a display of the electronic device;   receiving a request to enter a temporary privacy mode;   obfuscating an area of the display that is outside of the one or more regions of allowable content upon receiving the request to enter the temporary privacy mode;   receiving a request to exit the temporary privacy mode; and   deobfuscating the area of the display that was previously obfuscated.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a selection of one or more regions of allowable content comprises receiving one or more enclosed regions of allowable content. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a selection of one or more regions of allowable content comprises:
 receiving one or more enclosed regions of unallowable content; and   computing one or more regions of allowable content by excluding the one or more enclosed regions of unallowable content from the display.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein receiving a selection of one or more regions of allowable content comprises tracking a closed shaped path from user input of a touch screen on the electronic device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obfuscating an area of the display that is outside of the one or more regions of allowable content comprises whiting out the area. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obfuscating an area of the display that is outside of the one or more regions of allowable content comprises blacking out the area. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obfuscating an area of the display that is outside of the one or more regions of allowable content comprises blurring the area. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a request to enter a temporary privacy mode comprises detecting a security gesture. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein receiving a request to enter a temporary privacy mode comprises receiving alphanumeric user input on the touch screen. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disabling notifications in response to receiving the request to enter the temporary privacy mode. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disabling incoming calls in response to receiving the request to enter the temporary privacy mode. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disabling vibration notifications in response to receiving the request to enter the temporary privacy mode. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a selection of one or more regions of allowable content on a display of the electronic device comprises:
 receiving a selection of a first region of allowable content on the display of the electronic device; and   receiving a selection of a second region of allowable content on the display of the electronic device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first region and the second region are separated by a distance greater than a length of the display of the electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein obfuscating an area of the display that is outside of the one or more regions of allowable content includes collapsing the obfuscated area, such that the first region and second region are displayed simultaneously while the electronic device is in the temporary privacy mode. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a request to exit the temporary privacy mode comprises detecting a security gesture. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein receiving a request to exit the temporary privacy mode comprises receiving alphanumeric user input on the touch screen. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a request to exit the temporary privacy mode comprises:
 performing a facial recognition process on one or more images obtained from a user-facing camera of the electronic device; and   exiting the temporary privacy mode upon detecting a condition of a solitary face that is associated with the electronic device.   
     
     
         19 - 20 . (canceled)