Video-based privacy supporting system

Abstract

Computer display privacy and security for computer systems. In one aspect, the invention provides a computer-controlled system for regulating the interaction between a computer and a user of the computer based on the environment of the computer and the user. For example, the computer-controlled system provided by the invention comprises an input-output device including an image sensor configured to collect facial recognition data proximate to the computer. The system also includes a user security parameter database encoding security parameters associated with the user; the database is also configured to communicate with the security processor. The security processor is configured to receive the facial recognition data and the security parameters associated with the user, and is further configured to at least partially control the operation of the data input device and the data output device in response to the facial recognition data and the security parameters associated with the user.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A computer-controlled system for regulating the interaction between a computer and a user of the computer based on an environment of the computer and the user, the computer-controlled system comprising:
 an image sensor device configured to collect facial recognition data proximate to the computer and to communicate the facial recognition data to a security processor, wherein the image sensor comprises an infrared sensor; and   a video display;   wherein the facial recognition data includes image data relevant to determining a presence of a third party in a region behind the user;   wherein the security processor is configured, upon detecting the presence of a third party in the region behind the user, to determine if attention of the third party is on the video display;   wherein the security processor is further configured to activate a privacy mode on the video display if is determined that the attention of the third party is on the video display;   wherein the activation of the privacy mode comprises blurring the data on the video display.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-controlled system of  claim 1 , wherein it is determined that a third party is present when a face-like object other than the user is detected by the image sensor device. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-controlled system of  claim 1 , wherein the privacy mode is activated when it is determined that the third party is in a position to view the video display. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-controlled system of  claim 1 , wherein the privacy mode is activated when it is determined that the third party is within a predetermined distance of the video display 
     
     
         5 . The computer-controlled system of  claim 1 , wherein the privacy mode is activated when it is determined that the attention of the third party is focused on the video display. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-controlled system of  claim 1 , wherein the attention of the third party is a gaze point of the third party. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-controlled system of  claim 1 , wherein the privacy mode is deactivated when the presence of the third party is no longer detected. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-controlled system of  claim 1 , wherein the facial recognition data is used by the security processor to identify the user of the computer. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-controlled system of  claim 1 , wherein the image sensor device is further configured to track the user's gaze on the display, and the security processor is further configured to modify the operation of the video display upon detecting that the user's gaze is not on the video display. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-controlled system for regulating the interaction between a computer and a user of the computer based on an environment of the computer and the user, the computer-controlled system comprising:
 an image sensor device configured to collect facial recognition data proximate to the computer and to communicate the facial recognition data to a security processor; and a video display, wherein the image sensor comprises an infrared sensor;   a video display;   wherein the facial recognition data includes image data relevant to determining a presence of a third party in a region behind the user, to determine if attention of the third party is on the video display:   wherein the security processor is configured, upon detecting the presence of a third party in the region behind the user and attention of the third party on the video display, to display a warning on the video display.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-controlled system of  claim 10 , wherein the warning is displayed when it is determined that the third party is in a position to view the video display. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-controlled system of  claim 10 , wherein the warning is displayed when it is determined that the third party is within a predetermined distance of the video display. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-controlled system of  claim 10 , wherein the warning is displayed when it is determined that attention of the third party is focused on the video display. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-controlled system of  claim 10 , wherein the attention of the third party is a gaze point of the third party. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-controlled system of  claim 10 , wherein the warning comprises an icon on the video display.