Abstract:
A method and apparatus for providing security for user data displayed on a color display screen of a portable computer to prevent viewing of the user data by individuals other than the operator of the computer and who are otherwise positioned to be able to view the display screen. The computer is operated to electronically superimpose an obscuring colored mosaic on the user data while the user data is displayed on the color display screen. The computer can save the user data without the obscuring colored mosaic to an internal storage device, or can fax or print the user data without the obscuring colored mosaic. Specially tinted glasses are used by the operator to allow the obscuring colored mosaic superimposed over the user data to be filtered, and therefore allow only the user to view the user data.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing privacy for computer systems in cramped environments and more particularly to methods and apparatus for blocking access to information on computer displays to casual onlookers.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Travelers using portable computing devices, such as laptop computers, have difficulty privately operating these devices in public conveyances. For example, a businessperson seated in the middle of a row of seats in a crowded airliner cabin is likely to have difficulty privately reviewing and editing company sensitive data on a laptop computer. The screen of such a computer is likely to be quite legible to an individual in an adjacent seat.  
           [0003]    Side screens could be used to block the view of curious or prying individuals who are nearby. However, effective side screens may be undesirably bulky and difficult to attach in some environments. In addition, side screens may interfere with physical access to an individual&#39;s own computing device, particularly in crowded environments.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    To provide security for user data when a computer display screen is utilized in a crowded environment, such as an airplane cabin, one aspect of the present invention is a method for providing security for computer displays. The method includes operating a computer to electronically superimpose an obscuring colored mosaic on user data displayed in a window of an electronic color display, operating the computer to perform at least one of saving the user data without the obscuring colored mosaic, faxing the user data without the colored mosaic, and printing the user data without the obscuring colored mosaic, and providing tinted glasses configured to filter the superimposed colored mosaic displayed in the window of the electronic color display.  
           [0005]    In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions. The instructions instruct an application program running on a computer to superimpose an obscuring colored watermark on user data displayed in a window of an application program on a color display, and to remove the applied watermark from the user data prior to at least one of printing, faxing, or saving the user data.  
           [0006]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer configured to selectively and electronically superimpose an obscuring colored mosaic on user data displayed on a color display screen, and to display the user data in a color different from that of the obscuring colored mosaic.  
           [0007]    Embodiments of the present invention provide simple, yet effective security preventing the content of computer displays from being legible to casual onlookers, such as passengers in adjacent airline seats, and do not require side screens to be attached to the computer display.  
           [0008]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of the present invention utilized by a passenger on an airplane.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a representation of a prior art display of text or user data on a standard display screen.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a representation of the display of text or user data on a display screen obscured by a color mosaic or watermark, as in one embodiment of the present invention. Although not shown in color, FIG. 3 is intended to represent an embodiment utilizing alternating red and white diamonds obscuring blue text. The representation is not drawn to scale, and the diamonds are not necessarily the same size as described in the accompanying description.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a simplified flow chart of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0015]    As used herein, an “office suite” refers to a collection of business-oriented computer programs. Examples of office suites include the various versions of Microsoft® Office™ (available from Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash.), WordPerfect® Office (available from Corel Corporation, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), Lotus SmartSuite® (available from Lotus Development Corporation, Cambridge, Mass.), and StarOffice™ (available from Sun Microsystems, Palo Alto, Calif.). Examples of “application programs,” as that term is used herein, include, but are not necessarily limited to, business-oriented computer programs commonly bundled with other business-oriented programs in an office suite, but which may be offered separately. Examples of such programs include word processors, spreadsheets, databases, presentation programs (such as PowerPoint®, available from Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash.). Solely by way of example and not by way of limitation, portions of the description presented herein pertain to embodiments configured for use with Microsoft® Office™, Microsoft® Word™, and/or Visual Basic® (all available from Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash.).  
         [0016]    As used herein, the term “application program” also includes individual programs that are not bundled in an office suite. Many such applications programs include a programming environment or macro language similar to that provided by an office suite.  
         [0017]    As used herein, “operating a computer” to perform a task such as superimposing a colored obscuring mosaic in a window of a display means to have the computer perform the task, either as an inevitable result of executing a sequence of instructions or as a result of a command entered by a user of the computer (such as via a keyboard or mouse).  
         [0018]    As used herein, “user data” and “user information” are synonymous. Both terms refer to data entered or viewed by a user utilizing an application program or an office suite program. For example, text and formatting of a Microsoft Word file is considered “user data” and “user information” as those terms are used herein. A “file” on a computer storage medium contains user data in a machine-readable form.  
         [0019]    In one embodiment and referring to FIG. 1, a color-based masking method for an electronic color display  10  is provided that effectively limits or prevents a casual onlooker  12  (such as an airline passenger in an adjacent seat) from reading text or other user information appearing in a window  14  displayed on an electronic color display  10  of a computer  15 . However, text or other user data in window  14  is readily visible to the computer user  16 , who is provided a pair of specially tinted glasses  18  to filter an obscuring color mosaic.  
         [0020]    In prior art window displays of application programs and referring to FIG. 2, user data such as black text  20  is displayed on a white background or another background that results in the text being readily visible. By contrast, in one embodiment of the present invention and referring to FIG. 3, however, a colored background  22  is provided that substantially interferes with the legibility of text  20  as seen by the naked eye. For example, background  22  is an obscuring colored mosaic having a pattern and a color selected to substantially interfere with the legibility of text  20 . The color of text  20  in one embodiment is also changed to a color selected to decrease legibility in the presence of obscuring colored mosaic  22 . For example, text  20  is displayed in a blue color, rather than a black color, and background  22  comprises a mosaic pattern of alternating red diamonds  24  and white diamonds  26  superimposed over text  20 . This alternating red and white pattern substantially interferes with the legibility of blue text  20 , because the colored, sloping, angular outline of diamonds  24 ,  26  interferes with attempts by the eye to follow the outline of the letters of text  20 . In one embodiment, an area of each diamond  24 ,  26  is also selected to enhance its disruptive effect. For example, in one embodiment, each white diamond  26  has an area between 20 and 40% of the area of a rectangle defined by the width and height of a specified text character in the font of text  20 . The specified text character is “W” or “M” in the font of text  20 , when the font of text  20  is a proportional font, or the letter “H,” when the font is a fixed-width font. In another embodiment, the area of each white diamond  26  is between 23 and 27% of the area of the rectangle, and in another embodiment, the area of white diamonds  26  is 25% of the area of the rectangle. In one embodiment, the total area of white diamonds is 25% of the area of window  14 , and the total red area is 75% of the area of the window. The total red area comprises a regular array of red “diamonds”  24 . Diamonds  24  and  26  are each arranged in regular arrays, and alternate to fill a window  14  of a computer screen  10 . The combination of the “diamond” arrays is characterized by having sloping edges that visually disrupt text. (Shapes between closely-spaced diamonds in a regular array are referred to as “diamonds” even though such shapes may differ somewhat from a conventional four-sided geometric diamond. Such differences may occur, for example, when “diamonds”  24  and  26  are of unequal size.)  
         [0021]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and  3 , to the eye of a casual onlooker  12 , a computer screen  10  having a window  14  with a superimposed obscuring colored mosaic background or watermark  22  of red diamonds  24  and white diamonds  26  on user data rendered as blue text  20  appears as an illegible jumble of red, blue, and white areas. However, a set of tinted glasses  18  configured to filter the obscuring effect of the colored mosaic is provided. When user  16  dons a set of red tinted glasses  18  matching the color of red diamonds  24  shown on the screen, the obscuring background mosaic or watermark  22  appears as a solid color that does not obscure user data  20 , thus making user data rendered as text  20  clearly legible for reading and/or manipulation. The obscuring colored background mosaic or watermark  22  continues to be superimposed over the rendered user data or text  20  as user  16  manipulates user data displayed on color display  10  such as by scrolling or editing text  20 .  
         [0022]    Other embodiments of the present invention employ different backgrounds and/or text coloration to achieve the results described above. For example, in one embodiment, background or watermark  22  is a pattern selected for its obscuring effectiveness. In yet another embodiment, the background or watermark  22  color, pattern, and/or size is selectable by user  16 , as is the color of text  20  and/or other information being displayed or manipulated.  
         [0023]    Some office suites and application programs provide a “watermark” feature that is useful for providing an obscuring background. In Microsoft Office programs such as Word, the watermark feature is accessible in the Visual Basic programming language. Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention, superimposing an obscuring mosaic over user data comprises applying a watermark to user data displayed in a window of an application program. Embodiments of the present invention adapted for use with other programs utilize watermark functions of these other programs, when available, or utilize other methods to provide an obscuring background mosaic.  
         [0024]    Although watermarks are saved with Microsoft Office data files, the masking watermark is removed and replaced by the saved watermark (if any) when a document is printed, saved, or faxed. Also, when user  16  turns on masking (i.e., the obscuring watermark), user data is blanked such as by changing the color of the text to white until the obscuring watermark is displayed on the screen. Thus, in one embodiment, superimposing an obscuring mosaic over user data comprises displaying the superimposing mosaic before visibly displaying the user data. User data is also blanked prior to the removal of the obscuring watermark for printing, faxing, or saving a file.  
         [0025]    More particularly, in one embodiment of the present invention, a software module written in Visual Basic loads a pull-down menu onto a standard tool bar of a Microsoft Office tool suite. The pull down menu offers the following options, which are provided by Visual Basic instructions that are interpreted and executed by the Visual Basic interpreter provided with the application program:  
         [0026]    1. Enable color masking  
         [0027]    a. Set masking color  
         [0028]    b. Set masking pattern  
         [0029]    2. Disable color masking  
         [0030]    3. Save data file in original form  
         [0031]    4. Save data file and disable color masking  
         [0032]    5. Print/Fax clean output  
         [0033]    6. Uninstall color masking tool  
         [0034]    A user accesses the pull-down menu to open a new or existing file in Microsoft Office application program and to start the privacy system provided by the software module. The software module saves any existing background or watermark setting for the file and then performs a block change or a watermark selection  22  to impose the obscuring colored mosaic mask using the color and/or patterns  24 ,  26  requested by the user. At this point, user  16  dons a set of tinted glasses  18  matched to the colored mosaic so that he or she can view and work with the data file.  
         [0035]    Referring to FIG. 4, the software module loads itself and modifies or adds  28  the menu, macros, or user-accessible functions of the privacy system. This loading occurs either as part of an initial startup sequence performed by the office suite software or as an operation initiated by user  16 . In one embodiment, the menu described above is added to the menu bar of an application program under the heading “Privacy.” The application program software then waits  30  for user  16  to select an existing file or to enter new text or other data. (Most office suite application program software is event driven. Thus, although not indicated by FIG. 4, a user is able to request that other software functions be performed while the application program software waits for the selection to be made.)  
         [0036]    After the user makes a selection to view or edit an existing file or to input new data, the privacy module code instructs the application software interpreting the privacy module code to determine  32  whether the user has previously selected the “Enable Color Masking” option. If not, the office suite software functions normally  34  without color masking, unless and until the user requests a privacy mask. Otherwise, the privacy module instructs the interpreter to determine  36  whether the user has chosen to view or edit an existing file. If the user has chosen to view or edit an existing file, the office suite window is blanked  38  (for example, utilizing Visual Basic commands) while user data is read  40  from a specified file in storage. An obscuring colored background mosaic or watermark  22  is applied  42  to display window  14  of the office suite software, and then the user data is displayed  44  in an appropriate color in display window  14 . In this manner, an obscuring colored mosaic is superimposed on user data displayed in a colored display window of a computer.  
         [0037]    If the interpreted privacy module instructions determine  36  that the user has chosen to enter new data into a new file, it is not necessary to blank out the office suite window and read user data from a file in storage. Instead, execution of the privacy module instructions continues with application  42  of the obscuring background mosaic pattern or watermark on a blank display window  14 . User data entered by user  16  is displayed  44  in window  14 .  
         [0038]    A set of tinted glasses configured to filter the colored mosaic is provided to allow user  16  to clearly view user data in display window  14 . However, casual onlookers  12  will not be able to easily discern sensitive data on computer screen  10  when the obscuring background appears superimposed on the user data. The obscuring background mosaic pattern or watermark continues to be superimposed on the user data as user  16  manipulates the data in display window  14 .  
         [0039]    In one embodiment, one or more special versions of save, print, and/or fax commands are provided for selection by user  16 . When one of these special commands is selected  46 , instructions in the privacy module are interpreted which cause blanking  48  of display window  14 , followed by instructions that remove  50  the obscuring background mosaic pattern or watermark. Depending upon which of the special commands was selected by user  16 , the privacy module then instructs the interpreter to save  52  the user data to storage, fax the user data to a remote location, or print the user data. However, prior to saving, faxing, or printing, the original color of the user data to be saved, faxed or printed is restored, along with any original, user-selected background or watermark. After printing, saving, or faxing  52  the user data, the obscuring background or watermark mosaic pattern is restored  42  to window  14 , and the user data  44  is then displayed (in a masking color, for example, blue text for use a with alternating red and white diamond mosaic) for additional work and viewing. After user  16  is finished with the file, he or she can close window  14  using an existing office suite software or operating system command. The privacy module is configured so that in case of a computer system failure or software error, the data file retains any original, user-selected background rather than the obscuring mosaic or watermark.  
         [0040]    In one embodiment, a choice of masking color combinations for the obscuring color mosaic background or watermark and the user data is provided by the privacy module software. This choice allows different users seated near one another to simultaneously utilize embodiments of the present invention. For example, the privacy module provides a choice between red, green and blue for diamonds  24 . Depending upon the color selected, the privacy module also activates a contrasting text color. For each color choice, a corresponding set of colored glasses is provided. By using distinct masking color schemes for the obscuring background mosaic or watermark, nearby users can operate their own computers while maintaining privacy from each other and from other individuals.  
         [0041]    One embodiment of the present invention comprises machine-readable computer instructions on diskette, compact diskette (e.g., a CD-ROM) or other suitable medium. In another embodiment, computer instructions are electronically communicated to a computer via a modem, the Internet, or other computer communication network, such as a network on an aircraft providing services for passengers&#39; equipment.  
         [0042]    In one embodiment, a single lens frame with a set of interchangeable colored lenses, such as red, green, and blue, is provided. For example, sets of red, green, and blue lenses are provided in one embodiment, and selected in accordance with a color selected for the obscuring color mosaic.  
         [0043]    In one embodiment, the software for a passenger&#39;s computer is provided by the airline company, either via an electronic network or via machine-readable media provided by a flight attendant. Also in one embodiment, the flight attendant also provides appropriate masking glasses or lenses and frames.  
         [0044]    Embodiments of the present invention may include computer instructions that search for all office-type applications, and to install itself as part of the basic toolbar of each such program found. A capability for a user to uninstall the software may be provided.  
         [0045]    Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to Microsoft programs or to Microsoft Office-type programs. More particularly, embodiments of the invention are useful in conjunction with a wide variety of programs that can be utilized in conjunction with a color display. The shapes, sizes, and/or colors of the obscuring background mosaic are different in some embodiments to provide for the most effective masking of different program outputs or output screens.  
         [0046]    In another embodiment, the capability for displaying a masking background mosaic is provided in hardware. For example, a display card in a personal computer is provided with display adapter hardware and/or firmware to display a background mosaic over an entire computer screen  10 , and a special key or combination of keys is provided to selectively activate or deactivate the masking mosaic. When the obscuring colored mosaic is activated, it is superimposed on displayed user data, which the display adapter is configured to display in a color different from that of the obscuring mosaic.  
         [0047]    Embodiments of the present invention can readily be used or adapted for use with laptop computers, desktop computers, display terminals, and special purpose computers and calculators, and are useful in conjunction with color displays of all types, including, but not limited to, cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, liquid crystal displays, and plasma displays. In each of the different embodiments, a user is able to view and/or manipulate sensitive data that is obscured from casual observers. Embodiments of the present invention are particularly useful, for example, for airline passengers who may otherwise not want to put sensitive business data on view for other passengers to see and who may not want to bother with attaching side screens to their laptop computers while in flight.  
         [0048]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.