Abstract:
A device receiving user-customized security parameters related to the display of sensitive data by the device. The device alters the device&#39;s display, during display of the sensitive data, based on the user-customized security parameters, wherein altering the device&#39;s display includes reducing a backlighting of the display, and modifying an image coloring of the display. The device returns the display to default settings subsequent to the display of the sensitive data.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Many different types of consumer electronics devices typically include a touch screen that may act as an output device that displays image, video and/or graphical information, and which further may act as an input touch interface device for receiving touch control inputs from a user. A touch screen (or touch panel, or touch panel display) may detect the presence and location of a touch within the area of the display, where the touch may include a touching of the display with a body part (e.g., a finger) or with certain objects (e.g., a stylus). Touch screens typically enable the user to interact directly with what is being displayed, rather than indirectly with a cursor controlled by a mouse or touchpad. Touch screens have become widespread in use with various different types of consumer electronic devices, including, for example, cellular radiotelephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and hand-held gaming devices. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    In one exemplary embodiment, a method includes receiving user-customized security parameters related to the display of data by a device having a display, and altering the device&#39;s display, during display of the data, based on the user-customized security parameters, wherein altering the device&#39;s display comprises: reducing a backlighting of the device&#39;s display, and modifying an image coloring of the device&#39;s display. The method further includes returning the device&#39;s display to default settings subsequent to the display of the data. 
         [0003]    In another exemplary embodiment, a device includes a display unit, and a processing unit configured to: receive user-customized security parameters related to the display of data via the display, alter the display unit, during the display of the data, based on the user-customized security parameters, wherein altering the display unit comprises: reducing a backlighting of the device&#39;s display unit, and changing coloring of images or data output of the display unit to grayscale; and return the display unit to default settings subsequent to the display of the data. 
         [0004]    In yet another exemplary embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions executable by at least one processor, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more instructions for: receiving user-customized security parameters related to the display of data by a device having a display, wherein the data comprises sensitive data that a user of the device does not want to have others see when displayed on the device&#39;s display; altering the device&#39;s display, during display of the data, based on the user-customized security parameters, wherein altering the device&#39;s display comprises: reducing a backlighting of the device&#39;s display, changing a coloring of images or data output of the display to grayscale, and scrambling keys of a displayed input keyboard associated with the display of the data; and returning the device&#39;s display to default settings subsequent to the display of the data. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments described herein and, together with the description, explain these embodiments. In the drawings: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates an overview of display security measures that may be implemented by a device for protecting the display of sensitive data; 
           [0007]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  depict an exemplary implementation of the device display of  FIG. 1 , where the device display includes a self capacitance and/or a mutual capacitance type of touch panel; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram that depicts exemplary components of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 4 and 5  depict an example of the execution of the display security measures described with respect to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary device user interface that may be displayed via the device display of  FIG. 1  to permit user selection and customization of the data display security measures executed by the device; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process for executing display security measures for obscuring the viewing of sensitive data on the display of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  depicts an exemplary implementation in which the backlighting of the device&#39;s display is dimmed as a display security measure to obscure the appearance of data on the display to those viewing the display from an angle relative to the device; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  depicts an additional exemplary implementation in which the display image coloring of the device&#39;s display is changed to a monochromatic appearing grayscale; and 
           [0014]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  depict a further exemplary implementation in which a keyboard displayed via the device&#39;s display is changed from a default arrangement of keys to a scrambled arrangement of keys. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. 
         [0016]    When displaying sensitive data on a display of a device, or when entering sensitive data (e.g., password, pin codes) via a touch screen display of the device, nearby individuals viewing the device at an angle relative to the display of device may be able to discern and, thus, “spy upon” the sensitive data appearing on the display of the device. For example, when a device user is entering a pass code to unlock the device, or is entering a login name and/or password, another individual adjacent to the device may view the device&#39;s display from an angle to ascertain the sensitive data being displayed. Embodiments described herein implement display security measures that prevent the disclosure of sensitive data displayed by a device, or sensitive data being entered into the device. The display security measures may include automatically performing reducing backlighting of the display of the device, changing an image coloring of the display of the device to grayscale and/or scrambling a keyboard/keypad of the device. The display security measures performed by the device may be customized by the user of the device. The display security measures described herein may be implemented with respect to devices having touch screen displays, or devices having regular display units (in association with hardware keyboards) that don&#39;t have a touch screen capability. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates an overview of display security measures that may be implemented by a device  100  for protecting the display of sensitive data. As shown, a user (hand shown) of device  100  may want to enter sensitive data into device  100 , or may want to display sensitive data at device  100  (identified with reference number “ 110 ” in  FIG. 1 ), where entering the sensitive data and displaying the sensitive data at device  100  causes the data to be temporarily displayed on a display  120  of device  110 . The temporary display of the sensitive data may enable other individuals, in close proximity to device  100 , to see the sensitive data. 
         [0018]    To avoid other individuals, in close proximity to device  100 , being able to see the sensitive data entered and/or displayed on display  120  of device  100 , device  100  may implement display security measures  130  for obscuring the sensitive data entered and/or displayed at device  100 . The display security measures  130  may include reducing a backlighting of display  120 , modifying a display image coloring of display  120 , and/or scrambling an input keyboard or keypad displayed on display  120 . Modifying the display image coloring of display  120  may include, for example, changing the image coloring of graphics, images and/or data displayed on display  120  to a grayscale coloring. In one implementation, display security measures  130  may include only reducing the backlighting of display  120 . In another implementation, display security measures  130  may include both reducing the backlighting of display  120  and modifying the display image coloring of display  120 . In yet another implementation, display security measures  130  may include the combination of reducing the backlighting of display  120 , modifying of the display image coloring of display  120 , and scrambling an input keyboard or keypad displayed on display  120 . Scrambling the input keyboard or keypad displayed on display  120  may include scrambling a numeric keyboard/keypad or scrambling an alpha-numeric keyboard/keypad. In additional implementations, other types of display security measures, not specifically described herein, may be used by themselves, or in conjunction with, one or more of display security measures  130  depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0019]    The user of device  100  may supply user-customized data display security parameters  140  to device  100  for causing the display security measures  130  to be executed at device  100  under certain user-customized conditions/circumstances. The display security parameters  140  may include an indication of which of the display security measures have been selected by the user of device  100  for execution (i.e., the user may customize which display security measures are executed). The display security parameters  140  may additionally specify the conditions upon which selected ones of the display security measures  130  may be executed. For example, the display security parameters  140  may specify that one or more of the display security measures  130  may be executed upon the occurrence of a log-in or password entry by the user of device  100 , by a pin code entry by the user of device  100  (e.g., during device “unlock”), during phone number dialing by the user of device  100 , during selection of an image(s) to unlock device  100 , or during execution of a particular application by the user of device  100 . The display security parameters  140  may also specify that one or more display security measures  130  may be executed upon the occurrence of a certain user input, such as, for example, the press of a certain key of a keyboard or keypad of device  100 , upon the input of certain biometric data (e.g., fingerprint, voice authentication, etc.), or upon the input of a voice comment or instruction (e.g., “secure display on”). The display security parameters  140  may further include data that specifies the level (e.g., dimmer, brighter, etc.) of the reduced backlighting of display security measures  130 . Additional exemplary details of user-customized data display security parameters  140  and display security measures  130  are described further below. 
         [0020]    Device  100  may include any type of electronic device that includes a display  120  for displaying graphics, images and/or data. In one implementation, display  120  may include a display for displaying data used in conjunction with a hardware keyboard/keypad. In another implementation, display  120  may include a touch screen display that displays data and may also display a software-generated keyboard/keypad that accepts touch input on the display. Device  100  may include a cellular radiotelephone; a satellite navigation device; a smart phone; a Personal Communications System (PCS) terminal that may combine a cellular radiotelephone with data processing, facsimile and data communications capabilities; a personal digital assistant (PDA) that can include a radiotelephone, pager, Internet/Intranet access, Web browser, organizer, calendar and/or a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; a gaming device; a media player device; a tablet computer; a surface table with touch screen display; a wearable computer (e.g., in the form of a watch or glasses); or a digital camera. In some exemplary embodiments, device  100  may include a hand-held electronic device. In one implementation, an example of which is described further with respect to  FIGS. 2A and 2B  below, display  120  of device  100  may include a touch screen display that further includes a touch panel that operates as a user input device. 
         [0021]    When device  100  includes a touch screen display for display  120 , the touch panel of display  120  may be integrated with, and/or overlaid on, display  120  to form a touch screen or a panel-enabled display that may function as a user input interface. For example, in one implementation, the touch panel may include a capacitive type of touch panel that allows a touch screen display to be used as an input device. The capacitive type of touch panel may include both a self capacitance and a mutual capacitance type of touch panel (e.g., a Floating Touch™ display using self capacitance and mutual capacitance scanning) In other implementations, other types of near field-sensitive, acoustically-sensitive (e.g., surface acoustic wave), photo-sensitive (e.g., infrared), and/or any other type of touch panel may be used that allows a display to be used as an input device. In some implementations, the touch panel may include multiple touch-sensitive technologies. Generally, the touch panel may include any type of technology that provides the ability to identify the occurrence of a touch upon the touch panel. 
         [0022]    The display  120  of device  100  may include a device that can display signals generated by the electronic device  100  as text or images on a screen (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, a light emitting diode (LED) display such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, a surface-conduction electro-emitter display (SED), a plasma display, a field emission display (FED), a bistable display, etc.). In certain implementations, the display may provide a high-resolution, active-matrix presentation suitable for the wide variety of applications and features associated with typical devices. Display  120  may provide visual information to the user and serve—in conjunction with the touch panel—as a user interface to detect user input. The terms “touch” or “touch input,” as used herein, may refer to a touch of an object upon the touch panel of display  120 , such as a body part (e.g., a finger) or a pointing device, or movement of an object (e.g., body part or pointing device) to within a certain proximity of the touch panel that can be sensed as a “touch” by the touch panel. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  depict an exemplary implementation of display  120  of device  100 , where display  120  is a touch screen display that is also associated with a touch panel  150  In the exemplary implementation depicted in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , touch panel  150  is a self capacitance and/or a mutual capacitance type of touch panel (e.g., a Floating Touch™ display using self capacitance and mutual capacitance scanning) However, other types of displays, including different types of touch screen displays, may be used in conjunction with the display security measures described herein. 
         [0024]    As shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 2A , touch panel  150  further includes a touch input sensor array having arrays of sensors for detecting a touch input upon touch panel  150 . The touch input sensor array of touch panel  150  may further include a first layer  155  having multiple parallel rows of capacitive electrodes extending in a y direction (as shown in  FIG. 2A ), and a second layer  160  having multiple parallel columns of capacitive electrodes extending in an x direction that is perpendicular to they direction (as shown in  FIG. 2A ). Layers  155  and  160  may be separated by a layer of material, such as, for example, a dielectric layer. The parallel rows of the capacitive sensors of layer  155  may be perpendicular to the parallel columns of the capacitive sensors of layer  160 . Device  100  may perform “mutual capacitance” scanning and/or “self capacitance” scanning of the touch input sensor array of touch panel  150 . During self capacitance scanning of layers  155  and  160  of the touch sensor array, a voltage is applied to each row of layer  155  and to each column of layer  160 . When a finger, or other object, is near, or touching, display  120 , a capacitance C row  associated with an underlying row electrode of layer  155  increases, and a capacitance C column  associated with an underlying column electrode of layer  160  increases. By detecting the increases in capacitance, the location of the finger, or other object, near or touching touch panel  150  of display  120  can be determined by the intersection of the row electrode of layer  155  having an increased capacitance with the column electrode of layer  160  having an increased capacitance. During this “self capacitance” scanning of the touch input sensor array, the current on each row and column electrode may be measured to ground to determine the change in capacitance. 
         [0025]    During a “mutual capacitance” scanning of layers  155  and  160 , a voltage is applied to a parallel plate capacitor effectively formed at an intersection of each row of layer  155  and column of layer  160 . Each intersection of a row of layer  155  and a column of layer  160  represents a single mutual capacitance sensor of the touch sensor array. When a finger(s), or other object(s), touches display  120  and touch panel  150 , a capacitance C row-column  associated with an intersection, at a location of the touch, of a row electrode of layer  155  and a column electrode of layer  160  decreases. By detecting the decreases in capacitance at one or more row/column intersections, the location of the finger(s), or other object(s), touching display  120  and touch panel  150  can be determined. During this “mutual capacitance” scanning of the touch input sensor array, the capacitance C row-column  at each intersection of a row of layer  155  and a column of layer  160  may be measured to determine the change in capacitance. 
         [0026]    In the exploded view depicted in  FIG. 2A , different touch inputs  200  and  210  are occurring upon display  120 . The object (on the left) touching display  120 , or the object moving within a certain proximity of a surface of display  120  (on the right), is depicted as a finger. As shown on the left in  FIG. 2A , or in  FIG. 2B , the touch input sensor array of touch panel  150  may enable touch input  200  to be detected when the object (e.g., finger) touches display  120  and touch panel  150 . As further shown on the right in  FIG. 2A , the touch input sensor array of touch panel  150  may enable a touch input  210  to be detected when the object (e.g., finger) moves within a certain proximity of touch panel  150  even when the object has not physically touched touch panel  150 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram that depicts exemplary components of device  100 . As illustrated, device  100  may include a bus  310 , a processing unit  320 , a main memory  330 , a read only memory (ROM)  340 , a storage device  350 , an input device(s)  360 , an output device(s)  370 , and a communication interface(s)  380 . Bus  310  may include a path that permits communication among the elements of device  100 . 
         [0028]    Processing unit  320  may include a processor, microprocessor, or processing logic that may interpret and execute instructions. Main memory  330  may include a random access memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device that may store information and instructions for execution by processing unit  320 . ROM  340  may include a ROM device or another type of static storage device that may store static information and instructions for use by processing unit  320 . Storage device  350  may include a magnetic and/or optical recording medium and its corresponding drive. Main memory  330 , ROM  340  and storage device  350  may each be referred to herein as a “tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium.” 
         [0029]    Input device  360  may include a mechanism that permits a user to input information to device  100 , such as a mouse, a pen, voice recognition and/or biometric mechanisms, etc. Input device  360  may further include display  120 , which includes a touch screen display having touch panel  150 . Output device  370  may include a mechanism that outputs information to the operator, including a display, a printer, a speaker, etc. Output device  370  may additionally include display  120  that includes the touch screen display (and touch panel  150 ) that also acts as an input device  360 . Communication interface  380  may include a transceiver that enables device  100  to communicate with other devices and/or systems. 
         [0030]    Device  100  may perform certain operations or processes described herein. Device  100  may perform these operations in response to processing unit  320  executing software instructions contained in a computer-readable medium, such as memory  330 . A computer-readable medium may be defined as a physical or logical memory device. The software instructions may be read into memory  330  from another computer-readable medium, such as data storage device  350 , or from another device via communication interface  380 . The software instructions contained in memory  330  may cause processing unit  320  to perform operations or processes described herein. Alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement processes described herein. Thus, implementations described herein are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software. 
         [0031]    The configuration of components of device  100  illustrated in  FIG. 3  is for illustrative purposes only. Other configurations may be implemented. Therefore, device  100  may include additional, fewer and/or different components, or differently arranged components, from those depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 4 and 5  depict an example of the execution of the display security measures described above with respect to  FIG. 1 , including reduction of backlighting of display  120  of device  100 , and changing the display image coloring of display  120  of device  100 , for obscuring sensitive data displayed on display  120 .  FIG. 4  shows an initial angled side view of display  120  of device  100 , with no display security measures being executed. The angled side view of display  120  shown in  FIG. 4  includes the view that someone located in the vicinity of device  100  would see. As seen in  FIG. 4 , data displayed via display  120  can clearly be seen by nearby individuals in close proximity to device  100 .  FIG. 5  depicts another angled side view of display  120  of device  100  with the display security measures, including the reduction of the backlighting of the display and the changing of the display image coloring of display  120  of device  100 , being executed. As seen in  FIG. 5 , no sensitive data displayed via display  120  can be seen by nearby individuals in close proximity to device  100  to the reduced backlighting of display  120 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary user-customized data display security parameter user interface  600  that may be displayed via display  120  to permit user selection and customization of the data display security measures executed by device  100 . In the exemplary implementation depicted in  FIG. 6 , display  120  of device  100  may include a touch screen display where display  120  serves as both input device  360  and output device  370  of device  100 . 
         [0034]    User interface  600  may include a user interface section (and/or window or screen)  605  that permits the user of device  100  to select a first option  620  that causes display security measures to be automatically executed, or a second option  625  that causes display security measures to be executed based on user-customized data display security parameters input into device  100  via, for example, user interface  600 . In the example shown in  FIG. 6 , the user of device  100  may “touch” a box associated with option  620  or option  625  to cause the box to be “checked,” indicating that the option has been selected. In this example, if option  620  is selected, then option  625  cannot be selected, and if option  625  is selected then option  620  cannot be selected. The automatic execution of display security measures selected by user selection of option  620  may be executed based on the occurrence of default conditions (e.g., whenever a password or pin code is entered by the user of device  100 ). 
         [0035]    User interface  600  may include another user interface section (and/or window or screen)  610  that permits the user of device  100  to select the conditions or events under which the data display security measures are executed. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the conditions or events may include login/password entry  630 , pin code entry  635 , phone dialing/call receipt  640 , and the execution of specific applications (apps)  1  through x  645 - 1  through  645 - x . Selection of login/password entry  630  in user interface section  610  causes device  100  to execute data display security measures whenever device  100  requests the user to enter a login name and/or password via input device  360 . Selection of pin code entry  635  causes device  100  to execute data display security measures whenever device  100  requests the user to enter a pin code via input device  360 . Selection of phone dialing/call receipt  640  causes device  100  to execute data display security measures whenever the user of device  100  is selecting a telephone number (e.g., entering key selections associated with a telephone number) to call from device  100 , or when a call is received at device  100 , and the corresponding telephone number of the calling party is displayed via display  120 . In other implementations, “phone dialing” and “call receipt” shown with respect to phone dialing/call receipt  640  of  FIG. 6  may be two separate optional conditions selectable via user interface  600  (i.e., two independent check boxes), as opposed to a single selectable option as depicted in  FIG. 6 . Selection of any of apps  645 - 1  through  645 - x  causes device  100  to execute data display security measures when the particular selected apps are executed at device  100  (e.g., during the execution of the particular selected app(s)). In the example shown in  FIG. 6 , the user of device  100  may “touch” any of the boxes associated with login/password entry  630 , pin code entry  635 , phone dialing/call receipt  640 , and the execution of specific applications (apps)  1  through x  645 - 1  through  645 - x  and any or all of those selections may serve as a condition or event that causes data display security measures to be executed. 
         [0036]    User interface section  610  may also (not shown in  FIG. 6 ) enable the user to specify “action” hardware keys on device  100  that, when activated (i.e., pressed) by the user, cause one or more of the display security measures to be executed. In this case, display security measures may not be executed automatically, but only upon activation of one of the “action” hardware keys. Alternatively, the display security measures may be executed automatically, but may also be executed upon activation of one of the “action” hardware keys. Each one of the “action” hardware keys may select a different one of, or combination of, the display security measures to be executed. For example, &lt;key  1 &gt; may select backlighting reduction, &lt;key  2 &gt; may select grayscale display image coloring, &lt;key  3 &gt; may select keyboard scrambling, &lt;key  4 &gt; may select backlighting reduction and grayscale display image coloring, and &lt;key  5 &gt; may select backlighting reduction, grayscale display image coloring, and keyboard/keypad scrambling. Activating (i.e., pressing) each of the “action” hardware keys may discontinue a respective display security measure previously selected by the user of device  100 . 
         [0037]    User interface  600  may include an additional user interface section (and/or window or screen)  615  that permits the user of device  100  to select which particular display security measures may be executed upon the occurrence of events or conditions selected via user interface section  610 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the user may select a “reduce backlighting” display security measure  650 , a “grayscale” display security measure  660  and a “scramble keyboard”  665  display security measure. Selection of “reduce backlighting” display security measure  650  causes device  100  to reduce the backlighting of display  120  upon the occurrence of conditions or events selected by the user of device  100  via user interface section  610 . As further shown in  FIG. 6 , the user of device  100  may additionally select a backlighting level via a “slider” control  655  that permits the user to select the dimness or brightness of the backlighting. The user may “touch” slider control  655 , and then “drag” the slider control  655  in the particular direction of “dimmer” or “brighter” backlighting that the user desires when the backlighting display security measure is executed. Selection of “grayscale” display security measure  660  causes device  100  to change the display image coloring of display  120  upon the occurrence of conditions or events selected by the user of device  100  via user interface section  610 . A grayscale display image coloring includes a range of gray shades from white to black. In grayscale images, each pixel is only associated with intensity information such that the images are composed exclusively of shades of gray. Selection of “scramble keyboard” display security measure  665  causes device  100  to scramble a keyboard or keypad associated with the entry of sensitive data by the user of device  100 . For example, if the user is entering a pin code, scrambling the key pad provides a further measure of display security that obscures the pin code being entered by the user. Scrambling the keyboard or keypad involves changing the order and/or arrangement of “soft” keys of the keyboard/keypad as displayed via display  120 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process for executing display security measures for obscuring the viewing of sensitive data on display  120  of device  100 . The exemplary process of  FIG. 7  may be performed by processing unit  320  of device  100  in conjunction with display  120 . The exemplary process of  FIG. 7  may be executed continuously during operation of device  100  when display  120  is active (e.g., powered on). 
         [0039]    The exemplary process may include device  100  determining whether to enter a sensitive data display mode (block  700 ). Device  100  may enter a sensitive data display mode automatically based on the occurrence of specific condition or event, where the specific condition or event may be a default condition or event, the occurrence of which always causes device  100  to enter the sensitive data display mode, or the specific condition or event may be one of a set of conditions or events specified by the user of device  100  via user-customized data display security parameters  140 . For example, referring again to  FIG. 6 , the user of device  100  may select the user-customized option  625  from section  605  of user interface  600 , and may then select one or more conditions or events  630 ,  635 ,  640  and/or  645 - 1  through  645 - x  that specify when device  100  enters a sensitive data display mode. For example, if login/password entry  630  is selected from user interface  600 , then device  100  may enter the sensitive data display mode when a login name and/or password is entered into device  100 . As another example, if app  1   645 - 1  (e.g., a text-messaging app, an email app, or some other app) is selected from user interface  600 , then device  100  may enter the sensitive data display mode when app  1  is executed by device  100 . 
         [0040]    Device  100  may execute one or more display security measures to: 1) reduce backlighting of display  120 , 2) modify display image coloring of display  120 , and/or  3 ) scramble an input keyboard/keypad displayed on display  120  (block  710 ). Device  100  may execute 1) by itself; 2) by itself; 3) by itself; 1) and 2) in combination; 2) and 3) in combination; 1) and 3) in combination; or 1), 2) and 3) in combination. Additional display security measures, not specifically described herein, may be used alone or in conjunction with one or more of display security measures 1), 2), and/or 3) above. Device  100  may execute the one or more display security measures automatically based on default settings, or based on user-customized settings. The user-customized settings may, for example, be set by the user of device  100  via user interface  600  of  FIG. 6 , including selecting “reduce backlighting”  650 , “grayscale”  660  and/or “scramble keyboard”  665 . The user-customized settings may further include a user-customized backlighting level set “slider” control  655  of user interface  600  that permits the user to select the dimness or brightness of the backlighting. 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  depicts an exemplary implementation in which the backlighting of display  120  of device  100  is dimmed as a display security measure to obscure the appearance of data on display  120  to those, other than the user holding device  100  and viewing display  120  straight on, possibly viewing display  120  from an angle within close proximity to device  100 .  FIG. 9  additionally depicts an exemplary implementation in which the display image coloring of display  120  of device  100  is changed to a monochromatic appearing grayscale.  FIGS. 10A and 10B  depict a further exemplary implementation in which a keyboard displayed via display  120  of device  100  is changed from a default arrangement  1000  and order of keys to a scrambled arrangement  1010  and order of keys. Scrambling the arrangement of the keys when, for example, the user of device  100  is entering input data (e.g., a pin code, a password), assists in obscuring the input from other individuals that may be viewing display  120  of device from a location adjacent to the user of device  100 . Execution of the backlighting reduction of  FIG. 8  and the grayscale image coloring of  FIG. 9  results in the obscured view of displayed data as shown, for example, in  FIG. 5 , where another individual attempts to view (or “spy upon”) display  120  from an angle at a location adjacent to the user of device  100 . 
         [0042]    Device  100  may determine whether to resume a normal display and discontinue the display security measures executed in block  710  (block  720 ). Device  100  may resume the default display when, for example, login, password or pin code entry completes, when a phone number is finished being dialed, and/or when a particular app is no longer executing. If the normal default display is to be resumed (YES-block  720 ), then device  100  may discontinue execution of the display security measures, including resetting the backlighting of display  120  to a default setting, resetting the display image coloring to a default setting, and/or unscrambling the displayed input keyboard/keypad (block  730 ). Images, graphics and/or data displayed at display  120  of device  100  may be returned to a normal default mode, with the default backlighting level, default display image coloring, and a keyboard/keypad that is unscrambled and displayed in its default state. 
         [0043]    The foregoing description of the embodiments described herein provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. For example, while a series of blocks has been described with respect to  FIG. 7 , the order of the blocks may be varied in other implementations. Moreover, non-dependent blocks may be performed in parallel. In additional embodiments, device  100  may have a sensor to sense that someone (other than the user of device  100 ) is in close proximity to device  100  and, if someone is sensed in close proximity, device  100  enters the sensitive display mode (e.g., block  700 ) and executes the display security measure(s) of block  710 . In further embodiments, different levels of data security measures may be used for different types of data and/or different apps. For example, one type of data or app causes grayscale image coloring to be executed, whereas higher security data or apps causes grayscale image coloring and backlighting reduction to be executed. In such an implementation, a type of data or app having a highest level of security may cause the most image color changing, a highest amount of backlighting reduction, and keyboard scrambling to be executed. In yet another implementation, pressing a hardware key on device  100  multiple times may increase the display security measures that are executed for each press of the hardware key. 
         [0044]    Certain features described herein may be implemented as “logic” or as a “unit” that performs one or more functions. This logic or unit may include hardware, such as one or more processors, microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits, or field programmable gate arrays, software, or a combination of hardware and software. 
         [0045]    The term “comprises” or “comprising” as used herein, including the claims, specifies the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. 
         [0046]    No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Further, the phrase “based on,” as used herein is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.