RU177094U1 - SAFE SMARTPHONE - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to the design of smartphones, namely to modular smartphones with protection against unauthorized access to audio information coming from the microphone, and video and video data coming from the camera. The technical result of the utility model is security when using a smartphone, by eliminating the possibility of unauthorized access to the microphone and camera of the smartphone. The technical result is achieved due to the fact that a safe smartphone is proposed to be made up of a main module, which contains a telephone unit for making and receiving phone calls, a power supply, a control unit containing a motherboard with a processor and controllers, a touch screen, a speaker, and an additional a removable module that allows connection and disconnection from the main module. At the same time, an additional removable module contains a microphone for inputting audio information and a photo / video unit. The microphone of the optional removable module can be used for telephone conversations, receiving and recording voice and video messages and commands. 4 s.p. f-ly, 3 Fig.

Description

The utility model relates to the design of smartphones, namely to modular smartphones with protection against unauthorized access to audio information coming from a microphone, and photo / video information coming from a photo / video camera.

Most modern smartphones have the following characteristics:

- the presence of a telephone module with a speaker and microphone for telephone conversations;

- the presence of a camera that allows you to take photos and videos with high resolution;

- the availability of modules for wireless access to communication networks;

- the presence of a touch screen to display and enter visual information and touch control;

- the presence of a high-performance hardware platform;

- the presence of an operating system that allows the installation and execution of third-party applications.

On the one hand, all this significantly expands the scope of the smartphone compared to a conventional mobile phone. On the other hand, the combination of these characteristics makes it possible to unauthorized connection to the device without the owner’s knowledge, capture audio information from the device’s microphone and video information from the camera and transmit this information via wireless connection (WiFi / 3G / 4G) to a third party online. In this regard, there is a need to create secure smartphones in which the function of protection against listening and unauthorized access to the smartphone’s photo / video camera would be provided. In the proposed technical solution, this is due to the fact that the design of the smartphone allows you to physically disconnect the microphone and photo / video camera from the main module. Thus, it is proposed to carry out a smartphone consisting of two modules: a main one, containing all the main blocks of the smartphone that ensures its operation, and an additional removable one, in which one or several microphones and a photo / video block with one or more cameras are placed.

Various designs of mobile phones and smartphones are widely known in the art. Existing smartphone models and inventions known today in this area offer, among other things, modular designs that provide convenient use of the module with a microphone and speaker for audio communication (telephone conversation).

For example, in US Pat. No. 7,167,733 B2, it is proposed to use an unwinding cable and a spring coil to connect a removable audio communication module and a main actuating module. A video camera can also be placed on a removable module. A plug-in module with a microphone is always connected to the main executive module using a cable. Thus, the design does not offer disabling the ability to receive audio / video information due to the physical separation of the microphone and camera from the main module of the smartphone, which, in turn, does not protect this design of the smartphone from listening and unauthorized access to the smartphone’s camcorder.

In the application for invention US 2014/0004902 A1, a mobile phone / smartphone is presented, made in the form of a modular design, parts of which can be combined and combined to obtain a device with different functionality. The central telephone module, the screen module with the touch panel and the shooting module interact with each other through a wireless connection, providing options for using the device as a simple mobile phone, a smartphone with a large screen and a touch panel, and a terminal photo / video module that supports video functions. At the same time, the microphone is an integral constructive part of the telephone module, which does not exclude the technical possibility of a freelance connection and use to listen to the microphone when introducing a spyware program into a user's smartphone.

The design of the smartphone in accordance with the application US 2014/0004902 A1 is the closest to the claimed utility model in terms of the essential features and is selected as a prototype.

The technical problem that currently exists is the creation of a smartphone design with protection from listening and unauthorized access to photo / video information obtained using the smartphone’s camera. The creation of the proposed utility model is aimed at solving this technical problem, namely, at creating such a smartphone design that would provide the user with the opportunity to protect against listening to his conversations and unauthorized access to the smartphone’s photo / video camera. This is achieved by creating a modular design of the smartphone and, thus, eliminating the possibility of unauthorized access to the microphone, as well as the image obtained using the smartphone’s photo / video camera.

The technical result of the utility model is to ensure safety when using a smartphone, by eliminating the possibility of unauthorized access to the microphone and photo / video camera of the smartphone.

The technical result is achieved due to the fact that a safe smartphone is proposed to be made up of a main module, which houses a telephone unit for making and receiving phone calls, a speaker, a power supply unit, a control unit containing a motherboard with a processor and controllers, a touch screen, control buttons and connectors (for example, USB, AUX) for organizing standard interfaces with external devices, and an additional removable module that allows connecting and disconnecting from the main module . In this case, an additional removable module contains one or more microphones for inputting audio information and a photo / video unit with one or more cameras. The microphone of the optional removable module can be used for telephone conversations, receiving and recording voice messages and commands.

An additional plug-in module is connected to the main module using an electrical plug-in connection (for example, a POGO pin connector). For this, the main module contains the electrical contacts of the connector for connecting an additional removable module, in turn, the additional removable module contains the electrical contacts of the connector for connecting to the main module. The plug-in electrical connection of the modules ensures the transfer of audio information from the microphone and information from the camera of the photo / video block of the additional removable module to the main module. The plug-in electrical connection also provides transmission from the main module to the additional removable module of the control signals of the elements of the additional removable module. An additional power supply unit (battery) for the main module and other devices can also be installed in the optional module. An additional removable module can be made, for example, in the form of a hard case.

The proposed design allows you to connect the modules (sharing) and use them as a single device or disconnect them and use the main module regardless of the additional removable module.

The main module does not contain a microphone and photo / video camera. Thus, the smartphone can transmit audio information received from the microphone (for example, the user's voice during telephone conversations) and / or the image obtained using the photo / video camera is possible only by connecting the modules and using them as a single device.

The essence of the utility model is illustrated by the following figures.

In FIG. 1 shows a General view of the main module of the smartphone, where:

1 - main module

2 - touch screen of the main module

3 - main module connector for connecting an additional removable module

4 - speaker

In FIG. 2 shows a general view of an additional removable module,

Where:

5 - camera block photo shooting

6 - additional removable module

7 - connector of an additional removable module for connecting to the main module

8 - microphone

In FIG. Figure 3 shows a general view of the main module with an additional removable module connected to it (sharing modules as a single device).

The proposed design allows the smartphone to function in safe mode and fully functional mode.

SAFE MODE

In safe mode, the main module 1 functions separately from the optional removable module 6. In safe mode, the user has the opportunity to work with the smartphone, having access to all functions (working with applications, browsing the Internet, messaging), except for functions that use audio input ( telephone conversations, voice recorder, speech recognition) and / or image obtained using a photo / video camera. The input of control commands is carried out using the touch screen 2. The input commands are processed by the processor of the control unit of the main module. Moreover, the presence in the main module of the telephone call block and at least one speaker allows you to receive incoming or make outgoing calls and hear the interlocutor. You can answer the person in the safe mode of the smartphone by sending text messages (for example, SMS).

Using the smartphone in safe mode guarantees the user the absence of spyware listening and the impossibility of unauthorized access to the image obtained using the photo / video camera. an additional removable module with a microphone and a photo / video unit is physically separated from the main module.

FULL FUNCTION MODE

To switch to full-featured mode, an additional removable module 6 is connected to the main module 1. For this, an electrical connection is established between the electrical contacts of the connector 3 of the main module for connecting an additional removable module and the electrical contacts of the connector 7 of the additional removable module for connecting to the main module. In full-featured mode, the microphone 8 of the additional removable module 6 receives audio information and converts it into an electrical signal for transmitting audio information. An electrical signal for transmitting audio information is transmitted through the connection between the electrical contacts of the connector 7 of the additional removable module for connecting to the main module and the electrical contacts of the connector 3 of the main module for connecting the additional removable module to the processor of the control unit. The processor of the control unit receives an electrical signal for transmitting audio information and performs its further processing. For example, it translates it into a telephone unit for further outgoing transmission or converts it into a voice command. Also, in full-function mode, the photo / video unit receives an image from the camera 5 and converts it into an electrical signal for transmitting photo / video information. The electrical signal for transmitting photo / video information is transmitted through the connection between the electrical contacts of the connector 7 of the additional removable module for connecting to the main module and the electrical contacts of the connector 3 of the main module for connecting the additional removable module to the processor of the control unit. The processor of the control unit receives an electrical signal for transmitting photo / video information and performs its further processing. For example, displays 2 main modules on the touch screen.

Thus, when using the main module 1 with the attached additional removable module 6, the user gets access to all the functions of the smartphone, including audio input and photo / video shooting. The user can only use this mode in those situations when he is not worried about possible eavesdropping (for example, only during telephone calls).

The transition from safe mode to fully functional, and vice versa, is carried out by simple connection / disconnection of the main and additional removable modules.

Claims (9)

1. A secure smartphone, including the main module, which houses a telephone unit for making and receiving phone calls, a speaker, a power supply unit, a control unit containing a motherboard with a processor and controllers, a touch screen, control buttons, and connectors for organizing standard interfaces with external devices and an additional removable module that allows connection and disconnection from the main module, characterized in that: - an additional removable module contains a microphone for inputting audio information, - an additional removable module contains a block photo / video, - the main module contains a connector for connecting an additional removable module, - an additional removable module contains a connector for connecting to the main module. 2. A secure smartphone according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional removable module contains an additional power supply. 3. A secure smartphone according to claim 1, characterized in that there can be two or more microphones. 4. A smartphone is safe according to claim 1, characterized in that there can be two or more photo / video cameras. 5. A secure smartphone according to claim 1, characterized in that, for example, a POGO pin connector is used as a connector for connecting an additional removable module to the main one.

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