Invisible mode for mobile phones to facilitate privacy without breaching trust
Systems and methods for providing information security in an unobtrusive manner are presented herein. An authentication component can enable a primary user of a multi-user communications device, based on an authentication process initiated by the primary user, to classify information stored in the multi-user communications device as invisible to other users of the device. The information classified as invisible to the other users can include phone number(s), phone message(s), email address(es), email(s), electronic message(s), call history, email history, and/or personal data. In addition, an information access component can enable the primary user to access the information classified as invisible to the other users of the multi-user communications device upon authentication of the primary user's identity. An operational component can enable other users of the multi-user communications device to operate the device without receiving an indication that information stored in the device was classified as invisible to the other users.
1. A system for facilitating privacy in a multi-user communications device, the system comprising:
an authentication component that enables a primary user of a multi-user communications device to classify information stored in the multi-user communications device as invisible to other users of the multi-user communications device based on an authentication process instigated by the primary user;
an information access component that enables the primary user to access the information classified as invisible to the other users of the multi-user communications device upon authentication of the primary user's identity; and
an operational component that enables the other users to operate the multi-user communications device without receiving an indication that information stored in the multi-user communications device was classified as invisible to the other users, wherein
the authentication component is further configured to:
receive an incoming communication to the multi-user communications device;
determine whether the incoming communication originated from a number classified as invisible to the other users;
permit the incoming communication to be accessed without authentication if the incoming communication did not originate from a number classified as invisible to the other users;
determine whether one or more key presses occurred on the multi-user communications device if the incoming communication originated from a number classified as invisible to the other users;
direct the incoming communication to voice mail or not permit accessing of the incoming communication if the one or more key presses did not occur;
determine via a voiceprint capture process, after the one or more key presses occurred, whether the primary user attempted to access the incoming communication; and
permit the incoming communication to be accessed upon authentication of the primary user's identity via the voiceprint capture process.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a service access component that enables the primary user to communicate with other persons via the multi-user communications device upon authentication of the primary user's identity, wherein the other persons are associated with the information classified as invisible to the other users.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the authentication component authenticates the primary user's identity while an other person attempts to communicate with the primary user via the multi-user communications device, without the other person perceiving the primary user's identity was authenticated during the attempted communication.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the authentication component authenticates the primary user's identity while the primary user initiates communication with an other person via the multi-user communications device, without the other person perceiving the primary user's identity was authenticated during the initiated communication.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the authentication component at least:
permits initiation of a call from the multi-user communications device;
determines whether the call is classified as invisible to the other users; and
permits the call to proceed without authentication if the call is not classified as invisible to the other users.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the authentication component:
determines via a voiceprint capture process whether the primary user initiated the call; and
permits the call to proceed upon authentication of the primary user's identity via the voiceprint capture process, or terminates the call if the voiceprint capture process does not authenticate the primary user's identity.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information classified as invisible to the other users comprises at least one of the following: a phone number, a phone message, an email address, an email, an electronic message, call history, email history, or personal data.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the information access component enables the primary user to at least one of:
view data originating from at least one of phone numbers classified as invisible to the other users or email addresses classified as invisible to the other users; or
view data sent to at least one of phone numbers classified as invisible to the other users or email addresses classified as invisible to the other users.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the multi-user communications device is at least one of a cellular phone, wireless communications device, or personal data assistant.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the authentication process comprises at least one of speaker verification, speaker authentication, voice recognition, voice authentication, image recognition, fingerprint authentication, or biometrics.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the authentication process further comprises:
registering the primary user's voiceprint with the multi-user communications device;
receiving at least one key press from a user of the multi-user communications device;
initiating a voiceprint capture process based on the at least one key press;
capturing the voiceprint of the user; and
comparing at least one attribute of the voiceprint with at least one attribute of the registered voiceprint to authenticate the user's identity.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the information access component enables the primary user, upon authentication of the primary user's identity, to at least one of: re-register the primary user's voiceprint;
specify a period of inactivity of the multi-user communications device that, when reached, requires the primary user to initiate the voiceprint capture process in order to access the information classified as invisible to the other users; specify a tolerance of voiceprint matching;
specify a window of time in which the voiceprint capture process waits for the primary user to speak before aborting the voiceprint capture process;
specify how a user interface of the multi-user communications device indicates whether the multi-user communications device has authenticated the primary user's identity;
specify the at least one key press to receive from the user during the authentication process;
specify whether the authentication process authenticates the primary user's identity via entry of a code, instead of authenticating the primary user's identity via the voiceprint capture process; or
specify whether a communication received from an other person is ignored or sent to voice mail when the voiceprint of the primary user fails authentication.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the information access component requires the primary user to initiate the voiceprint capture process when the period of inactivity is reached.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the voiceprint capture process directs the incoming communication to voice mail or does not permit accessing the incoming communication if the voiceprint capture process does not capture a voiceprint within a period of time after the one or more key presses occurred.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the calling party continues to hear a ringing tone until the primary user's identity is authenticated via the voiceprint capture process.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the primary user's speech is replayed after the primary user's identity is authenticated via the voiceprint capture process.
17. A method comprising:
enabling a primary user of a multi-user communications device to categorize information stored on the multi-user communications device as secret to other users of the multi-user communications device;
receiving an incoming communication to the multi-user communications device;
determining whether the incoming communication originated from a number classified as secret to the other users;
permitting the incoming communication to be accessed without authentication if the incoming communication did not originate from a number classified as secret to the other users;
determining whether one or more key presses occurred on the multi-user communications device if the incoming communication originated from a number classified as secret to the other users;
directing the incoming communication to voice mail or not permit accessing of the incoming communication if the one or more key presses did not occur;
determining via a voiceprint capture process, after the one or more key presses occurred, whether the primary user attempted to access the incoming communication; and
permitting the incoming communication to be accessed upon authentication of the primary user's identity via the voiceprint capture process.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein authenticating the primary user's identity via the voiceprint capture process comprises:
obtaining a voiceprint of a user; and
determining whether the voiceprint of the user matches the voice print of the primary user.