In summary, iParapet is designed to provide unparalleled security for cellphones and other electronic devices while being charged or when total security is required or desired. The device can be scaled to fit electronic devices from cellphone up to and including laptops. The device cannot be hacked, i.e., it is not connected to the device being protected or connected to the internet. The following text is from the Patent Pending documents in which the numbers refer back to the drawings previously posted.

A SECURITY DEVICE FOR PROTECTION AGAINST AUDIO AND VIDEO SPYING THROUGH MOBILE HANDHELD DEVICES OR OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES, E.G., LAPTOPS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

1. The present invention generally relates to security devices used to prevent spying on lives of people. More specifically the present invention relates to a security device for protection against audio and video spying through mobile handheld devices that are increasingly available with devices such as cameras and microphones and are continuously connected to Internet or other communication networks.

Description of the Related Art

1. Spying on someone’s life using their mobile handheld devices such as smartphones and tablets has become increasingly plausible. Even the most rudimentary mobile handheld devices are generally equipped with a rear camera and a microphone and higher end models have cameras on both front and rear sides. Additionally, these devices are constantly connected to the Internet. With this level of infrastructure alone, it would be possible for a hacker to gain access to any one or more of the cameras and the microphone and start acquiring audio and images of a user of a mobile handheld device. The problem is aggravated by permissions that popular smartphone applications are able to obtain that allows them unhindered and unquestionable access to the cameras and the microphone. Such applications become a very serious potential for abuse for someone trying to spy on the user.Aggravating the potential for a security breach is that hackers have accessed the microphone and camera in some devices even when the device is turned off.
2. The present invention seeks to provide a security device, that will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or at least provide an alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

1. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a security device for protection against audio and video spying through mobile handheld devices, that is simple in construction, easy to implement and relatively cost effective and provides security when the phone, laptop, etc., is turned off.
2. The present invention meets the object by providing a security device for protection against audio and video spying through mobile handheld devices, the security device comprising a container having a base, a peripheral wall and a lid, the base, the peripheral wall and the lid defining an enclosed cavity, the lid including a first segment and a second segment, a white noise generator, one or more audio sensors and a power source. The enclosed cavity is adapted to receive a mobile handheld device and the white noise generator. The first segment and the second segment are adapted to move between open positions and closed positions, such that, in closed positions, the first segment and the second segment are adapted to cover a camera of the mobile handheld device to prevent the camera from capturing an image. Also, the one or more audio sensors are configured to sense a voice signal and the white noise generator is configured to generate white noise in correlation with the voice signal, in order to prevent the mobile handheld device from discerning the voice signal
3. In one embodiment of the invention, the enclosed cavity is divided into two chambers separated by a perforated mesh, one of the two chambers being adapted to receive the white noise generator and another adapted to receive the mobile handheld device over the perforated mesh.
4. In one embodiment of the invention, the security device further comprises a ventilation means in order to keep the enclosed cavity ventilated.
5. In one embodiment of the invention, the ventilation means is constituted by the lid including a gap of a predetermined width between the first segment and the second segment.
6. In one embodiment of the invention, the white noise generator is selected from a group comprising low voltage white noise generators and continuous loop solid state recording devices.
7. In one embodiment of the invention, the one or more audio sensors have been provided along the peripheral wall.
8. In one embodiment of the invention, the security device further comprises one or more motion sensors adapted to sense a motion signal within a predetermined distance of the security device.
9. In one embodiment of the invention, the one or more motion sensors have been provided along the peripheral wall.
10. In one embodiment of the invention, the security device is configured to be operated in a manual mode and an automatic mode, the security device being configured to activate automatically on receiving one or more of the voice signal and the motion signal, in the automatic mode.
11. In one embodiment of the invention, the security device further comprises a slot in the peripheral wall, adapted to receive a power cable for the mobile handheld device.
12. These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a review of the following drawings and detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

1. The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:
2. Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary environment of two people in a conversation, where the present invention may be implemented;
3. Fig. 2 illustrates a sectional view of a security device for protection against audio and video spying through mobile handheld devices, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
4. Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the security device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
5. Fig. 4 illustrates a first and a second segments of a lid of the security device in closed positions, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1. For purposes of promoting and understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. The invention includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the invention that would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
2. Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary environment 100 of two people in a conversation, where the present invention may be implemented. It can be seen that two people are engaged in a conversation and a security device 110 for protection against audio and video spying through mobile handheld devices (hereinafter referred to as the security device 110) is kept near them at a table. It is envisaged here that the security device 110 should be capable of preventing any camera provided with the mobile handheld device to capture any kind of still or moving image and microphones provided with the mobile handheld device should be unable to discern the conversation between the two individuals. The two objectives are envisaged to be achieved by two different kinds of means. While camera is supposed to be optically blocked using an opaque surface, the conversation between the two individuals, or voice signals as we may call them, are envisaged to be masked using white noise. A more detailed explanation of the invention can be found below.
3. Figure 2 illustrates a sectional view of the security device 110, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen from Figure 2, the security device 110 includes a container 210 having a base 212, a peripheral wall 214 and a lid 216. The base 212, the peripheral wall 214 and the lid 216 together defining an enclosed cavity 218. It is to be noted here that the container 210 has been shown to have a rectangular profile, but the container 210 may have any other polygonal, circular, elliptical or oblate profile without departing from the scope of the invention.
4. The security device 110 further includes a white noise generator 224. The white noise generator 224 may be selected from a group comprising low voltage white noise generators and continuous loop solid state recording devices. It is to be noted here, that noise here being attributed is actually sound and not electrical noise. Instead of using a speaker as has been shown in Figure 2, the white noise generator 224 may include an electrically operated fan or some other mechanical device capable of generating the white noise. The enclosed cavity 218 is adapted to receive a mobile handheld device 226 and the white noise generator 224. In that manner, in several embodiments, the enclosed cavity 218 may be divided into two chambers 232 and 234 separated by a perforated mesh 236, one 234 of the two chambers being adapted to receive the white noise generator and another 232 adapted to receive the mobile handheld device 226 over the perforated mesh 236. The perforations allow the white noise to travel from the white noise generator 224 to the mobile handheld device 226. The mobile handheld device 224 here may be a feature phone, a smartphone, a tablet, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or a notebook etc. Normally, all such devices are known to include a microphone and a camera and are often connected to some kind of network, most probably being the Internet.
5. The security device 110 further includes one or more audio sensors 228. A very simple example of an audio sensor being a diaphragm based microphone. The one or more audio sensors 228 may be provided along the peripheral wall 214 as has been shown in Figure 2. In that manner, the one or more audio sensors 228 may be provided at several locations along the peripheral wall 214 to provide a 360-degree protection. The one or more audio sensors 228 are configured to sense a voice signal and the white noise generator 224 is configured to generate the white noise in correlation with the voice signal, in order to prevent the mobile handheld device 224 from discerning the voice signal. The voice signal here may be the conversation of the two individuals shown in Figure 1. There may be built in logic for correlation between the voice signal and the white noise, that has been discussed in the following paragraph.
6. The human voice sound pressure level, at 1 foot (0.3 meter) from an audio sensor is defined as shown in the following:

• A normal voice approximates to a sound pressure level of 70 dB
• A raised voice approximates to a sound pressure level of 76 dB
• A very loud voice approximates to a sound pressure level of 82 dB
• A shouting voice approximates to a sound pressure level of 88 dB

1. However, the decibel levels for each case decrease as the distance between the audio sensor and the human being increases. Such relations are given in Table 1 below.Table 1

Distance (ft.)	Distance (m)	Voice Level (dB)
		Normal	Raised	Very Loud	Shouting
1	0.3	70	76	82	88
3	0.9	60	66	72	78
6	1.8	54	60	66	72
12	3.7	48	54	60	66
24	7.3	42	48	54	60

1. As can be seen from Table 1, the sound pressure level decreases by 6 dB as the distance doubles. Therefore, the white noise generator 224 will also work in a manner consistent with the findings by providing a white noise level of 42 dB minimum when a human voice or other noise is detected at distance of 24 feet (7.3 meters) raising the volume to 70 dB as the external voice moves toward the one or more audio sensors 228 culminating at a 60 dB noise detection at which the human voice or human generated noise would be approximately 3 feet (1 meter) from the one or more audio sensors 228.The white noise level can be increased or decreased either on a geometric or logarithmic scale depending upon specific criteria specified by an end-user. It is to be noted here, that in most social settings, people usually talk with normal voice levels at distances ranging from 3 feet (1 meter) to 12 feet (4 meters).It would be unusual that in this setting the background noise levels would exceed 55-60 dB.The design, therefore, is a reliable and viable device providing protection even in social settings.
2. In several embodiments, the security device 110 also includes one or more motion sensors 230 adapted to sense a motion signal within a predetermined distance of the security device 110. The motion sensors 230 may be of several different types such as active infra-red type, passive infra-red type, active microwave type, ultrasonic type or vibration type etc. Similar to the one or more audio sensors 228, the one or more motion sensors 230 may also be provided along the peripheral wall 214 at several locations to provide a 360-degree protection. Additionally, a power source (not shown) such as an AC/DC adapter or a battery (rechargeable or not) may also be provided to power the circuitry, the speakers and the sensors within the security device 110. With such a configuration, the security device 110 may be configured to be operated in a manual mode and an automatic mode. In automatic mode, the security device 110 may be configured to activate the white noise generator 224 automatically on receiving one or more of the voice signal through the one or more audio sensors 228 and the motion signal through the one or more motion sensors 230. If no signal is received, the white noise generator 224 may be kept in a stand-by mode thus conserving power. The manual mode on the other hand may be activated using a switch provided externally. When it comes to blocking a camera of the mobile handheld device 226, optical blocking is deployed rather than electronic means.
3. Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the security device 110, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The lid 216 includes a first segment 310 and a second segment 320. The first segment 310 and the second segment 320 are in open positions. The first segment 310 and the second segment 320 are adapted to move between open positions and closed positions. That movements may be achieved with use of hinges or slide in and slide out mechanisms, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
4. Figure 4 illustrates the first 310 and the second 320 segments in closed positions, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The first 310 and the second 320 segments may be provided on a top surface of the peripheral wall 214 or may be flush with the top surface as has been shown in Figure 4. Here, in closed positions, any one of the first segment 310 and the second segment 320 are adapted to cover a camera 410 of the mobile handheld device to prevent the camera 410 from capturing an image. It is to be noted here that at least the first segment 310, the second segment 320 and the base 212 are envisaged to be opaque to light. Therefore, all the internals of the container 210 occluded by the first 310 and the second 320 segments are shown in stippled/dotted lines so as to convey that those are hidden portions and have only been illustrated to convey the purpose of the present invention.
5. In cases, where the mobile handheld device 226 has cameras on two sides, the other camera would be optically blocked by the base 212. The security device 110 utilizes a ventilation gap means 420 in order to keep the enclosed cavity 218 ventilated. The ventilation means 420 is constituted by the lid 216 including a gap of a predetermined width ‘d’ between the first segment 310 and the second segment 320. The ventilation is also aided by the perforated mesh 236 as the perforated mesh allows the air to be circulated between the two chambers 232 and 234. As an additional feature a slot 430 may be also be provided in the peripheral wall 214, adapted to receive a power cable for the mobile handheld device 226.
6. The security device 110 as described in several embodiments above offers a number of advantages. It is simple in construction, easy to implement and very cost efficient. It will not be connected to any network or the device being protected, therefore a hacker will not be able to gain access to it from a remote location. It can be further lined with sound absorbing materials both inside and outside to make it silent to the users while also further supressing any potential for the conversations to reach microphones of the mobile handheld device 226.
7. This detailed description, and particularly the specific details of the exemplary embodiment disclosed, is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications will become evident to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention.