Adaptive Infrared Presence Detection for Notification Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Infrared time of flight sensors in portable information handling systems often provide false readings, leading to security weaknesses and battery life issues due to their sensitivity, causing displays to sleep prematurely or fail to wake up correctly, which affects user experience and power consumption.

Innovation Solution

Adaptive user presence detection configuration parameters are adjusted based on operating conditions using multiple sensors integrated in peripheral devices, such as infrared time of flight sensors, to enhance the accuracy of presence and absence state transitions, with an embedded controller coordinating sensor data to manage notifications and system interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If infrared time of flight sensors are used for rapid user presence detection, then display sleep/wake response time is improved, but false readings increase causing security weaknesses and battery life issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay sleep/wake response timeVSAvoidpresence detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from multiple sensor readings to validate presence detection. The processor monitors sensor output over time and uses this feedback to distinguish between true presence and false readings, thereby maintaining rapid response while improving accuracy through temporal validation of sensor data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary validation of sensor readings by monitoring for consistent presence signals before triggering display wake or sleep actions. This preliminary action filters out false readings and ensures only valid presence/absence detections result in system state changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If display sleeps rapidly when user absent, then battery life is improved, but false positives cause unnecessary sleep and wake cycles consuming power

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery charge consumptionVSAvoidpresence detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors sensor feedback to validate presence detection before triggering display sleep. By using feedback from multiple readings and temporal patterns, the system reduces false positives that would cause unnecessary sleep/wake cycles, thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining reliable detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The processor performs preliminary validation of sensor data by monitoring for consistent presence signals over a period of time before initiating display sleep. This preliminary action prevents false wake-ups and ensures only confirmed absence triggers power-saving mode, reducing unnecessary power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If display remains on when user absent, then user experience is improved with always ready impression, but security risks and unnecessary power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser accessibilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from multiple sensor readings to accurately determine user presence before changing display state. This feedback mechanism ensures the display only sleeps when truly absent, maintaining user accessibility and convenience while avoiding unnecessary power consumption from premature sleep or continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach improves the confidence in user presence detection, reducing false positives and negatives, ensuring the system is always ready when the user is present and asleep when absent, while optimizing battery life and security by timely and accurate display management.

Implementation Method 1

infrared time of flight sensors scan infrared energy in a pattern at an expected end user location and measure reflections to detect objects

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Implementation Method 2

infrared time of flight sensors scan infrared energy in a pattern

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS11513813B2Information handling system notification presentation based upon user presence detection

Publication Date: 2022.11.29 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

End user presence and absence states are determined at an information handling system by analyzing infrared time of flight sensor presence detection information and applying it to manage presentation of notifications at the information handling system, such as operating system notifications and hardware notifications. Notifications are queued when a predetermined user absence state is detected and presented when a predetermined user presence state is detected to that an end user has a greater probability of viewing notifications when the display presents visual images before sleeping for an end user absence and after waking from an end user presence.