Electronic Device Multi-User Content Resumption via Sensor Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, face challenges in providing seamless access to previously partially consumed content by multiple users, requiring cumbersome navigation through multiple screens and user interface controls.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of sensors and processors in electronic devices to identify authorized users and additional persons within their environment, allowing for the selection and presentation of previously partially consumed content, such as media or applications, on the device's display or through audio output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional user interface navigation is used to access previously consumed content, then users can find and access content, but the process becomes cumbersome requiring navigation through multiple screens and controls
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of the authorized user and detection of other persons in the environment before content access is requested. Sensors continuously monitor the environment to identify users and their associations with previously consumed content, so that when a user approaches or interacts with the device, the relevant content is already prepared and can be immediately presented without requiring navigation through multiple screens.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic device automatically identifies the authorized user through sensors and autonomously determines which previously consumed content should be presented based on the user's identity and the detected environment. The system self-services by automatically retrieving and presenting the appropriate content without requiring the user to manually search or navigate through interfaces to locate it.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the device identifies multiple persons and presents shared content, then seamless content resumption is achieved, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sensors with multi-functionality that serve both traditional device functions and user identification purposes. The same sensors that detect environmental conditions or device orientation are also utilized to identify persons in the environment and determine their association with previously consumed content, eliminating the need for dedicated identification hardware and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the functions of user authentication, environmental sensing, and content management into a unified process. The sensors that traditionally monitored only device context are combined with person-detection capabilities, and the processor simultaneously handles both device operations and user identification tasks, reducing the need for separate dedicated components.
Data Source
AI summary
A method in an electronic device includes identifying an authorized user of the electronic device being present within an environment of the electronic device. The method also includes identifying at least one other person also being present within the environment of the electronic device. The method then includes selecting, with one or more processors of the electronic device, content previously partially consumed by the authorized user and the at least one other person and presenting, with the one or more processors, the content on a user interface of the electronic device.