Display Assistant Camera Mode Switching for Energy and Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for electronic devices that provide users with peace of mind by allowing them to monitor their home remotely, especially for security and safety purposes.
Innovation Solution
A display assistant device equipped with a camera and processing unit, capable of streaming video to a remote server for monitoring purposes, and switching between monitoring mode for remote surveillance and assistant mode for video communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the camera is continuously active for remote monitoring, then users can monitor their home remotely, but energy consumption increases and user privacy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The camera transitions between different operational states (active monitoring mode, inactive mode, communication mode) based on system state and user needs. The camera is activated only when necessary for monitoring or communication purposes, rather than remaining continuously active, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining monitoring capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the device supports multiple functions (monitoring and video communication), then device versatility improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The same camera hardware is utilized for multiple purposes: remote monitoring of the home environment and video communication with users. By making the camera universal and capable of serving both functions, the patent avoids adding separate hardware components, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining functional versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between monitoring mode and communication mode based on user interaction and system state. This dynamic behavior allows a single camera system to fulfill multiple roles without requiring permanent configuration for each function, simplifying the overall device architecture.
3Reliability
If the camera is positioned on the front side for monitoring, then monitoring coverage is improved, but the camera may capture users during interaction causing privacy concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The camera dynamically adjusts its operational state based on system mode. During assistant mode when users are interacting with the device, the camera remains inactive. During monitoring mode, the camera activates to capture home environment. This dynamic control prevents privacy intrusion during user interaction while maintaining monitoring coverage when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from user presence detection and mode state to control camera activation. When users are detected or the system is in assistant mode, the camera is deactivated. When the system transitions to monitoring mode, the camera activates. This feedback mechanism ensures the camera captures monitoring data only when appropriate, avoiding privacy violations.
Data Source
AI summary
A display assistant device comprises a display, a camera, a speaker, microphones, a processor and memory. The memory stores programs comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, enable a plurality of modes of the display assistant device. The modes include a monitoring mode and an assistant mode. In the monitoring mode, the device is configured to perform a remote monitoring function in which first video captured by the camera is streamed to a remote server system for monitoring uses. The monitoring uses include transmission of the first video to remote client devices authorized to access the first video. In the assistant mode, the device is configured to perform a second plurality of functions that excludes the monitoring function and includes a video communication function in which second video captured by the camera is transmitted to second devices participating in a video communication with a first user of the device.