Display User Identification Using Physiological Time Series

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display units, such as interactive mirrors, face challenges in reliably identifying users to ensure privacy, particularly in multi-user settings where personal health data is shared, as current methods often rely on single measurements which are not accurate enough to prevent incorrect data dissemination.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that utilize a processor to compare received physiological measurements with time series data of multiple users, determining identity by matching or fitting within a predicted range based on historical measurements, thereby enhancing accuracy and reducing the likelihood of incorrect data presentation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a single physiological measurement is used to identify a user, then the identification process is fast and simple, but the accuracy of user identification is insufficient leading to privacy risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser identification accuracyVSAvoididentification process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores predicted physiological measurement ranges for multiple users before actual identification occurs. When a user approaches, the system compares their measurement against these pre-established ranges, enabling rapid and accurate identification without complex real-time analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from single-point physiological measurements to multi-dimensional time series analysis. By analyzing physiological measurements across multiple time points and comparing them against historical patterns, the system achieves more accurate user identification while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If manual login is required for user identification, then data privacy is protected, but user convenience and experience are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser access convenienceVSAvoiddata privacy protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic user identification by analyzing physiological measurements without requiring manual login actions. The identification process happens seamlessly in the background, and the system automatically restricts data access based on identified user identity, eliminating the need for manual authentication while maintaining privacy security

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If physiological measurements are analyzed over time series, then user identification accuracy improves, but data processing requirements and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser identification confidenceVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates predicted physiological measurement ranges and stores them for multiple users before actual identification occurs. This preliminary preparation enables rapid comparison and accurate identification without requiring complex real-time computational analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously updates and refines predicted physiological ranges based on historical measurement data. By incorporating feedback from past measurements, the system improves identification accuracy over time while maintaining a manageable data processing framework

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3864660B1Identifying a user of a display unit
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP3864660B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3864660B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3864660B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention discloses and apparatus for identifying a user of a display unit. The apparatus (100) comprises a processor (102) configured to receive a physiological measurement for a first user; compare the received physiological measurement with a plurality of time series of physiological measurements, each time series corresponding to one of a plurality of users; and determine, based on the comparison, an identity of the first user. A method and a computer program product are also disclosed.