Infrared Occupancy Sensing Without Personally Identifiable Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building occupants expect privacy while building management needs accurate occupancy data for efficient resource allocation, which existing technologies often compromise with personally identifiable information (PII).
Innovation Solution
Utilizing low-resolution infrared (IR) detectors and controllers to collect occupancy data without PII, integrated with optically switchable windows, coupled with building management systems (BMS) for real-time, anonymous occupancy monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional occupancy sensing technologies are used, then occupancy data can be collected, but personally identifiable information (PII) of occupants is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary occupancy information (presence, density, distribution) while deliberately excluding personally identifiable information such as facial recognition, individual tracking, and identifying characteristics. The system processes thermal infrared data to determine occupancy patterns without capturing or storing PII, thus resolving the contradiction between obtaining accurate occupancy data and protecting privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a thermal copy or representation of occupancy patterns using infrared thermal imaging, which allows building management to analyze spatial and temporal occupancy distributions without capturing the actual visual identity of occupants. This thermal copy serves as an anonymous proxy that preserves occupancy information while eliminating PII.
2Measurement precision
If high-resolution imaging is used to improve occupancy detection accuracy, then occupancy data precision increases, but privacy protection decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from visible light (which can capture facial features and PII) to thermal infrared radiation (which detects heat signatures). This parameter change enables occupancy detection at a level of detail sufficient for spatial and temporal analysis while inherently preventing the capture of personally identifiable visual information, thus maintaining measurement precision without increasing privacy risk.
3Productivity
If occupancy monitoring is implemented to improve resource allocation, then building management efficiency increases, but occupant privacy expectation is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces thermal infrared sensing as an intermediary between building management needs and occupant privacy concerns. The thermal sensor acts as a mediator that collects occupancy data for management purposes while the processing system filters out all PII, ensuring that only aggregate occupancy patterns are available to building management. This intermediary approach enables efficient resource allocation decisions without direct violation of occupant privacy expectations.
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
Enables accurate, real-time occupancy monitoring that enhances comfort and security without violating privacy, allowing proactive space planning and efficient resource management.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared detector configured to detect occupancy status within a defined space
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for determining occupancy data in a building include collecting IR imaging data with an infrared (IR) detector configured to collect IR imaging data, the IR detector having a field of view. The collected IR imaging data is processed by a controller determine occupancy data for a space, within a building, within the field of view of the IR detector. The controller includes circuitry configured to process the collected IR imaging data and determine occupancy data for a space, within a building, within the field of view of the IR detector, where the determined occupancy data excludes personally identifiable information (PII) of any occupant in the space.