Multi-Sensor Privacy Threat Detection Beyond Camera Field of View
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing user presence and attention sensing implementations in computer systems have limited field of view, leading to issues with occlusions and inability to detect privacy threats from wider peripheries, necessitating expensive screen filters or hardware solutions that degrade image quality.
Innovation Solution
A fusion of multiple sensor modalities, including cameras and sensors like ultrasound, RF radar, and WiFi Doppler, to create an extended field of view for comprehensive privacy threat detection, integrating proximity and attention sensing to make informed decisions about screen context privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a standard camera is used for user presence detection, then the system can detect user attention and proximity, but the field of view is limited causing occlusions and inability to detect privacy threats from wider peripheries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor modalities (camera, ultrasound sensor, RF radar sensor, WiFi Doppler sensor) into a unified presence detection system. Each sensor type contributes different field of view characteristics and detection capabilities, merging their strengths to achieve comprehensive coverage while maintaining individual sensor simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses multiple sensors that can serve both presence detection and attention detection functions. The camera provides visual attention detection, while ultrasound and RF sensors provide proximity detection, creating a multi-functional sensor array that extends field of view without requiring separate dedicated sensors for each function
2Reliability
If expensive screen filters or hardware solutions are used to protect privacy, then privacy protection is improved, but image quality degrades and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary presence and attention detection using multiple sensors before determining privacy protection measures. By detecting users in the periphery beforehand, the system can proactively apply digital obfuscation or security restrictions before privacy threats materialize, avoiding the need for reactive physical barriers that degrade image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical privacy protection solutions (screen filters, physical barriers) with software-based digital obfuscation and security level adjustments. This substitution maintains privacy protection effectiveness while preserving display image quality and avoiding hardware degradation
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 detection of privacy threats beyond the standard field of view, allowing for enhanced security measures such as heightened security levels or display obfuscation, thereby improving privacy protection without degrading image quality or requiring expensive hardware.
Implementation Method 1
the second sensor includes one or more of an ultrasound sensor
Implementation Method 2
the second sensor includes one or more of an ultrasound sensor, a WiFi Doppler sensor
Implementation Method 3
the second sensor includes one or more of an ultrasound sensor, a WiFi Doppler sensor, an ultra wideband (UWB) sensor
Implementation Method 4
the second sensor includes one or more of an ultrasound sensor, a WiFi Doppler sensor, an ultra wideband (UWB) sensor, or a radio frequency (RF) radar sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for identifying potential privacy threats are described. One example method includes receiving a first set of signals from a first sensor representing information captured from an environment of the computer system in a first field of view associated with the first sensor; receiving a second set of signals from at least one second sensor representing information captured from an environment of the computer system in a second field of view associated with the second sensor, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are of different types and the second field of view is wider than the first field of view; processing the first and second set of signals to create a representation of an effective field of view that is wider than the first field of view; and detecting the presence of at least one person within the effective field of view based on the representation.