ToF User Presence Tracking for Power and Security Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing timer-based power management and security systems for computing devices are inefficient, leading to resource wastage and security vulnerabilities due to inaccurate user presence detection.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor for real-time object tracking to continuously authenticate users, manage power states, and switch microphone modes based on user presence, using depth maps and centroid tracking to ensure accurate detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If timer-based power management is used to determine user absence, then power consumption is reduced when user is absent, but security vulnerabilities arise due to inaccurate user presence detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical timer-based detection system with an optical sensor system (camera or depth sensor) that continuously monitors user presence. This substitution enables accurate detection of user absence without relying on idle timers, allowing the device to confidently enter low-power states only when truly unattended, thus resolving the contradiction between energy savings and detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection system (optical sensor capturing images or depth maps) between the user and the power management system. This intermediary provides accurate real-time presence information to the processor, which then makes informed decisions about power states and security policies, eliminating the inaccuracies of timer-based methods.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If idle timer is used to determine active usage, then device can transition to low power state, but security policies cannot be accurately enforced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the idle timer mechanism with an optical monitoring system that continuously assesses user presence. This allows the device to accurately determine when to transition to low-power states and when to enforce security policies based on actual user presence rather than arbitrary time thresholds, simultaneously optimizing energy use and security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback loop where the optical sensor continuously provides user presence information to the processor, which adjusts power states and security policies in real-time. This continuous feedback ensures that power management and security decisions are based on current user presence status rather than delayed timer-based assumptions.
3Productivity
If user interaction monitoring is used to determine device activity, then power efficiency can be improved, but inaccurate detection leads to resource wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces keyboard/mouse interaction monitoring with optical sensor-based user presence detection. This substitution provides continuous, accurate measurement of user presence without the gaps and inaccuracies inherent in interaction-based monitoring, enabling truly efficient power management that prevents resource wastage while maximizing productivity.
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
Enhances security, conserves power, and improves user experience by maintaining device activity and appropriate audio modes based on user presence, reducing resource wastage and enhancing conferencing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a time of flight (ToF) sensor to generate frames of sensor data
Data Source
AI summary
An example computing device includes a time of flight (ToF) sensor to generate frames of sensor data. The computing device includes a processor to: identify an object appearing in the frames; track a centroid of the object frame-by-frame; and determine whether a user is present within operating range of the computing device based on the tracking.