Multi-Device User Presence Detection with Trusted Wake Policies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional UPD-capable information handling systems face issues in multi-user environments, including spurious system wake events and unauthorized access due to lack of customization in wake and lock methods, leading to power loss and security vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a database of trusted users (TMU database) that stores biometric data and policy settings, allowing systems to differentiate between trusted and untrusted users, and adjust wake and lock actions accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional UPD-capable systems wake on any user presence detection, then system accessibility is improved, but spurious wake events and power loss occur in multi-user environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different wake permissions to different users by storing user-specific policy settings in a database. Each user's presence detection triggers a query to determine whether that specific user is authorized to wake the system, rather than applying a uniform wake rule to all users. This resolves the contradiction by making wake behavior locally optimized for each user context.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts wake behavior based on real-time user presence and identity. When a user is detected, the system queries the database to determine current wake permissions for that user, allowing wake permissions to change dynamically rather than being static. This enables the system to be accessible to authorized users while preventing spurious wakes from unauthorized users.
2Reliability
If conventional UPD-capable systems lock after user absence, then security is improved, but unauthorized access may occur before lock activation in multi-user environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively locking the system when certain conditions are met, such as detecting unauthorized user presence or detecting that an authorized user has left. Rather than waiting for a fixed timeout period to expire, the system takes preliminary security actions based on real-time user presence detection and policy evaluation, reducing the time window for potential unauthorized access.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors user presence and provides feedback by querying the database to determine current lock policies. When a user is detected or the system state changes, the system evaluates policy settings and adjusts locking behavior accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures security is maintained without unnecessary delays.
3Device complexity
If uniform wake and lock policies are applied to all users, then system simplicity is maintained, but customization for different user roles and contexts is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments user policies into individual records in a database, where each user has their own policy settings stored separately. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple uniform behavior as a baseline while enabling detailed customization for each user when needed. The database structure separates user identity, device associations, and policy settings into discrete segments that can be independently managed.
Solution Approach 2:
The database-driven policy system serves multiple functions: it can enforce uniform default policies for all users, apply customized policies for specific users, support different user roles, and adapt to different device contexts. This universal policy framework resolves the contradiction by providing both simplicity and customization through a single flexible mechanism.
4Ease of operation
If multiple UPD-capable devices operate independently, then device autonomy is maintained, but accurate user presence monitoring across the system is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the policy management and user presence evaluation functions across multiple devices by implementing a centralized database that all UPD-capable devices query. While devices operate autonomously in terms of hardware control, they share a common understanding of user presence and wake/lock policies through the database. This combination resolves the contradiction by maintaining device autonomy while achieving coordinated, accurate presence monitoring system-wide.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of systems and methods are provided to monitor user presence, and manage various actions in response to user presence, within a system comprising multiple UPD-capable devices. In some embodiments, the systems and methods disclosed herein may collect user presence data from a plurality of UPD-capable devices, monitor the user presence data collected from the plurality of UPD-capable devices to accurately identify a user's presence, attention and/or engagement with a particular UPD-capable device, and manage various actions performed within the particular UPD-capable device based on said monitoring. In doing so, the systems and methods disclosed herein may reduce or eliminate problems that may otherwise occur when multiple UPD-capable devices are used within a system to monitor user presence.