Determination of presence data by devices

• US 10,506,073 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2017
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mason, Todd Christopher, Mincher, Richard William
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C
• Application Number:
  US15/702,335
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 340 125, 34053923, 725 9, 725 10, 725 11, 725 12, 725 14
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Described are techniques for determining proximity data indicative of the presence, absence, location, position, or orientation of one or more users relative to one or more devices. Based on the proximity data, a corresponding function may be determined, such as initiating or receiving of a communication with another device, ceasing an existing communication, performing a maintenance function, or entering a lower power state.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving user proximity data from one or more sensors, the user proximity data indicating a location of a first user relative to a first device;

determining an identity of the first user;

determining proximity action data associated with the identity of the first user, wherein the proximity action data associates the identity of the first user with one or more corresponding actions;

initiating a communication session based at least in part on the proximity action data; and

accessing connection configuration data associated with the first user, wherein the connection configuration data indicates that the communication session is to be initiated with a third device, and the communication session is to be initiated by one or more of the first device or a second device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the communication session further includes causing the one or more of the first device or the second device to receive a communication from the third device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a lack of the first user near the first device;

causing the one or more of the first device or the second device to terminate the communication session; and

causing the one or more of the first device or the second device to one or more of perform a maintenance task or enter a low power state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user proximity data is further indicative of one or more of:

a number of users near the first device;

a position of the first user;

an orientation of at least a part of the first user;

or

detected motion.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the identity of the first user includes one or more of:

receiving user input indicative of the first user from an input device;

performing facial recognition based on data determined by the one or more sensors;

performing voice recognition based on data determined by the one or more sensors;

detecting a near-field communication device associated with the first user;

or

detecting a radio frequency identification device associated with the first user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based on the user proximity data, one or more of;

a presence of the first user within a pre-selected distance of the first device;

an absence of the first user within the pre-selected distance of the first device;

a length of time associated with the absence;

the identity of the first user;

a presence of one or more second users within the pre-selected distance of the first device;

a position of the first user;

or

a position of the one or more second users.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a first portion of the user proximity data using a first sensor associated with the first device; and

determining a second portion of the user proximity data using a second sensor associated with one or more of the second device or a fourth device in an environment with the one or more of the first device or the second device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection configuration data indicates a plurality of devices associated with a second user and the plurality of devices includes the third device, the method further comprising:

determining that the second user is proximate to the third device, wherein the communication session is initiated with the third device in response to the second user being proximate to the third device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining proximity of a second user to the one or more of the first device or the second device; and

one or more of suspending or terminating the communication session in response to the proximity of the second user to the one or more of the first device or the second device.

10. A system comprising:

one or more memories storing computer-executable instructions; and

one or more hardware processors configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to;

receive, from one or more sensors, first user proximity data indicative of a first location of a first user relative to a first device;

determine proximity action data for the first user, wherein the proximity action data associates the first user with one or more corresponding actions;

initiate, based at least in part on the proximity action data, a communication session using one or more of the first device or a second device in an environment with the first device; and

access connection configuration data for the first user, wherein the connection configuration data indicates that the communication session is to be initiated with a third device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the connection configuration data indicates a plurality of devices associated with a second user and the plurality of devices includes the third device, the system further comprising computer-executable instructions to:

receive second user proximity data indicative of a second location of the second user relative to the third device, wherein the communication session is initiated with the third device in response to the second user being proximate to the third device.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more sensors include a first sensor associated with the first device and a second sensor associated with the second device, the system further comprising computer-executable instructions to determine the first user proximity data based at least in part on first input from the first sensor and second input from the second sensor.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising computer-executable instructions to:

determine, using the one or more sensors, an identity of the first user; and

determine the proximity action data and the connection configuration data based on the identity of the first user.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising computer-executable instructions to:

receive second user proximity data indicating an absence of the first user relative to one or more of the first device or the second device; and

discontinue the communication session.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising computer-executable instructions to:

receive second user proximity data indicating an absence of a second user relative to the third device; and

discontinue the communication session.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising computer-executable instructions to:

determine second user proximity data indicative of a second location of a second user relative to the one or more of the first device or the second device;

determine that the second user is not authorized to access the communication session; and

in response to the second user proximity data, one or more of suspend or terminate the communication session.

17. A method comprising:

receiving first user proximity data from a first sensor associated with a first device;

based on the first user proximity data, determining a first location of a first user relative to one or more of the first device or a second device in an environment with the first device;

determining proximity action data associated with the first user, wherein the proximity action data associates the first user with one or more corresponding actions;

initiating a communication session based at least in part on the proximity action data; and

accessing connection configuration data for the first user, wherein the connection configuration data indicates that the communication session is to be initiated with a third device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the connection configuration data indicates a plurality of devices associated with a second user and the plurality of devices includes the third device, the method further comprising:

determining, based on second user proximity data, a second location of a second user relative to the third device, wherein the communication session is initiated with the third device in response to the second user being proximate to the third device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining an identity of the first user; and

determining one or more of the proximity action data or the connection configuration data based on the identity of the first user.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining second user proximity data indicative of a second location of a second user relative to the one or more of the first device or the second device; and

in response to the second location, discontinuing, the communication session.