Patent Application
20220053100
This application relates generally to safe distancing between a device user and other people.
Document processing devices include printers, copiers, scanners and e-mail gateways. More recently, devices employing two or more of these functions are found in office environments. These devices are referred to as multifunction peripherals (MFPs) or multifunction devices (MFDs). As used herein, MFPs are understood to comprise printers, alone or in combination with other of the afore-noted functions. It is further understood that any suitable document processing device can be used.
Work environments, such as in offices, factories or schools, include many workers sharing common spaces. Common spaces may include lunch rooms, meeting rooms or spacing around MFPs. Studies have indicated that humans can be comfortable with someone as close as 2 feet (0.63 meters) away from them.
Various embodiments will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:
The systems and methods disclosed herein are described in detail by way of examples and with reference to the figures. It will be appreciated that modifications to disclosed and described examples, arrangements, configurations, components, elements, apparatuses, devices methods, systems, etc. can suitably be made and may be desired for a specific application. In this disclosure, any identification of specific techniques, arrangements, etc. are either related to a specific example presented or are merely a general description of such a technique, arrangement, etc. Identifications of specific details or examples are not intended to be, and should not be, construed as mandatory or limiting unless specifically designated as such.
While humans can exist comfortably with others in close proximity, such proximity can lead to transmission of airborne diseases through breathing. Individuals can adapt their own behavior to maintain safe distances. Currently, safe “social distancing” guidelines to address the transfer of airborne viruses is around six feet or two meters. In certain situations, a person may be unaware that they are being approached by someone while they are looking elsewhere or performing an activity. A particular example is when a person is using an MFP for copying, scanning, printing, faxing or the like. The user's attention is directed to a device user interface, such as a touchscreen, as well as paper input or output. Another person could easily pass inside of a safe distancing boundary without the user's knowledge.
In late 2019, a novel coronavirus pandemic propagated worldwide. Infection with this coronavirus rapidly spanned the globe. The ensuing disease, referred to as COVID-19, propagated quickly and resulted in a high mortality rate. In COVID-19, “CO” stands for corona, “VI” for virus, and “D” for disease, while the “19” references the year. A novel disease is one where humans have had no prior exposure and therefore have no prior immunity. The COVID-19 contagion is particularly dangerous insofar as onset of symptoms may occur two weeks after a person becomes transmissive. Some carriers of the virus will be asymptomatic or experience minimal symptoms. With such novel and transmissive diseases, face masks and social distancing provide significant benefit to minimizing effects of a pandemic.
The subject application teaches example embodiments wherein an MFP is configured to monitor distances between a device user and others in proximity to the device.
Practicing social distancing helps to reduce opportunities for disease transmission. Additionally, proper distancing can prevent “shoulder surfing,” which is a social engineering technique used to obtain information such as personal identification numbers (PINs), passwords and other confidential data, by looking over another user's shoulder, either from the software keyboard on a MFP device or from sensitive information that is being printed.
In example embodiments, an MFP has a built-in camera and facial recognition software which can determine who should be considered as a current user and who should be considered as others in the area. The MFP determines distance between current user and the others. If the distance is too close, the MFP will give user signals or messages and go into a disabled mode.
The NFP uses any suitable three-dimensional distance formula to determine a distance between the current user and others in real time. An administrator can configure the safe distance and the notification alerts, suitably within set government guidelines or company policy. When an MFP is set to its social distancing mode, social distancing measures are taken to restrict multiple users from coming to the MFP together. The device MFP has a built-in camera and facial recognition software so that it can identify the people at the MFP. The invention can be described as the flowing steps.
In accordance with the subject application,
In the example embodiment of
Turning now to
Processor 202 is also in data communication with a storage interface 208 for reading or writing data with storage 216, suitably comprised of a hard disk, optical disk, solid-state disk, cloud-based storage, or any other suitable data storage as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Processor 202 is also in data communication with a network interface 210 which provides an interface to a network interface controller (NIC) 214, which in turn provides a data path to any suitable wired or physical network connection 220, or to a wireless data connection via a wireless network interface, such as WiFi 218. Example wireless connections include cellular, Wi-Fi, wireless universal serial bus (wireless USB), satellite, and the like. Example wired interfaces include Ethernet, USB, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Lightning, telephone line, or the like. Processor 202 is also in data communication with a hardware monitor 221, suitably amassing state data from subassemblies, sensors, digital thermometers, or the like, and suitably including digital state date including device codes, such as device error codes. Processor 202 can also be in data communication a document processor interface 222, with BLUETOOTH interface 226 and camera interface 228 via data path 212.
Processor 202 can also be in data communication with any suitable user input/output (I/O) interface (not shown) which provides data communication with user peripherals, such as displays, keyboards, mice, track balls, touch screens, or the like.
Document processor interface 222 is suitable for data communication with MFP functional units 250. In the illustrated example, these units include a copy engine, suitably comprised of copy hardware 240, a scan engine, suitably comprised of scan hardware 242, a print engine, suitably comprised of print hardware 244 and a fax engine, suitably comprised of fax hardware 246. These subsystems together comprise MFP functional hardware 250. It will be understood that functional units are suitably comprised of intelligent units, including any suitable hardware or software platform.
Next, a determination is made at block 656 as to whether any person has exceeded a danger threshold. If not, the process returns to block 644. If so, the MFP is disabled and user notified at block 660, and a loop is made back to block 656 to keep the warning displayed and MFP disabled until such time proper distancing is achieved. Once this occurs the process proceeds back to block 644.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the spirit and scope of the inventions.
