# US 10,372,234 B2 · Calculating a social zone distance

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,372,234 B2
- Document ID: US10372234B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/590,825
- Filed: 2017-05-09
- Published: 2018-11-15
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-09
- Assignees: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
- Applicants: LENOVO (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
- Inventors: Song Wang; Jian Li; John Weldon Nicholson; Ming Qian
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10372234B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/0304: {Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means (constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042)}
- G06F 1/3231: Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
- G06F 3/011: {Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00)}
- G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
- G06F 3/16: Sound input; Sound output (speech processing G10L)
- G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path}
- G06Q 10/40: Business processes related to social networking or social networking services
- G10K 11/178: by electro-acoustically regenerating the original acoustic waves in anti-phase
- H04B 1/20: for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver
- H04B 1/202: {by remote control}
- H04R 3/12: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)}
- H04R 5/02: Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
- H04R 5/04: Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)}
- G06F 16/68: Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
- G10K 2210/1081: Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
- G10K 2210/30391: Resetting of the filter parameters or changing the algorithm according to prevailing conditions
- G10K 2210/3056: Variable gain
- G10K 2210/3214: Architectures, e.g. special constructional features or arrangements of features
- G10K 2210/503: Diagnostics; Stability; Alarms; Failsafe
- H04R 1/345: {for loudspeakers}
- H04R 1/403: {loud-speakers}
- H04R 2203/12: Beamforming aspects for stereophonic sound reproduction with loudspeaker arrays
- H04R 2205/022: Plurality of transducers corresponding to a plurality of sound channels in each earpiece of headphones or in a single enclosure
- Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

For calculating a social zone distance, a processor determines distances to one or more persons using the sensor array. In addition, the processor calculates the social zone distance based on the distances.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
a sensor array;
a processor;
a memory that stores code executable by the processor to:
determine distances to one or more persons using the sensor array;
calculate a social zone distance based on the distances and nationalities of the one or more persons; and
lower a speaker volume for an audible response to a first person if the calculated distance to a first person is within an intimate distance social zone and if a query from the first person has a volume that is less than a confidential threshold.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to identify the one or more persons.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein social zone distance is one of an intimate distance, a personal distance, a social distance, and a public speaking distance for one of an introvert person, an extrovert person, and a stranger.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the social zone distance is further calculated as a function of a gender, an age, and a cultural trait of the one or more persons.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to activate one or more optical sensors to capture an image of the one or more persons.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more persons are identified using one or more of voice recognition and facial recognition.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to determine a conversation tone and wherein the social zone distance is further calculated as a function of the conversation tone.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to:
determine an inappropriate social distance; and
in response to determining the inappropriate social distance, communicate an alert.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the code is further executable by the processor to communicate the social zone distance in response to detecting a distinctive social zone distance.

### Claim 10

A method comprising:
determining, by use of a processor, distances to one or more persons;
calculating a social zone distance based on the distances and nationalities of the one or more persons;
lowering a speaker volume for an audible response to a first person if the calculated distance to a first person is within an intimate distance social zone and if a query from the first person has a volume that is less than a confidential threshold.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, the method further comprising identifying the one or more persons.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein social zone distance is one of an intimate distance, a personal distance, a social distance, and a public speaking distance for one of an introvert person, an extrovert person, and a stranger.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the social zone distance is further calculated as a function of a gender, an age, and a cultural trait of the one or more persons.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, the method further comprising activating one or more optical sensors to capture an image of the one or more persons.

### Claim 15

A program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium that stores code executable by a processor to perform:
determining distances to one or more persons;
calculating a social zone distance based on the distances one and nationalities of the one or more persons; and
lowering a speaker volume for an audible response to a first person if the calculated distance to a first person is within an intimate distance social zone and if a query from the first person has a volume that is less than a confidential threshold.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The program product of claim 15, the processor further identifying the one or more persons.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The program product of claim 16, wherein social zone distance is one of an intimate distance, a personal distance, a social distance, and a public speaking distance for one of an introvert person, an extrovert person, and a stranger.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The program product of claim 17, wherein the social zone distance is further calculated as a function of a gender, an age, and a cultural trait of the one or more persons.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The program product of claim 15, the processor further activating one or more optical sensors to capture an image of the one or more persons.