# US 12,001,259 B2 · Multiple threshold checkers for specific applications and FFT based breathing detection for presence

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- Number: US 12,001,259 B2
- Document ID: US12001259B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/081,319
- Filed: 2020-10-27
- Published: 2021-09-30
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-27
- Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.; STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
- Applicants: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS; STMicroelectronics, Inc.
- Inventors: Olivier Lemarchand; Pierre-Loic Felter; Darin K Winterton; Kalyan-Kumar Vadlamudi-Reddy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12001259B2

## CPC

- G01S 7/354: {Extracting wanted echo-signals (Doppler systems G01S13/50)}
- G06F 1/3231: Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
- A61B 5/0816: {Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency (measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00)}
- A61B 5/1115: {Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair}
- A61B 5/6891: {Furniture}
- A61B 5/7257: {using Fourier transforms}
- G01S 7/356: {involving particularities of FFT processing}
- G01S 7/415: {Identification of targets based on measurements of movement associated with the target}
- G01S 13/56: for presence detection {(presence detection using near field arrangements G01V3/00, e.g. G01V3/08, G01V3/12; burglar, theft or intruder alarms with electrical actuation G08B13/22 - G08B13/26)}
- A61B 2562/0257: Proximity sensors
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, methods and systems for utilizing multiple threshold checkers are provided. A range sensor collects measurement data. The range sensor examines the measurement data based on multiple threshold checkers to determine satisfaction of a trigger condition. In response to the satisfaction of the trigger condition, the range sensor provides the measurement data to a host computing device of the range sensor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
configuring, by a dynamic threshold control engine running on a computing device, a first threshold distance and a second threshold distance on a range sensor, the first threshold distance equaling a lock distance associated with locking the computing device, and the second threshold distance equaling a wake-up distance associated with waking up the computing device;
determining, by a presence monitoring engine running on the computing device, that a measured distance is greater than the first threshold distance, the measured distance being between the computing device and a user measured by the range sensor;
after at least a first timeout duration after the determining the measured distance, setting, by the presence monitoring engine, a presence status to indicate user-not-present and a confidence level to a partial confidence value, wherein the confidence level indicates a level of confidence associated with the presence status, wherein the partial confidence value is greater than 0% and less than 100%, wherein the first timeout duration is a minimum time duration to change the presence status from indicating user-present to indicating user-not-present; and
outputting, by the presence monitoring engine, the presence status and the confidence level.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
after a second timeout duration after the setting the presence status to user-not-present and the confidence level to the partial confidence value, setting, by the presence monitoring engine, the confidence level to 100%; and
outputting, by the presence monitoring engine, the presence status and the confidence level.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the partial confidence value is 50%, wherein the presence status indicating user-not-present and the confidence level being 50% trigger dimming of a display of the computing device, and wherein the presence status indicating user-not-present and the confidence level being 100% trigger sleeping of the computing device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
after the first timeout duration, performing, by the presence monitoring engine, breathing analysis to confirm no breathing pattern is detected before the setting the presence status to indicate user-not-present and the confidence level to the partial confidence value; and
during the second timeout duration, performing, by the presence monitoring engine, the breathing analysis before the setting the confidence level to 100%.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the lock distance is less than the wake-up distance.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising:
after the second timeout duration after the setting the presence status to user-not-present and the confidence level to the partial confidence value, configuring, by the dynamic threshold control engine, the first threshold distance to the wake-up distance; and
setting, by the presence monitoring engine, the presence status to user-present based on determination that the measured distance is less than the first threshold distance.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising:
determining, by the presence monitoring engine, that the measured distance is updated to be less than the second threshold distance;
setting, by the presence monitoring engine, the presence status to indicate user-present;
determining, by the presence monitoring engine, that the measured distance is updated to be less than the lock distance; and
configuring, by the dynamic threshold control engine, the first threshold distance to be the lock distance.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
collecting, by the range sensor of the computing device, measurement data;
examining, by the range sensor, the measurement data based on multiple threshold checkers to determine satisfaction of a first trigger condition that a first distance of the measurement data is greater than the first threshold distance;
in response to the satisfaction of the first trigger condition:
providing, by the range sensor, the measurement data for the computing device to update the measured distance;
collecting, by the range sensor, second measurement data;
examining, by the range sensor, the second measurement data based on the multiple threshold checkers to determine satisfaction of a second trigger condition that a second distance of the second measurement data is less than the second threshold distance; and
in response to the satisfaction of the second trigger condition:
providing, by the range sensor, the second measurement data for the computing device to update the measured distance.

### Claim 9

An apparatus comprising:
a memory;
one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to perform operations, the operations comprising:
configuring, by a dynamic threshold control engine running on the apparatus, a first threshold distance and a second threshold distance on a range sensor, the first threshold distance equaling a lock distance associated with locking the apparatus, and the second threshold distance equaling a wake-up distance associated with waking up the apparatus;
determining, by a presence monitoring engine running on the apparatus, that a measured distance is greater than the first threshold distance, the measured distance being between the apparatus and a user measured by the range sensor;
after at least a first timeout duration after the determining the measured distance, setting, by the presence monitoring engine, a presence status to indicate user-not-present and a confidence level to a partial confidence value, wherein the confidence level indicates a level of confidence associated with the presence status, wherein the partial confidence value is greater than 0% and less than 100%, wherein the first timeout duration is a minimum time duration to change the presence status from indicating user-present to indicating user-not-present; and
outputting, by the presence monitoring engine, the presence status and the confidence level.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, the operations further comprising:
after a second timeout duration after the setting the presence status to user-not-present and the confidence level to the partial confidence value, setting, by the presence monitoring engine, the confidence level to 100%; and
outputting, by the presence monitoring engine, the presence status and the confidence level.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the partial confidence value is 50%, wherein the presence status indicating user-not-present and the confidence level being 50% trigger dimming of a display of the apparatus, and wherein the presence status indicating user-not-present and the confidence level being 100% trigger sleeping of the apparatus.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, the operations further comprising:
after the first timeout duration, performing, by the presence monitoring engine, breathing analysis to confirm no breathing pattern is detected before the setting the presence status to indicate user-not-present and the confidence level to the partial confidence value; and
during the second timeout duration, performing, by the presence monitoring engine, the breathing analysis before the setting the confidence level to 100%.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the lock distance is less than the wake-up distance.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, the operations further comprising:
after the second timeout duration after the setting the presence status to user-not-present and the confidence level to the partial confidence value, configuring, by the dynamic threshold control engine, the first threshold distance to the wake-up distance; and
setting, by the presence monitoring engine, the presence status to user-present based on determination that the measured distance is less than the first threshold distance.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, the operations further comprising:
determining, by the presence monitoring engine, that the measured distance is updated to be less than the second threshold distance;
setting, by the presence monitoring engine, the presence status to indicate user-present;
determining, by the presence monitoring engine, that the measured distance is updated to be less than the lock distance; and
configuring, by the dynamic threshold control engine, the first threshold distance to be the lock distance.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:
the range sensor, the range sensor configured to:
collect measurement data;
examine the measurement data based on multiple threshold checkers to determine satisfaction of a first trigger condition that a first distance of the measurement data is greater than the first threshold distance;
in response to the satisfaction of the first trigger condition:
provide the measurement data for the apparatus to update the measured distance;
collect second measurement data;
examine the second measurement data based on the multiple threshold checkers to determine satisfaction of a second trigger condition that a second distance of the second measurement data is less than the second threshold distance; and
in response to the satisfaction of the second trigger condition:
provide the second measurement data for the apparatus to update the measured distance.

### Claim 17

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform operations, the operations comprising:
configuring, by a dynamic threshold control engine running on the apparatus, a first threshold distance and a second threshold distance on a range sensor, the first threshold distance equaling a lock distance associated with locking the apparatus, and the second threshold distance equaling a wake-up distance associated with waking up the apparatus;
determining, by a presence monitoring engine running on the apparatus, that a measured distance is greater than the first threshold distance, the measured distance being between the apparatus and a user measured by the range sensor;
after at least a first timeout duration after the determining the measured distance, setting, by the presence monitoring engine, a presence status to indicate user-not-present and a confidence level to a partial confidence value, wherein the confidence level indicates a level of confidence associated with the presence status, wherein the partial confidence value is greater than 0% and less than 100%, wherein the first timeout duration is a minimum time duration to change the presence status from indicating user-present to indicating user-not-present; and
outputting, by the presence monitoring engine, the presence status and the confidence level.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, the operations further comprising:
after a second timeout duration after the setting the presence status to user-not-present and the confidence level to the partial confidence value, setting, by the presence monitoring engine, the confidence level to 100%; and
outputting, by the presence monitoring engine, the presence status and the confidence level.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the partial confidence value is 50%, wherein the presence status indicating user-not-present and the confidence level being 50% trigger dimming of a display of the apparatus, and wherein the presence status indicating user-not-present and the confidence level being 100% trigger sleeping of the apparatus.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, the operations further comprising:
after the first timeout duration, performing, by the presence monitoring engine, breathing analysis to confirm no breathing pattern is detected before the setting the presence status to indicate user-not-present and the confidence level to the partial confidence value; and
during the second timeout duration, performing, by the presence monitoring engine, the breathing analysis before the setting the confidence level to 100%.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the lock distance is less than the wake-up distance.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, the operations further comprising:
after the second timeout duration after the setting the presence status to user-not-present and the confidence level to the partial confidence value, configuring, by the dynamic threshold control engine, the first threshold distance to the wake-up distance; and
setting, by the presence monitoring engine, the presence status to user-present based on determination that the measured distance is less than the first threshold distance.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, the operations further comprising:
determining, by the presence monitoring engine, that the measured distance is updated to be less than the second threshold distance;
setting, by the presence monitoring engine, the presence status to indicate user-present;
determining, by the presence monitoring engine, that the measured distance is updated to be less than the lock distance; and
configuring, by the dynamic threshold control engine, the first threshold distance to be the lock distance.

### Claim 24 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, the operations further comprising:
collecting, by the range sensor, measurement data;
examining, by the range sensor, the measurement data based on multiple threshold checkers to determine satisfaction of a first trigger condition that a first distance of the measurement data is greater than the first threshold distance;
in response to the satisfaction of the first trigger condition:
providing, by the range sensor, the measurement data for the apparatus to update the measured distance;
collecting, by the range sensor, second measurement data;
examining, by the range sensor, the second measurement data based on the multiple threshold checkers to determine satisfaction of a second trigger condition that a second distance of the second measurement data is less than the second threshold distance; and
in response to the satisfaction of the second trigger condition:
providing, by the range sensor, the second measurement data for the apparatus to update the measured distance.