# US 2022/0053100 A1 · System and method for social distancing during device usage > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0053100 A1 - Document ID: US20220053100A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/992,542 - Filed: 2020-08-13 - Published: 2022-02-17 - Earliest claimed: 2020-08-13 - Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: William SU - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220053100A1 ## CPC - H04N 1/00875: {Inhibiting reproduction, e.g. by disabling reading or reproduction apparatus} - G06V 20/52: Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects (recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69) - G06V 40/103: {Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition} - G06V 40/172: {Classification, e.g. identification} - G08B 5/36: using visible light sources - H04N 1/00251: {with an apparatus for taking photographic images, e.g. a camera} - H04N 1/00408: {Display of information to the user, e.g. menus} - H04N 1/00854: {Recognising an unauthorised user or user-associated action} - H04N 1/00859: {Issuing an alarm or the like} - H04N 1/00917: {Resuming after an intentional interruption, e.g. resetting parameters} - H04N 1/00925: {Inhibiting an operation} - H04N 1/00891: {Switching on or off, e.g. for saving power when not in use (H04N1/00896 takes precedence)} - H04N 2201/0094: Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract A system and method for maintaining safe social distancing during device operation comprises a multifunction peripheral configured to scan or print a tangible document. A camera captures electronic images of two or more people proximate to the multifunction peripheral. A processor determines a relative distance between the people in accordance with captured electronic images and generates an alarm when a determined relative distance is less than a predetermined alarm threshold distance. The processor disables operation of the multifunction peripheral when the determined relative distance is less than the predetermined alarm threshold distance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multifunction peripheral comprising: a document processing engine configured to scan or print a tangible document; a camera configured to capture one or more electronic images of two people proximate to the multifunction peripheral; memory; and a processor, the processor configured to determine a relative distance between the people in accordance with the captured electronic images, the processor further configured to generate an alarm when a determined relative distance is less than a predetermined alarm threshold distance, and the processor further configured to disable operation of the multifunction peripheral when the determined relative distance is less than the predetermined alarm threshold distance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multifunction peripheral of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to issue a warning when the determined relative distance is less than a predetermined warning threshold distance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The multifunction peripheral of claim 2 wherein: the camera is further configured to capture an electronic image of a third person proximate to the multifunction peripheral, the processor is further configured to identify one of the people as a device user in accordance with a captured electronic image, and the processor is further configure to generate the alarm in accordance with a determined relative distance between the user and another person. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The multifunction peripheral of claim 3 wherein: the processor is further configured to receive identification data indicative of an identity of the user; and the processor is further configured to identify the user in accordance with a correspondence between received identification data and an identity of the user determined from facial recognition from the captured electronic image. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The multifunction peripheral of claim 1 wherein the alarm threshold distance is set in accordance with governmental distancing guidelines for communicable diseases. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The multifunction peripheral of claim 1 wherein the alarm threshold distance is set in accordance with a viewing distance of a user interface of the multifunction peripheral. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The multifunction peripheral of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to generate the alarm as indicia on a display of the multifunction peripheral. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The multifunction peripheral of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to re-enable the multifunction peripheral when the determined relative distance becomes greater than the predetermined alarm threshold distance. ### Claim 9 A method comprising: scanning or printing a tangible document; capturing one or more electronic images of two people proximate to a multifunction peripheral; determining a relative distance between the people in accordance with captured electronic images; generating an alarm when a determined relative distance is less than a predetermined alarm threshold distance; and disabling operation of the multifunction peripheral when the determined relative distance is less than the predetermined alarm threshold distance. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further comprising issuing a warning when the determined relative distance is less than a predetermined warning threshold distance. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprising: capturing an electronic image of a third person proximate to the multifunction peripheral; identifying one of the people as a device user in accordance with a captured electronic image; and generating the alarm in accordance with a determined relative distance between the user and another person. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising: receiving identification data indicative of an identity of the user; identifying the device user in accordance with a correspondence between received identification data and an identity of the user determined from facial recognition from the captured electronic image. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further comprising setting the alarm threshold distance in accordance with governmental distancing guidelines for communicable diseases. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further comprising setting the alarm threshold distance in accordance with a viewing distance of a user interface of the multifunction peripheral. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further comprising generating the alarm as indicia on a display of the multifunction peripheral. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further comprising re-enabling the multifunction peripheral when the determined relative distance becomes greater than the predetermined alarm threshold distance. ### Claim 17 A system comprising: a memory storing threshold data indicative of a preselected social distancing threshold; a camera configured to capture digital images comprising a plurality of persons; and a processor, the processor configured to identify one of the plurality of persons as a user of a device in accordance with facial recognition performed on a captured digital image, the processor further configured to, in real time, determine relative distances between the user and one or more other persons of the plurality, the processor further configured to generate a prompt to the user when any relative distance between the user and any other person exceeds the preselected social distancing threshold, and the processor further configured to disable use of the system until such time as no other person exceeds the preselected social distancing threshold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein the processor is further configured to remove the prompt when no other person exceeds the preselected social distancing threshold. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein the processor determines relative distance in accordance with a preselected three-dimensional distancing formula. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein the preselected social distancing threshold is set in accordance with governmental distancing guidelines for communicable diseases.