Patent Publication Number: US-2005128296-A1

Title: Processing systems and methods of controlling same

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      Processing systems such as the ubiquitous PC and home entertainment systems convert data into one or more human-perceptible outputs. Human-perceptible outputs can comprise a visual display and/or audible sounds among others. While processing systems come in many configurations a continuing need exists for controlling such processing systems to benefit a user. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components wherever feasible.  
       FIG. 1  is block diagram that illustrates various components of an exemplary processing system.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary processing system in accordance with one embodiment.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary processing system in accordance with one embodiment.  
       FIGS. 4   a - 4   b  illustrate an exemplary processing system in accordance with one embodiment.  
       FIGS. 5   a - 5   b  illustrate an exemplary processing system in accordance with one embodiment.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary processing system in accordance with one embodiment.  
       FIG. 6   a  illustrates a remote control device in accordance with one embodiment.  
       FIG. 6   b  is block diagram that illustrates various components of an exemplary remote control device in accordance with one embodiment.  
       FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary processing system in accordance with one embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Overview  
      The following relates to processing systems which generate human perceptible outputs such as sound and/or visual images. A processing system can comprise a single device employing a processor, or multiple coupled devices at least one of which contains a processor. The processor(s) can process data and cause human perceptible output to be generated based on the processed data. Examples of processing systems can include a personal computer or PC and a home entertainment system, among others. Some of the described embodiments can control the processing system by sensing a presence or absence of a human proximate the processing system and controlling one or more functions of the processing system based on the sensing.  
     Exemplary Embodiments  
       FIG. 1  illustrates various components of one exemplary processing system  100  comprising a base unit or tower  110 , display device  112  and input devices  114 . Tower  110  houses one or more processor(s)  120 , data storage devices  122  and interfaces  124 . Processor  120  processes various instructions to control the operation of processing system  100 . The instructions can be stored on data storage device  122  which can comprise a digital versatile disk/compact disk (DVD/CD) drive, random access memory (RAM) and a hard disk among others.  
      Interfaces  124  provide a mechanism for various components of the processing system to communicate with other components of the processing system. In some embodiments interfaces  124  can allow processing device  100  to communicate with other devices and/or systems. Interfaces  124  can allow user input to be received by processor  120  from user input devices  114 .  
      In this embodiment display device  112  comprises a monitor that includes a housing  130 , a display means or screen  132 , a display controller  134  and one or more sensors  136 . Screen  132  can comprise an analog device such as a cathode ray tube or a digital device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD).  
      Display controller  134  can be implemented as hardware such as a processor in the form of a chip, software, firmware, or any combination thereof to process image data for display on screen  132 . Display device  112  is configured to generate a visual display which can be viewable or discernable by a user in a user region proximate the display device as will be described in more detail below in relation to  FIG. 2 .  
      Sensor  136  can be mounted on housing  130  and is configured to detect the presence of a user in a sensed region proximate the processing system as will be described in more detail below. Sensor  136  can comprise any suitable type of sensor including, but not limited to, infrared (IR) sensors, sonar sensors, and motion sensors.  
      User input devices  114  may comprise among others, a keyboard  150 , a mouse  152 , a pointing device(s)  154 , and/or other mechanisms to interact with, and to input information to processing system  100 .  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a user, indicated generally at  200 , sitting in user region  202  proximate processing system  100   a . In this embodiment processing system  100   a  comprises a personal computer or “PC”. User region  202  includes a region from which images on screen  132   a  are viewable by the user. In this embodiment sensor  136   a  senses a condition of a sensed region  204  indicating a presence or absence of a user. Sensed region  204  includes at least a portion of user region  202 . Sensor  136   a  can generate a status signal representing the sensed condition, i.e. a presence or absence of a user. The status signal can be utilized to control the performance of personal computer  100   a  among other uses.  
      While user  200  works at personal computer  100   a , the status signal indicating the user&#39;s presence causes the personal computer to operate as would be expected of a personal computer. In such a circumstance personal computer  100   a  operates at a ‘standard operating mode’ with the tower&#39;s processor, shown in  FIG. 1 , running generally at its rated speed and user-perceptible images produced on display device  112   a.    
      If user  200  stops working at personal computer  100   a  and leaves sensed region  204 , sensor  136   a  can generate a different status signal indicating the user&#39;s absence. When the status signal indicates the user has left the sensed region, the personal computer&#39;s performance can be altered such as by changing from the standard operating mode. For example the personal computer can ‘power-down’ or go into a lower performance mode which uses less energy than the standard operating mode. Examples of such lower performance modes can include ‘stand-by’ and ‘hibernate’ among others.  
      In another example the processor of tower  110   a  can be maintained at a normal processing speed while display device  112   a  is turned off or otherwise affected such as by blanking screen  132   a . Blanking screen  132   a  can result in significantly decreased energy consumption compared to a screen generating a viewable image. Further, blanking screen  132   a  can increase the life span of the display device  112   a  when compared to leaving screen  132   a  in a standard operating mode.  
      Some embodiments may incorporate a predetermined time delay when the status signal indicates that user  200  has left the sensed area before initiating any powering down of the personal computer. For example a time delay can maintain the personal computer in standard operating mode for a brief period of time such as when the user leaves the sensed area to retrieve a document from a printer associated with the personal computer. Various other embodiments also may have a scaled response when the user leaves the sensed area. For example, after one minute the screen can be dimmed and after ten minutes the personal computer can go into stand-by mode and after an hour the personal computer can go into hibernate mode.  
      Some embodiments may allow the user to adjust the relative position and/or size of sensed region  204 . For example a particular user such as a file clerk may position an exemplary personal computer on a desk in an office which also contains file cabinets and a copy machine. This particular user frequently moves among the personal computer, the file cabinets, and the copier contained in the office. Some embodiments may allow the user to select a sensed region which is large enough to include a portion of the office where the file cabinets and copier are located in addition to the region from which the screen is viewable. In another example a user having a cubicle rather than an office may want to be able to sense a smaller region to avoid neighboring workers and/or passersby from being sensed.  
      In some embodiments a user can select what personal computer performance measures are taken and at what time intervals based upon the status signal. Such embodiments can utilize control panel selections or some other suitable configuration to allow user selection.  
      If the user approaches personal computer  100   a  when it is in a powered-down mode, the user is sensed in sensed region  204  and the personal computer can be powered-up based on the status signal. This powering-up can be caused by the status signal indicating the presence of the user and without any affirmative action on the part of the user. Such a configuration can begin powering-up the personal computer  100   a  before the user physically reaches the personal computer and without the user physically engaging the personal computer. A time differential between the user entering the sensed region and physically engaging the personal computer  100   a  can decrease or eliminate any lag time associated with the powering-up process where the user has to wait on the personal computer to be ready for use.  
      Some of the present embodiments can decrease or eliminate delays experienced by users wishing to utilize a powered-down personal computer. In addition to decreasing or eliminating delays caused by powering-up the personal computer, some of the present embodiments can allow the user to utilize the personal computer without physically engaging it. For example a user may leave his personal computer to attend a meeting. The user may want to check his email for an important message that he is expecting before attending a subsequent meeting, but may have his hands full of documents. With some of the present embodiments the personal computer senses the user&#39;s presence and powers up so he can see the image on his screen without ever physically engaging the personal computer. In this instance if the user left his computer with his inbox on the screen, the inbox image may reappear without any physical engagement of the personal computer.  
      As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , sensor  136   a  is positioned on display device  112   a . More specifically sensor  136   a  is located above screen  132   a  and generally is pointing toward user region  202  from which an image on screen  132   a  can be viewed by a user. In this embodiment sensor  136   a  is supported by housing  130   a  and is fixed relative to screen  132   a . Positioning the sensor relative to the screen ensures that the sensed area  204  comprises at least a portion of the user area  202 . For example if a user reorients screen  132   a  to reduce glare from an office window, sensed region  204  is also reoriented and maintains its overlapping relationship with the user region.  
       FIG. 3  shows another exemplary processing system  100   b  comprising a personal computer. In this instance the personal computer  100   b  is in a powered down mode and is sensing for a user presence. In this embodiment personal computer  100   b  comprises tower  110   b , display device  112   b , cordless keyboard  150   b  and cordless mouse  152   b . A chair  302  is pushed against desk  304  which is supporting monitor  112   b , keyboard  150   b , mouse  152   b , and a coffee cup  306 . Sensor  136   b  is positioned above screen  132   b  and is oriented to sense a user in the sensed region a portion of which is indicated by dashed lines emanating from sensor  136   b . Sensor  136   b  is positioned on an upper portion of display device  112   b , at least in part, to decrease a likelihood of sensor  136   b  inadvertently being blocked by an obstruction that would interfere with proper functioning. For example, if a user approaches from behind chair  302 , sensor  136   b  advantageously has an obstructed path; thus sensing the user.  
       FIGS. 4   a - 4   b  show another exemplary processing system  100   c  comprising a personal computer. Display device  112   c  has a display portion  402  containing screen  132   c  and a base portion  404 . In this embodiment sensor  136   c  is positioned on display device  112   c  to sense a sensed region which generally corresponds to a user region from which images on screen  132   c  are discernable by a user. In  FIG. 4   a  the user region and the sensed region extend generally from screen  132   c  toward and beyond chair  302   c.    
      In this embodiment the sensed region continues to overlap the user region even if display portion  402  is rotated as seen in  FIG. 4   b . For example, a user comprising an attorney may want to rotate display portion  402  as he walks around to a side of the desk  304   c  opposite the chair  302   c  so that he can review a document on screen  132   c  with a client. As the attorney and the client review the document, sensor  136   c  will sense their presence and will maintain the standard operating mode of the personal computer  100   c.    
      The embodiments described above relate to processing systems. Other embodiments may comprise one or more devices comprising components of processing systems. For example a display device such as display device  112   c  configured with one or more sensors  136   c  may be utilized with an existing personal computer. The display device may be configured so that the visual output of the display device is controlled at least in part by the sensed signal. For example a consumer may purchase an exemplary display device configured to be coupled to a personal computer. Visual images created by the display device can be controlled at least in part by a sensed condition as described above. In some embodiments the display device may be configured to communicate the sensed condition to other components comprising the personal computer. In other embodiments the display device  112   c  may be configured so that the sensed condition only affects the display device and is not readily available to the other components.  
       FIGS. 5   a - 5   b  illustrate another exemplary processing system  100   d  comprising a notebook computer. The embodiments described above illustrate processing devices having separate distinct components such as a display device and a tower. In this embodiment these components are integral in the notebook computer.  FIG. 5   a  illustrates notebook computer  100   d  in an open or user position and  FIG. 5   b  illustrates the notebook computer in a closed or storage position. In the open position, as illustrated in  FIG. 5   a , a pair of sensors  136   d ,  136   e  located at opposing corners of screen  132   d  can sense for a user presence.  
      In this particular embodiment when the notebook computer is closed as shown in  FIG. 5   b , sensors  136   d ,  136   e  are automatically turned-off. This can be accomplished in any suitable way. For example the sensors can be turned off when latch  502  engages receptacle  504 . When notebook computer  100   d  is once again opened sensors  136   d ,  136   e  can be turned back on to function as described above.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates another exemplary processing system  100   e . In this embodiment processing system  100   e  comprises a home entertainment system positioned in a room  600  of a home such as a family room. The processing system comprises a receiver  602 , a DVD player  604 , a video cassette recorder (VCR)  606 , a television (TV)  608 , speakers  610 , and a remote control  612 . In this particular embodiment receiver  602 , DVD player  604 , VCR  606 , television (TV)  608 , and remote control  612  each contain a processor for performing at least a portion of their functionality. The home entertainment system creates human perceptible output in the form of visual images on TV  608  and sounds from speakers  610 .  
      The receiver, DVD player, VCR and television are electrically coupled via electrically conductive wires. Remote control  612  is communicably coupled to the other components via a sending unit in the remote control and receiving units in one or more of the other components. In this particular instance remote control  612  is a ‘universal remote’ configured to control each of receiver  602 , DVD player  604 , VCR  606 , television  608 , and sound output from speakers  610  via receiver  602 . Other embodiments may utilize a remote control which is communicably coupled with less than all of the other components. For example some embodiments may utilize a remote control  612  which is only configured to control television  608 .  
       FIGS. 6   a - 6   b  show an enlarged view of remote control  612  and a block diagram of components of remote control  612  respectively. Remote control  612  comprises a housing  620  which supports user input buttons  622 , a chip or processor  624 , an LED or sending unit  626 , and a sensor  628 . User input buttons  622  create user-input signals when pressed by a user. The user-input signals are received by the chip  624 . The chip can convert the user-input signals into a corresponding command signal that the chip causes to be emitted from the LED. The command signal can cause a selected component to perform a selected task. For example a user can push an input button labeled “play DVD”. Processor  624  receives a corresponding user input signal and causes a command signal to be generated by LED  626  that is detectable by DVD player  604  and causes the DVD player to begin playing a DVD.  
      Sensor  628  is configured to sense for a human presence in a region proximate the remote. The sensor can comprise any suitable type of sensor configurable to generate a sensed signal corresponding to the human presence or absence. Processor  624  can control one or more components of computing system  100   e  based, at least in part, on the sensed signal. For example processor  624  can control the visual output from TV  608  and/or the audio output from speakers  610  based on the sensed signal.  
      As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , one or more users (not shown) can sit on couch  640 . In one example the users comprise parents who utilize remote control  612  to play a movie on DVD player  604 . The movie is displayed as images on TV  608  and is audible via speakers  610 . In this example the parents may have concerns about some of the content of the movie being inappropriate for their young children who are sleeping in another room of the house. After starting the movie, one of the parents can place remote control  612  on the couch arm or other suitable location with sensor  628  generally oriented toward a region to be sensed and LED  626  generally oriented toward the home entertainment system  100   e . In this example the region to be sensed comprises doorway  642 .  
      Once remote control  612  is oriented as desired a specific user input button  622  can be pushed to activate sensor  628 . If one of the children approaches doorway  642 , the sensor can generate a sensed signal indicating a human presence. The sensed signal can cause the remote control&#39;s processor  624  to generate a control signal that affects the visual and/or audio output of home entertainment system  100   e . For example the processor can cause a stop DVD control signal to be generated which can cause the DVD player to stop playing the DVD and return to a menu display. In another example processor  624  may generate a control signal which causes TV  608  to turn to a channel on which no signal is being received. In still another example the control signal may turn off the TV and may mute the audio output.  
      Many existing remote controls contain suitable control commands that can be utilized in suitable embodiments. The skilled artisan should recognize how to couple sensor  628  to processor  624  to cause such command signals to be generated based on the sensed signal.  
       FIG. 7  shows another suitable embodiment which utilizes two or more remote controls to control entertainment system  100   f . In this embodiment a first remote control  612   a  performs traditional functions to allow a user to control the entertainment system. A second remote control  612   b  is configured to generate a first or sensed signal relating to the presence or absence of a user in a region proximate the remote. As a result of the first signal, second remote control  612   b  also can generate a second or control signal configured to control a human-perceptible output of entertainment system  100   f.    
      A user can orient second remote control  612   b  to sense a desired area such as doorway  642   a  and to transmit a control signal to entertainment system  100   f . Second remote control  612   b  may comprise various suitable configurations. In one embodiment second remote control may have a single user input button to control an on/off state. For example second remote control may be configured during assembly to turn off TV  608   a  if a human is sensed in the sensed area. Other suitable embodiments may have multiple user input buttons or other means for allowing a user to select the commands desired when a human is sensed. Some such embodiments also may allow second remote control  612   b  to ‘learn’ how to control various devices comprising a processing system  100   f . In one such embodiment a user may be able to select ‘turn off TV’ and ‘mute audio output’. The remote control can then cause the proper commands to be generated if a sensed signal indicates a human presence.  
      Though the embodiments relating to  FIG. 7  are described in the context where a processing system  100   f  comprises a home entertainment system, these embodiments are equally applicable to other applications. For example a processing system in the form of a personal computer may be utilized to make a presentation such as a board room presentation. Confidential material may be displayed on or by a display device such as a projector. Remote control  612   b  can be utilized to automatically control the user-perceptible output of the personal computer when an unauthorized person such as a food server enters the board room. The skilled artisan should recognize other suitable embodiments.  
     CONCLUSION  
      Processing systems and means for controlling processing systems are described. Some of the embodiments can sense a region proximate the processing system for a human presence or absence. A signal can be generated for controlling the processing system based at least in part on the sensed human presence or absence. Controlling can comprise in some embodiments altering a human-perceptible output of the processing system.  
      Although the inventive concepts have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological steps, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts in the appended claims are not limited to the specific features or steps described. Rather, the specific features and steps are disclosed as forms of implementing the inventive concepts.