Patent Description:
Examples are described in the following detailed description and in reference to the drawings, in which:.

Electronic devices may be equipped with a microphone to detect voice signals (e.g., voice commands) and a camera to record images (e.g., still and/or video). Users of such electronic devices may utilize the images with applications such as, for example, video conferencing, email, and instant messaging. However, hackers or unauthorized persons may enable the microphone or the camera on such electronic devices without a user's knowledge or permission. In some electronic devices (e.g., notebook computers), the microphone power and/or the camera power may turn on when the electronic device is in a power-on mode. However, the microphone and/or the camera may not be used even though the electronic device is in the power-on mode.

In such examples, the camera may be utilized by hackers or other unauthorized persons to record images of the end user and/or the location (e.g., home, office, car, and the like) in which the end user is utilizing the electronic device. The recorded images may be used, transmitted, forwarded, sent, distributed, and/or displayed without the user's knowledge or permission. This may cause security, privacy, inconvenience, and/or other concerns for the users of such electronic devices. Similarly, the microphone may be utilized by hackers or other unauthorized persons to record audio of the end users.

Some example ways in which a camera of an electronic device may be disabled is to utilize a moveable door or other cover that blocks light from entering lens of the camera to prevent recordation of images. However, such moveable doors or covers may require an electronic device to have a certain minimum thickness, which can prevent utilization of such moveable doors or covers in electronic devices that are designed to be thin such as, for example, some tablets and phones. Moveable doors or covers may also add to an overall cost of the electronic device.

Other example ways in which a camera of an electronic device may be disabled is to utilize an opaque tape to block light from entering the lens of the camera to prevent recordation of images. However, such opaque tape, when removed, may leave a residue on the lens of the camera which may degrade the quality (e.g., sharpness, contrast, color, and the like) of the images recorded by the camera. Also, such opaque tape may not be readily available to an end user when the user wants to disable the camera.

Additional example ways in which a camera of an electronic device may be disabled is to utilize a driver (e.g., machine-readable instructions) of the camera to disable the camera to prevent recordation of images. A potential issue with the use of such camera driver to disable the camera is that such camera driver can be hacked or otherwise compromised to enable the camera on the electronic device without a user's knowledge or permission.

Examples described herein may securely enable or disable a camera or a microphone of an electronic device via generating a pop-up message when the camera or the microphone starts working. The pop-up message includes an option. The option, when selected prior to an expiration of a timer, continues to provide power to the camera or the microphone. Further, the power to the camera or the microphone is turned off when the timer expires without the selection of the option. Thus, examples described herein may enhance security and protect a user's privacy during the power-on mode of the electronic device.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present techniques. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present apparatus, devices and systems may be practiced without these specific details. Reference in the specification to "an example" or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described is included in at least that one example, but not necessarily in other examples.

Examples described herein provide an electronic device including a sensor circuit and a controller coupled to the sensor circuit. The sensor circuit monitors a power consumption of a peripheral device (e.g., a microphone or a camera). For example, the peripheral device is to consume low power in an idle mode and high power in an active mode. Further, the controller may detect that the power consumption of the peripheral device corresponds to the active mode and generate a popup message including an option on a user interface of the electronic device. In some examples, the power consumption of the peripheral device increases (i.e., to the high power) when the peripheral device starts working. The controller directs a power source to continue to provide the power to the peripheral device in response to determining that the option is selected prior to an expiration of a timer, or else, turn off the power source.

As used herein, the term "electronic device" may represent, but is not limited to, a computer, a server, a notebook, a tablet, a monitor, a phone, a personal digital assistant, a kiosk, a television, a display, or a combination thereof. As used herein, the term "camera" may represent, but is not limited to, a device that records images, still and/or video, by utilizing a lens assembly, shutter, associated electronics, and a photosensitive member. Example photosensitive member may include, but is not limited to, a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS). As used herein, the term "microphone" may represent, but is not limited to, a device that records voice signals.

Turning now to the figures, <FIG> is a block diagram of an example electronic device <NUM>, including a controller <NUM> to monitor a power consumption of a peripheral device <NUM> via a sensor circuit <NUM>. Example peripheral device <NUM> may be a microphone or a camera. Further, peripheral device <NUM> may turn on when electronic device <NUM> is in a power-on mode.

Electronic device <NUM> may include a power source <NUM>, sensor circuit <NUM>, and controller <NUM> coupled to sensor circuit <NUM>. Example controller <NUM> may be an embedded controller. Example embedded controller may be an embedded keyboard controller. In some examples, the components of electronic device <NUM> may be implemented in hardware, machine-readable instructions, or a combination thereof. In one example, controller <NUM> may be implemented as engines or modules comprising any combination of hardware and programming to implement the functionalities described herein.

During operation, power source <NUM> supplies power to peripheral device <NUM>. In one example, power source <NUM> may be a switch circuit that can be turned off or turned on via a control signal. Power source <NUM> may be connected between a power supply (Vcc) and peripheral device <NUM> to supply or cut off the power from the Vcc to peripheral device <NUM>. For example, power source <NUM> may include a power input end to receive the input power from the Vcc and convert the input power into an output power, a power output end to output the output power to peripheral device <NUM>, and a switch pin/enable pin to receive the control signal to supply or cut off the power to peripheral device <NUM>.

Further during operation, sensor circuit <NUM> monitors a power consumption of peripheral device <NUM>. In one example, sensor circuit <NUM> may monitor the power consumption of peripheral device <NUM> during the power-on mode of electronic device <NUM>. In the power-on mode, both electronic device <NUM> and peripheral device <NUM> may be turned on. Further, peripheral device <NUM> may consume low power in an idle mode and high power in an active mode. In active mode, peripheral device <NUM> may start working (e.g., the microphone may record voice signals, and/or the camera may record images).

Further, controller <NUM> detects that the power consumption of peripheral device <NUM> is greater than a threshold. For example, the threshold may be an indicative of a power level beyond which peripheral device <NUM> starts working. The threshold may be set based on a power specification of peripheral device <NUM>. In some examples, the power specification of peripheral device <NUM> may be stored in a storage associated with electronic device <NUM>.

Upon detecting that the power consumption of peripheral device <NUM> is greater than the threshold, controller <NUM> generates a popup message on a user interface <NUM> of electronic device <NUM>. The popup message includes an option to allow an operation of peripheral device <NUM>.

Furthermore, controller <NUM> determines whether the option is selected (i.e., via user interface <NUM>) prior to an expiration of a timer. Controller <NUM> directs power source <NUM> to continue to provide the power to peripheral device <NUM> in response to a determination that the option is selected prior to the expiration of the timer. The controller <NUM> turns off power source <NUM> in response to a determination that the timer expires without the selection of the option. In some examples, controller <NUM> may output the control signal to the enable pin of power source <NUM> either to continue to supply the power or to cut off the power to peripheral device <NUM> based on the determination.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an example electronic device <NUM>, including a controller <NUM> to control an operation of a camera <NUM> during a power-on mode of electronic device <NUM>. Electronic device <NUM> may include a display unit <NUM>, and camera <NUM> to record an image. In one example, camera <NUM> may be embedded into display unit <NUM>.

Further, electronic device <NUM> includes a power source <NUM> to supply power to camera <NUM>. In one example, power source <NUM> may supply low power to camera <NUM> when camera <NUM> is in an idle mode and supply high power to camera <NUM> to record the image when camera <NUM> is in an active mode. For example, consider an example power supply to camera <NUM> as <NUM> Vdc. In this example, the power consumption of camera <NUM> during the idle mode may be about <NUM> milliwatt (mW) and the power consumption of camera <NUM> during the active mode may be about <NUM> mW.

Furthermore, electronic device <NUM> may include a sensor <NUM> coupled between power source <NUM> and camera <NUM>. Sensor <NUM> may measure the power supplied by power source <NUM> to camera <NUM> during the power-on mode of electronic device <NUM>. The term "power-on mode" of electronic device <NUM> may refer to a mode in which display unit <NUM> and camera <NUM> are turned on.

Also, electronic device <NUM> may include controller <NUM> coupled to power source <NUM>, sensor <NUM>, display unit <NUM>, and a timer <NUM>. In one example, the components of electronic device <NUM> may be implemented in hardware, machine-readable instructions, or a combination thereof. In one example, controller <NUM> may be implemented as engines or modules comprising any combination of hardware and programming to implement the functionalities described herein,.

During operation, controller <NUM> may determine that the measured power is greater than a threshold. In one example, the measured power may be greater than the threshold when camera <NUM> is in the active mode. Further, controller <NUM> may provide options <NUM> on display unit <NUM> in response to the measured power being greater than the threshold and simultaneously initiate the timer <NUM>. Timer <NUM> may be set to expire at a threshold time duration (e.g., <NUM> seconds). For example, timer <NUM> may indicate the threshold time duration to automatically disable the notification. In this example, options <NUM> can be selectable to enable and disable camera <NUM> within the threshold time duration.

Further during the operation, controller <NUM> may control an operation of camera <NUM> via power source <NUM> based on a selection of options <NUM> and timer <NUM>. In this example, controller <NUM> may control power source <NUM> to supply or cut off the power to camera <NUM>. In one example, controller <NUM> may direct power source <NUM> to continue to provide the power to camera <NUM> in response to determining that option <NUM> to enable camera <NUM> is selected prior to an expiration of timer <NUM>. In this example, controller <NUM> may output a power supply signal (i.e., a control signal) to power source <NUM>. When the power source <NUM> receives the power supply signal via an enable pin, power source <NUM> may continue to provide the power to camera <NUM>.

In another example, controller <NUM> may turn off the power to camera <NUM> via power source <NUM> in response to determining that timer <NUM> expires prior to the selection of options <NUM>. In other examples, controller <NUM> may turn off the power to camera <NUM> via power source <NUM> in response to determining that option <NUM> to disable camera <NUM> is selected prior to the expiration of timer <NUM>. In these examples, controller <NUM> may output a power cut off signal (i.e., a control signal) to power source <NUM>. When power source <NUM> receives the power cut off signal via the control input, power source <NUM> may cut off the power to camera <NUM>. An example notification or popup message to control an operation of a camera is explained in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a schematic representation of an example electronic device <NUM>, depicting an example notification <NUM> including an option <NUM> to enable an operation of a camera <NUM>. Example electronic device <NUM> may be a notebook computer including a display unit <NUM> and a base unit <NUM> pivotally, detachably, or twistably connected to display unit <NUM>.

Display unit <NUM> may house a display <NUM> (e.g., a touchscreen display). Display <NUM> may display diverse images such as digital content and photographed images. Example display <NUM> may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a plasma display panel (PDP), an electro-luminescent (EL) display, or the like. Base unit <NUM> may house a keyboard <NUM>, a touchpad <NUM>, a battery, and the like. Electronic device <NUM> may also be equipped with other components such as audio/video devices, sensors, and the like, depending on the functions of electronic device <NUM>.

Further, electronic device <NUM> includes a power source <NUM>, a sensor <NUM>, and a controller <NUM> disposed therein. In one example, power source <NUM>, sensor <NUM>, and controller <NUM> can be disposed in display unit <NUM>, base unit <NUM>, or any combination thereof. In the example shown in <FIG>, power source <NUM>, sensor <NUM>, and controller <NUM> may be disposed in base unit <NUM>. For example, power source <NUM>, sensor <NUM>, and controller <NUM> may be similar in structure and/or function to power source <NUM>, sensor <NUM>, and controller <NUM> described with respect to <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, camera <NUM> may be mounted on display unit <NUM> (e.g., embedded into a top horizontal bezel of display unit <NUM>) and takes a photograph of an external object creating an image. The image of the external object may be a still image or a moving image. In other examples, electronic device <NUM> may be provided with a plurality of cameras such as a front camera mounted on a front portion of display unit <NUM>, a side camera mounted on a side portion of display unit <NUM>, and a back-facing camera mounted on a back side of display unit <NUM>.

Such cameras (e.g., camera <NUM>) may be utilized by hackers or other unauthorized persons (e.g., via a hacking or malicious program) to take a photograph of an external object during a power-on mode in which camera <NUM> and display <NUM> are turned on. The hacking program may collect user's personal information and privacy in a state that the user may not realize the photographing operation of camera <NUM>. When camera <NUM> starts working (i.e., recordation of images), the power consumption may increase beyond a threshold.

Accordingly, when power measured by sensor <NUM> is greater than the threshold, controller <NUM> provides a notification <NUM> on display <NUM>. In one example, notification <NUM> includes an option <NUM> that can be selectable to enable an operation of camera <NUM>. Controller <NUM> directs power source <NUM> to continue to provide the power to camera <NUM> in response to determining that option <NUM> to enable camera <NUM> is selected prior to an expiration of a timer (e.g., timer <NUM> as shown in <FIG>). In another example, controller <NUM> may turn off the power to camera <NUM> via power source <NUM> in response to determining that the timer expires prior to the selection of option <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic representation of example electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>, depicting another example notification <NUM> including an option <NUM> to enable camera <NUM> and an option <NUM> to disable camera <NUM>. For example, similarly named elements of <FIG> may be similar in structure and/or function to elements described with respect to <FIG>.

During operation, when power measured by sensor <NUM> is greater than the threshold, controller <NUM> provides notification <NUM> on display <NUM>. In one example, notification <NUM> may include an option <NUM> that can be selectable to enable an operation of camera <NUM> and an option <NUM> that can be selectable to disable an operation of camera <NUM>. Controller <NUM> directs power source <NUM> to continue to provide the power to camera <NUM> in response to determining that option <NUM> to enable camera <NUM> is selected prior to an expiration of the timer. In another example, controller <NUM> may turn off the power to camera <NUM> via power source <NUM> in response to determining that the timer expires prior to the selection of any of options <NUM> and <NUM>. In yet another example, controller <NUM> may turn off the power to camera <NUM> via power source <NUM> in response to determining that option <NUM> to disable camera <NUM> is selected prior to the expiration of the timer.

In one example, the components of electronic device <NUM> may be implemented in hardware, machine-readable instructions, or a combination thereof. In one example, controller <NUM> may be implemented as engines or modules comprising any combination of hardware and programming to implement the functionalities described herein.

Electronic device (e.g., electronic device <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of <FIG>, and <FIG>, respectively) may include computer-readable storage medium comprising (e.g., encoded with) instructions executable by a processor to implement functionalities described herein in relation to <FIG>. In some examples, the functionalities described herein, in relation to instructions to implement functions of components of electronic device <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> and any additional instructions described herein in relation to the storage medium, may be implemented as engines or modules comprising any combination of hardware and programming to implement the functionalities of the modules or engines described herein. The functions of components of electronic device <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> may also be implemented by a respective processor. In examples described herein, the processor may include, for example, one processor or multiple processors included in a single device or distributed across multiple devices.

<FIG> are block diagrams of an example electronic device <NUM> including a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium <NUM>, storing instructions to control an operation of a camera. Electronic device <NUM> may include a processor <NUM> and machine-readable storage medium <NUM> communicatively coupled through a system bus. Processor <NUM> may be any type of central processing unit (CPU), microprocessor, or processing logic that interprets and executes machine-readable instructions stored in machine-readable storage medium <NUM>. Machine-readable storage medium <NUM> may be a random-access memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device that may store information and machine-readable instructions that may be executed by processor <NUM>. For example, machine-readable storage medium <NUM> may be synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate (DDR), rambus DRAM (RDRAM), rambus RAM, etc., or storage memory media such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a pen drive, and the like. In an example, machine-readable storage medium <NUM> may be a non-transitory machine-readable medium. In an example, machine-readable storage medium <NUM> may be remote but accessible to electronic device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, machine-readable storage medium <NUM> stores instructions <NUM>-<NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, machine-readable storage medium <NUM> may store instructions <NUM>-<NUM>. In an example, instructions <NUM>-<NUM> may be executed by processor <NUM> to control the operation of the camera. Instructions <NUM> may be executed by processor <NUM> to receive real-time power consumption data of the camera from a sensor. The camera may consume low power in an idle mode and high power in an active mode. In one example, the real-time power consumption data of the camera is received from the sensor when a display of electronic device <NUM> and the camera are in a power-on mode.

Instructions <NUM> may be executed by processor <NUM> to determine that power consumption of the camera corresponds to the active mode based on the real-time power consumption data. Instructions <NUM> may be executed by processor <NUM> to generate a notification on the display of electronic device <NUM> in response to determining that the power consumption of the camera corresponds to the active mode. The notification includes an option that can be selectable to allow an operation of the camera.

Instructions <NUM> may be executed by processor <NUM> to turn off power to the camera in response to a determination that a timer expires prior to a selection of the option. In one example, the timer may be set to expire after an amount of time (i.e., a duration). The timer may indicate the duration to automatically disable the notification. In one example, instructions <NUM> may be executed by processor <NUM> to turn off a power source to disconnect the power to the camera in response to the determination that the timer expires prior to the selection of the option.

As shown in <FIG>, instructions <NUM> may be executed by processor <NUM> to direct a power source to continue to provide the power to the camera in response to a determination that the option is selected prior to the expiration of the timer.

<FIG> is a flow diagram <NUM> for controlling an operation of a peripheral device during a power-on mode of an electronic device. It should be understood that the process depicted in <FIG> represents generalized illustrations, and that other processes may be added, or existing processes may be removed, modified, or rearranged without departing from the scope of the present application. In addition, it should be understood that the processes may represent instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium that, when executed, may cause a processor to respond, to perform actions, to change states, and/or to make decisions. Alternatively, the processes may represent functions and/or actions performed by functionally equivalent circuits like analog circuits, digital signal processing circuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or other hardware components associated with the system. Furthermore, the flow charts are not intended to limit the implementation of the present application, but rather the flow charts illustrate functional information to design/fabricate circuits, generate machine-readable instructions, or use a combination of hardware and machine-readable instructions to perform the illustrated processes.

At <NUM>, a power consumption of a peripheral device is monitored via a sensor. Example peripheral device may be a camera or a microphone. The peripheral device may be operated in an idle mode or an active mode. The idle mode may be a low-power consumption mode and the active mode may be a high-power consumption mode to record an image or voice. At <NUM>, a check is made to determine whether the power consumption of the peripheral device is greater than a threshold. The threshold may be an indicative of a power level beyond which the peripheral device enters the high-power consumption mode.

When the power consumption of the peripheral device is not greater than the threshold, at <NUM>, a power source is directed to continue to provide the power to the peripheral device. In this example, the peripheral device may be operated in the idle mode or the low-power consumption mode.

When the power consumption of the peripheral device is greater than the threshold, at <NUM>, a popup message including an option is generated on a user interface of the electronic device. At <NUM>, a check is made to determine whether the option is selected (e.g., by a user) prior to an expiration of a timer. If the option is selected prior to the expiration of the timer, at <NUM>, a power source is directed to continue to provide the power to the peripheral device. In this example, the peripheral device may work in the active mode or the high-power consumption mode to record the image or voice. If the timer expires without the selection of the option, at <NUM>, the power source is turned off to disable the peripheral device. Thus, examples described in <FIG> may protect the privacy of end users via securely turning off the power to the camera or the microphone to prevent unauthorized access to the camera or the microphone.

It may be noted that the above-described examples of the present solution are for the purpose of illustration only. Although the solution has been described in conjunction with a specific implementation thereof, numerous modifications may be possible without materially departing from the teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Other substitutions, modifications and changes may be made. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

The terms "include," "have," and variations thereof, as used herein, have the same meaning as the term "comprise" or appropriate variation thereof. Furthermore, the term "based on", as used herein, means "based at least in part on. " Thus, a feature that is described as based on some stimulus can be based on the stimulus or a combination of stimuli including the stimulus.

Claim 1:
An electronic device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a power source to supply power to a peripheral device (<NUM>); and
a display unit (<NUM>, <NUM>);
characterised in that the electronic device further comprises:
a sensor (<NUM>, <NUM>) to monitor a power consumption of the peripheral device (<NUM>) in an idle mode; and
a controller coupled to the sensor (<NUM>, <NUM>) to:
detect that the power consumption of the peripheral device (<NUM>) is greater than a threshold;
generate a popup message on a user interface of the electronic device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) based on the detection, wherein the popup message comprises an option (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
direct the power source (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to continue to provide the power to the peripheral device (<NUM>) in response to a determination that the option (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is selected prior to an expiration of a timer (<NUM>); and
output a power cut off signal to the power source (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to cut off the power to the peripheral device (<NUM>) in response to a determination that the timer (<NUM>) expires without the selection of the option (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).