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EP-3968295-B1 - SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUSES FOR ALERTING USERS TO MAINTAIN PHYSICAL DISTANCING

EP3968295B1EP 3968295 B1EP3968295 B1EP 3968295B1EP-3968295-B1

Inventors

  • WALDRON, JOHN F.
  • PISKALADHANABALAN, Marinedrive
  • BIZOARA, MANJUL

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20210804

Claims (6)

  1. A method (500; 900; 1000; 1100) comprising: identifying (516; 904; 1008; 1104), by a first microphone (154; 202) of a first electronic device (102), a signal (216) at an ultrasound transmission frequency which is received from a second electronic device (104); receiving (524; 906; 1010; 1106), at the first electronic device (102), timing information corresponding to an exchange of an ultrasound transmission between the first electronic device (102) and the second electronic device (104); computing (526; 908; 1012; 1106), by a processing unit (150) of the first electronic device (102), a first distance value between the first electronic device (102) and the second electronic device (104) by performing a time of flight estimation using the timing information; refining (526; 910; 1014; 1108), by the processing unit (150), the first distance value by using an output (409) of a machine learning model (400) to determine a second distance value, wherein the machine learning model (400) is based on input data (404) comprising: the first distance value and a set of distance values that are each associated with at least one respective predefined factor that affects an estimation of distance between the first electronic device (102) and the second electronic device (104); and generating (528; 912; 1016; 1114, 1120), by the processing unit (150), an alert on the first electronic device (102) based on the second distance value being less than or equal to a predefined threshold distance value, wherein the machine learning model (400) is based on artificial neural network, wherein the input data (404) is transformed by using said machine learning model into the output (409) indicative of a distance correction factor by performing regression on the input data (404), and wherein the second distance value is determined by modifying the first distance value using the distance correction factor.
  2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one predefined factor comprises: a temperature of an environment in which at least one of the first electronic device (102) and the second electronic device (104) are present, usage history of at least one of the first electronic device (102) and the second electronic device (104), orientation data associated with at least one of the first electronic device (102) and the second electronic device, a device specification information associated with at least one of the first electronic device (102) and the second electronic device (104), and movement data associated with at least one of the first electronic device (102) and the second electronic device (104).
  3. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert is indicative of a violation of a physical distancing guideline that is to be maintained between a first worker associated with the first electronic device (102) and a second worker associated with the second electronic device (104) in an environment.
  4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating (528; 912; 1016; 1114, 1120) the alert comprises at least one of: ringing an alarm on the first electronic device (102); displaying an indication on a first display screen of the first electronic device (102), wherein a color of the indication is based on the second distance value; generating a haptic feedback on the first electronic device (102); and activating a first flashlight of the first electronic device (102).
  5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating (528; 912; 1016; 1114, 1120) the alert further comprises at least one of: sending, by the first electronic device (102), a first command to ring an alarm on the second electronic device (104); sending, by the first electronic device (102), a second command to display an indication on a second display screen of the second electronic device (104), wherein a color of the indication is based on the second distance value; sending, by the first electronic device (102), a third command to generate a haptic feedback on the second electronic device (104); and sending, by the first electronic device (102), a fourth command to activate a second flashlight of the second electronic device (104).
  6. The method of claim 1 comprising: broadcasting (506; 1004), by a first communication circuit of the first electronic device (102), a request for connection over a Bluetooth low energy, BLE, communication network; and in response to receiving of a response to the request for connection from the second electronic device (104), generating (510) a first signal at a first ultrasound frequency by the first electronic device (102).

Description

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for determining a distance between two users in an environment, and, more particularly, to alerting users to maintain physical distancing. BACKGROUND Electronic devices such as, but not limited to, mobile devices, smartphones, laptops, handheld devices, portable data terminals, barcode scanners, RFID readers, imagers, and/or the like, are commonly used by users for performing various activities. In some situations, it may be desired to notify, on an electronic device, of a user about a presence or an availability of another user within his or her vicinity. For instance, in some examples, a user may be notified on the electronic device for events such as, but not limited to, a presence of another user within a close proximity, another user approaching towards the user, and/or based on a distance of the user with another user. In another examples, the user may be notified on the electronic devices for a violation of a social distancing norm to be maintained between individuals, safety tips, and/or the like. In some examples, such notifications can be generated based on determination of a distance between two users. As calculation of the distance between two users can be influenced by various external factors, performing an accurate estimation of the distance between the two users is challenging and has associated limitations. DE 3806849 A1 discloses a distance measurement system for non-touching distance measurement between two objects, especially between two motor vehicles. To this end, both an infrared transmitter and an ultrasound transmitter, which emits in the same direction, are fitted to an object. An infrared receiver and an ultrasound receiver are arranged on the other object. When an infrared signal arrives at the infrared receiver, a delay-time measuring device is started, the emission of the infrared signal and the starting of the counter taking place virtually simultaneously because of the extremely high speed of light. The delay-time measurement device is stopped again by the ultrasound signal which arrives considerably later at the ultrasound receiver, so that the delay time of the ultrasound signal is determined, is converted into a distance value in an evaluation device, and is made available. SUMMARY The present invention relates to a method for alerting a user on an electronic device. The method includes identifying, by a first microphone of a first electronic device, a signal at an ultrasound transmission frequency. The signal is received from a second electronic device. Further, the method includes receiving, at the first electronic device, timing information corresponding to an exchange of an ultrasound transmission between the first electronic device and the second electronic device. Furthermore, the method includes computing, by a processing unit of the first electronic device, a first distance value between the first electronic device and the second electronic device by performing a time of flight estimation using the timing information. Furthermore, the method includes refining, by the processing unit, the first distance value by using an output of a machine learning model, to determine a second distance value. The machine learning model is based on input data comprising: the first distance value and a set of distance values that are each associated with at least one respective predefined factor that affects an estimation of distance between the first electronic device and the second electronic device. Furthermore, the method includes generating, by the processing unit, an alert on the first electronic device based on the second distance value being less than or equal to a predefined threshold distance value. The machine learning model is based on artificial neural network, wherein the input data is transformed by using the machine learning model into the output indicative of a distance correction factor by performing regression on the input data, and wherein the second distance value is determined by modifying the first distance value using the distance correction factor. In some example embodiments, the at least one predefined factor includes a temperature of an environment in which at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device are present. In some example embodiments, the at least one predefined factor includes usage history of at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device. Further, in some example embodiments, the at least one predefined factor includes orientation data associated with at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device. Furthermore, in some example embodiments, the at least one predefined factor includes a device specification information associated with at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device. Furthermore, in some example embodiments, the at least one predefined factor includes