Lid controller hub
A lid controller hub (LCH) comprising processing components located in the lid of a mobile computing device, such as a laptop, processes sensor data generated by input sensors (microphones, cameras, touchscreen) and provides for improved and enhanced experiences over existing devices. For example, the LCH provides hardened privacy and the synchronization of touch display activities with the display refresh rate, the latter providing for a smoother and more responsive touch experience over existing designs. The LCH comprises neural network accelerators and digital signal processors that enable waking a device upon detection of an authenticated user's voice or face. The LCH also allows for video- and audio-based contextual awareness and adaptive cooling. By enabling a reduced hinge wire count and a typical day's usage with a single battery charge, an LCH can also provide for an improved industrial design to a simpler hinge and smaller battery.
1 . A controller hub apparatus of a user device, comprising:
a first connection to interface with a host system-on-chip (SoC) in a base of a user device;
a second connection to interface with a user-facing camera in a lid of the user device; and
circuitry to:
access a privacy switch state of the user device, the privacy state based at least in part on location information obtained from a location module of the user device;
control access by the SoC to data from the user-facing camera based on the privacy switch state, wherein:
when the privacy switch state is in a first state, the circuitry is to:
block data from the user-facing camera from being passed to the host SoC; and
cause a privacy indicator of the user device to emit a first color indication; and
when the privacy switch state is in a second state, the circuitry is to:
allow data from the user-facing camera or information about the data from the user-facing camera to be passed to the host SoC; and
cause the privacy indicator of the user device to emit a second color indication.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising memory to store one or more security policies, wherein the circuitry is to control access to the data from the user-facing camera based on the one or more security policies and the privacy switch state.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is to allow information about the data from the user-facing camera to be passed to the host SoC and not allow the data from the user-facing camera to be passed to the host SoC.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further to:
cryptographically secure the data from the user-facing camera; and
allow the cryptographically secured data to be passed to the SoC.
5 . A system comprising:
a base;
a lid coupled to the base via a hinge;
a host system-on-chip (SoC) in the base;
a user-facing camera in the lid;
a privacy switch;
a privacy indicator comprising a multicolor light emitting diode (LED):
a location module;
a controller hub in the lid, the controller hub comprising circuitry coupled to the user-facing camera and the privacy switch, wherein the circuitry is to control a state of the privacy switch based at least in part on location information obtained from the location module and to control access by the SoC to data from the user-facing camera based on the state of the privacy switch, wherein the circuitry is to:
when the privacy switch state is in a first state:
block data from the user-facing camera from being passed to the host SoC; and
cause the privacy indicator to emit a first color; and
when the privacy switch state is in a second state:
allow data from the user-facing camera or information about the data from the user-facing camera to be passed to the host SoC; and
cause the privacy indicator to emit a second color.
6 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a memory to store one or more security policies, wherein the circuitry is to allow data from the user-facing camera to be passed to the host SoC based on the one or more security policies.
7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the circuitry is to allow information about the data from the user-facing camera to be passed to the host SoC and not allow the data from the user-facing camera to be passed to the host SoC.
8 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the host SoC comprises an image processing module, and the circuitry is to:
cryptographically secure the data from the user-facing camera by one or more of encrypting the data and digitally signing the data; and
allow the cryptographically secured data to be passed to the image processing module.
9 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the privacy indicator comprises a light emitting diode (LED) and the circuitry is to cause the LED to not be illuminated when the privacy switch is in the first state.
10 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the circuitry is directly coupled to the privacy indicator.
11 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a manageability engine coupled to the circuitry, wherein the circuitry is further to control the state of the privacy switch based on information obtained from the manageability engine.
12 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a microphone, wherein the circuitry is further coupled to the microphone and is further to control access to data from the microphone by the host SoC based on the privacy switch state.
13 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions that, when executed by a machine, are to:
access a privacy switch state for a user device, the privacy state based at least in part on location information from a location module of the user device;
control access by a host system-on-chip (SoC) of the user device to data from a user-facing camera of the user device based on the privacy switch state, wherein:
when the privacy switch state is in a first state, the instructions are to:
block data from the user-facing camera from being passed to the host SoC; and
cause a privacy indicator of the user device to emit a first color indication; and
when the privacy switch state is in a second state, the instructions are to:
allow data from the user-facing camera or information about the data from the user-facing camera to be passed to the host SoC; and
cause the privacy indicator of the user device to emit a second color indication.
14 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further to:
access one or more security policies stored on the user device; and
control access to the data from the user-facing camera based on the one or more security policies and the privacy switch state.