IP Library Granted Patent US 11,009,966
Granted Patent B2
US 11,009,966 · App. 16/004,732 · Granted May 18, 2021

Systems and methods for processing of physical interaction with interface device of information handling system based on sensor information indicative of human proximity

Inventors: Bo Hom (Round Rock, TX); H. Giray Kaya (Austin, TX); Karunakar Palicherla Reddy (Austin, TX); Alvaro Pareja (Round Rock, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F3/023G06F9/442G06F9/4403
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,009,966
App. No.
16/004,732
Granted
May 18, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a user interface comprising an interface device, one or more sensors, each respective sensor configured to detect a respective parameter indicative of human proximity to the interface device, and a processor communicatively coupled to the user interface and the one or more sensors. The processor may be configured to in response to a physical interaction with the interface device, read information from the one or more sensors, determine whether the information from the one or more sensors satisfies a condition indicative of human proximity to the interface device, and process the physical interaction with the interface device based on whether the condition is satisfied.

Claims (35)

1. An information handling system comprising:

a user interface comprising an interface device;

one or more sensors, each respective sensor configured to detect a respective parameter indicative of human proximity to the interface device, wherein the one or more sensors includes an accelerometer configured to determine a gravitational orientation of the information handling system; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the user interface and the one or more sensors and configured to:

in response to a physical interaction with the interface device, read information from the one or more sensors, wherein the physical interaction is configured to cause functionality comprising erasing a non-volatile memory of the information handling system;

determine whether the information from the one or more sensors satisfies a condition indicative of human proximity to the interface device, wherein the condition includes the gravitational orientation of the information handling system being consistent with a typical use manner of the information handling system; and

process the physical interaction with the interface device based on whether the condition is satisfied.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to, responsive to the condition being satisfied, enable the functionality.

3. The information handling system of claim 2 , wherein the functionality further comprises one of powering on the information handling system and powering off the information handling system, and wherein a temporal length of the physical interaction is configured to distinguish among different functionalities.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to, responsive to the condition being unsatisfied, disable the functionality.

5. The information handling system of claim 4 , wherein the functionality further comprises one of powering on the information handling system and powering off the information handling system, and wherein a temporal length of the physical interaction is configured to distinguish among different functionalities.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the interface device is a push button.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more of a capacitive sensor, a temperature sensor, a fingerprint reader, a camera, a photo sensor, a specific absorption rate sensor, an acoustic sensor, a moisture sensor, a radio frequency detector, and an infrared sensor.

8. A method, for use in an information handling system comprising a user interface comprising an interface device and one or more sensors, each respective sensor configured to detect a respective parameter indicative of human proximity to the interface device, wherein the one or more sensors includes an accelerometer configured to determine a gravitational orientation of the information handling system, the method comprising:

in response to a physical interaction with the interface device, reading information from the one or more sensors, wherein the physical interaction is configured to cause functionality comprising erasing a non-volatile memory of the information handling system;

determining whether the information from the one or more sensors satisfies a condition indicative of human proximity to the interface device, wherein the condition includes the gravitational orientation of the information handling system being consistent with a typical use manner of the information handling system; and

processing the physical interaction with the interface device based on whether the condition is satisfied.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, responsive to the condition being satisfied, enabling the functionality.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the functionality further comprises one of powering on the information handling system and powering off the information handling system, and wherein a temporal length of the physical interaction is configured to distinguish among different functionalities.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, responsive to the condition being unsatisfied, disabling the functionality.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the functionality further comprises one of powering on the information handling system and powering off the information handling system, and wherein a temporal length of the physical interaction is configured to distinguish among different functionalities.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the interface device is a push button.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more of a capacitive sensor, a temperature sensor, a fingerprint reader, a camera, a photo sensor, a specific absorption rate sensor, an acoustic sensor, a moisture sensor, a radio frequency detector, and an infrared sensor.

15. An article of manufacture comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

computer-executable instructions carried on the computer-readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the processor to, in an information handling system comprising a user interface comprising an interface device and one or more sensors, each respective sensor configured to detect a respective parameter indicative of human proximity to the interface device, wherein the one or more sensors includes an accelerometer configured to determine a gravitational orientation of the information handling system:

in response to a physical interaction with the interface device, read information from the one or more sensors, wherein the physical interaction is configured to cause functionality comprising erasing a non-volatile memory of the information handling system;

determine whether the information from the one or more sensors satisfies a condition indicative of human proximity to the interface device, wherein the condition includes the gravitational orientation of the information handling system being consistent with a typical use manner of the information handling system; and

process the physical interaction with the interface device based on whether the condition is satisfied.

16. The article of claim 15 , the instructions for further causing the processor to, responsive to the condition being satisfied, enable the functionality.

17. The article of claim 16 , wherein the functionality further comprises one of powering on the information handling system and powering off the information handling system, and wherein a temporal length of the physical interaction is configured to distinguish among different functionalities.

18. The article of claim 15 , the instructions for further causing the processor to, responsive to the condition being unsatisfied, disable the functionality.

19. The article of claim 18 , wherein the functionality further comprises one of powering on the information handling system and powering off the information handling system, and wherein a temporal length of the physical interaction is configured to distinguish among different functionalities.

20. The article of claim 15 , wherein the interface device is a push button.

21. The article of claim 15 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more of a capacitive sensor, a temperature sensor, a fingerprint reader, a camera, a photo sensor, a specific absorption rate sensor, an acoustic sensor, a moisture sensor, a radio frequency detector, and an infrared sensor.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (047648/0422) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060160/0862 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 047648 FRAME 0346 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058298/0510 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Oct 12, 2018
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047648/0422 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (CREDIT) Recorded Oct 12, 2018
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047648/0346 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2018
From: HOM, BO; KAYA, H. GIRAY; REDDY, KARUNAKAR PALICHERLA; PAREJA, ALVARO
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 046042/0799 →