IP Library Granted Patent US 11,741,988
Granted Patent B2
US 11,741,988 · App. 17/531,740 · Granted Aug 29, 2023

Electronic device and method for contact tracing

Inventors: Peter Exner (Malmö, SE); Hannes Bergkvist (Helsingborg, SE)
Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
G10L25/78G10L25/51G10L2025/783
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,741,988
App. No.
17/531,740
Granted
Aug 29, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A first electronic device includes an interface; microphone circuitry; memory circuitry; and processor circuitry. The first electronic device is configured to discover, via the interface, a first wireless network. The first electronic device is configured to receive, via the interface, from a second electronic device discovering the first wireless network, a voice biometric indicative of a second user. The first electronic device is configured to activate the microphone circuitry to detect an input audio signal. The first electronic device is configured to determine whether the detected input audio signal satisfies one or more criteria. The first electronic device is configured to, when the detected input audio signal satisfies the one or more criteria, determine a parameter indicative of a level of risk of exposure; and generate, based on the parameter, contact data.

Claims (40)

1. A first electronic device, wherein the first electronic device is configured to be operated by a first user,

the first electronic device comprising:

an interface;

microphone circuitry;

memory circuitry; and

processor circuitry;

wherein the first electronic device is configured to:

discover, via the interface, a first wireless network;

receive, via the interface, directly from a second electronic device discovering the first wireless network, a voice biometric indicative of a second user;

upon the second electronic device discovering the first network and upon the first electronic device receiving the voice biometric indicative of the second user, activate the microphone circuitry to detect an input audio signal, wherein the detected input audio signal comprises an extracted voice biometric associated with the second user;

determine whether the detected input audio signal satisfies one or more criteria, the determination comprises a comparison of the detected input audio signal with the received voice biometric,

when the detected input audio signal satisfies the one or more criteria:

determine a parameter indicative of a level of risk of exposure to a disease or affliction; and

generate, based on the parameter, contact data.

2. The first electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more criteria comprises a first criterion based on a first threshold and on the comparison, and wherein the first criterion is satisfied when the detected input audio signal matches the received voice biometric at least by or above the first threshold.

3. The first electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more criteria comprises a second criterion based on a second threshold; wherein the second criterion is satisfied when a voice level of the detected input audio signal is above the second threshold.

4. The first electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more criteria comprises a third criterion based on a third threshold; wherein the third criterion is satisfied when a duration of contact is above the third threshold.

5. The first electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the duration of contact is determined based on the detected input audio signal and a range.

6. The first electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the contact data is indicative of a first user identifier of the first user associated with a second user identifier of the second user.

7. The first electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electronic device is configured to detect based on the detected input audio signal that a face shield is worn by the second user.

8. The first electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the contact data comprises a face shield parameter indicating presence of the face shield.

9. The first electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electronic device is configured to detect, based on the detected input audio signal, a coughing and/or a sneezing.

10. The first electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electronic device is configured to determine an estimate of risk of exposure based on a learning model for risk of exposure and the contact data.

11. The first electronic device according to the claim 10 , wherein the first electronic device is configured to adjust the one or more criteria based on the learning model.

12. The first electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the first electronic device is configured to train the learning model based on the contact data.

13. The first electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electronic device is configured to transmit the contact data to an external device.

14. The first electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electronic device is configured to notify the first user based on the contact data.

15. The first electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electronic device is configured to generate a list of connection identifiers comprising a first connection identifier associated with the first wireless network.

16. The first electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electronic device is configured to transmit, via the interface, to the second electronic device, a voice biometric indicative of the first user.

17. The first electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electronic device is configured to deactivate the microphone circuitry for detection of the input audio signal, when the audio input signal is determined to satisfy the one or more criteria.

18. The first electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the microphone circuitry is turned on only briefly upon the discovery of the first wireless network by the second electronic device.

19. The first electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the voice biometric indicative of the second user is encrypted with homomorphic encryption.

20. A method, performed by a first electronic device, for contact tracing, wherein the first electronic device comprises an interface; microphone circuitry; memory circuitry; and processor circuitry; the method comprising:

discovering, via the interface, a first wireless network;

receiving, via the interface, directly from a second electronic device discovering the first wireless network, a voice biometric indicative of a second user, wherein the second electronic device is configured to be operated by the second user;

activating the microphone circuitry to detect an input audio signal;

determining whether the detected input audio signal satisfies at least one of one or more criteria,

when the detected input audio signal satisfies the at least one of the one or more criteria:

determining a parameter indicative of a level of risk of exposure to a disease or affliction; and

generating contact data based on the parameter.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2021
From: BERGKVIST, HANNES; EXNER, PETER
To: SONY EUROPE BV
Reel/Frame 058219/0227 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2021
From: SONY EUROPE BV
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058219/0413 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 22, 2021
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058219/0747 →
Priority Claims (1)
SE 2051511-0 · Dec 21, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220199109A1 · Jun 23, 2022