IP Library Granted Patent US 12,254,102
Granted Patent B2
US 12,254,102 · App. 17/740,686 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Virtual privacy creation system

Inventors: Song Wang (Cary, NC); Jian Li (Durham, NC); Mengnan Wang (Chapell Hill, NC); Zhenyu Yang (Morrisville, NC)
Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
G06F21/62G06F3/013
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,254,102
App. No.
17/740,686
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

One embodiment provides a method, the method including: tracking, using a virtual privacy creation system, a user having an augmented reality device within an environment; detecting, with the virtual privacy creation system, the user is in proximity to another user having a privacy mode enabled, wherein the privacy mode of the another user identifies privacy settings for the another user; and enabling, at the augmented reality device, a privacy view based upon the privacy settings for the another user.

Claims (33)

1. A method, the method comprising:

tracking, using a virtual privacy creation system, a user having an augmented reality device within an environment;

detecting, with the virtual privacy creation system, the user is in proximity to another user having a privacy mode enabled, wherein the privacy mode of the another user identifies privacy settings for the another user, wherein the detecting comprises determining at least one characteristic of the user moving through the environment while the augmented reality device is being worn by the user; and

dynamically enabling, at the augmented reality device, a privacy view based upon the privacy settings for the another user, wherein the dynamically enabling comprises accounting for the at least one characteristic of the user and determining a level of the privacy view based upon the at least one characteristic of the user, wherein the level of the privacy view becomes more intense as the user gets closer to the another user;

wherein the detecting comprises detecting the augmented reality device is removed from a position of wear while the user is in proximity to the another user and notifying the another user of the augmented reality device being removed by the user while present in the environment.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising detecting a gaze of the user is directed in a direction of the another user and wherein the enabling is based upon the detecting a gaze of the user is directed in a direction of the another user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enabling a privacy view comprises enabling a level of the privacy view based upon a distance the user is to an object identified in the privacy settings.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the privacy settings define a space within the environment as private and wherein the detecting the user is in proximity to the another user comprises detecting the user is within the space.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the privacy settings define attributes of the another user to enable the privacy mode and wherein the privacy mode is dynamic based upon the attributes of the another user.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting further comprises determining at least one object the another user has indicated is private via the privacy settings is viewable by the user.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the privacy settings define objects within the environment as private and wherein the enabling a privacy view comprises obscuring a view of the objects.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the environment comprises a mapped environment and wherein the tracking is performed using a simultaneous localization and mapping algorithm.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enabling a privacy view comprises at least one of: blurring a portion of a view of the augmented reality device, darkening a portion of a view of the augmented reality device, and changing a color of a portion of a view of the augmented reality device.

10. An information handling device, the information handling device comprising:

a processor;

a memory device that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the information handling device to:

track, using a virtual privacy creation system, a user having an augmented reality device within an environment;

detect, with the virtual privacy creation system, the user is in proximity to another user having a privacy mode enabled, wherein the privacy mode of the another user identifies privacy settings for another user, wherein the detecting comprises determining at least one characteristic of the user moving through the environment while the augmented reality device is being worn by the user; and

dynamically enable, at the augmented reality device, a privacy view based upon the privacy settings for the another user, wherein the dynamically enabling comprises accounting for the at least one characteristic of the user and determining a level of the privacy view based upon the at least one characteristic of the user, wherein the level of the privacy view becomes more intense as the user gets closer to the another user;

wherein the detecting comprises detecting the augmented reality device is removed from a position of wear while the user is in proximity to the another user and notifying the another user of the augmented reality device being removed by the user while present in the environment.

11. The information handling device of claim 10 , comprising detecting a gaze of the user is directed in a direction of the another user and where in the enabling the is based upon the detecting a gaze of the user is directed in a direction of the another user.

12. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the enabling a privacy view comprises enabling a level of the privacy view based upon a distance the user is to an object identified in the privacy settings.

13. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the privacy settings define a space within the environment as private and wherein the detecting the user is in proximity to the another user comprises detecting the user is within the space.

14. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the privacy settings define attributes of the another user to enable the privacy mode and wherein the privacy mode is dynamic based upon the attributes of the another user.

15. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the detecting further comprises determining at least one object the another user has indicated is private via the privacy settings is viewable by the user.

16. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the privacy settings define objects within the environment as private and wherein the enabling a privacy view comprises obscuring a view of the objects.

17. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the environment comprises a mapped environment and wherein the tracking is performed using a simultaneous localization and mapping algorithm.

18. A product, the product comprising:

a computer-readable storage device that stores executable code that, when executed by a processor, causes the product to:

track, using a virtual privacy creation system, a user having an augmented reality device within an environment;

detect, with the virtual privacy creation system, the user is in proximity to another user having a privacy mode enabled, wherein the privacy mode of the another user identifies privacy settings for the another user, wherein the detecting comprises determining at least one characteristic of the user moving through the environment while the augmented reality device is being worn by the user; and

dynamically enable, at the augmented reality device, a privacy view based upon the privacy settings for the another user, wherein the dynamically enabling comprises accounting for the at least one characteristic of the user and determining a level of the privacy view based upon the at least one characteristic of the user, wherein the level of the privacy view becomes more intense as the user gets closer to the another user;

wherein the detecting comprises detecting the augmented reality device is removed from a position of wear while the user is in proximity to the another user and notifying the another user of the augmented reality device being removed by the user while present in the environment.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2022
From: LENOVO (UNITED STATES) INC.
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD
Reel/Frame 062078/0718 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2022
From: WANG, SONG; LI, JIAN; WANG, MENGNAN; YANG, ZHENYU
To: LENOVO (UNITED STATES) INC.
Reel/Frame 059880/0987 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230367889A1 · Nov 16, 2023
References Cited (2)
US 8223024B1 · Petrou · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20180107839A1 · Clement · 2018 [cited by examiner]