FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2006
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION: A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR
ACCESS CONTROL OF USER DEVICE
2. APPLICANT(S):
Name: INTELLILOGOS CONSULTING LLP
Nationality: Indian
Address: 202 Mary Anne heights, 3rd Golibar Road, Santa Cruz East,
Mumbai, 400055, India
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to media consumption devices and more
particularly, to a system for access control of such media consumption devices with the
aim to ensure that the same are accessed from a safe distance that protects the vision of
the user.
Background of the Invention
Portable visual media consumption devices, such as notebooks, tablet PCs,
smartphones and the like are increasingly being used by humans for consuming visual
media content. One of the reasons for the increased usage of the devices is that these
are easily portable and thus, can be carried by users for consuming visual content during
their free time. The fact that these devices could be easily carried is a boon as well as a
bane. While easy portability ensures that the users could use the same in places with
space constrains, such as aircraft seats, quite often users are unable to maintain a safe
distance of their eyes from these devices. These devices have a high-resolution display
screen, which emit rays that could affect the vision of the viewer over prolonged usage.
This is particularly undesirable when the viewers are children, whose eyes are sensitive.
A typical solution existing in the art is to switch of the device screen upon detecting
that the user is too close to the display screen. In a research paper - Liu, Eric,
"Proximity-based Triggering of Screen Restrictions to Avoid Eye Strain", Technical
Disclosure Commons, published on December 30, 2020, a scheme of turning off
screens of devices that are held against the user’s head has been disclosed. The
document proposes use of proximity sensing to sense if the user is too close to the
display screen and take mitigating actions such as turning off the screen or obscuring
the displayed content. The triggered action is reversed only when the user moves away
from the screen. However, the described scheme has inherent shortcomings. Since the
triggered action is temporary, it may not motivate the user to take a permanent
corrective action. Moreover, the triggered action is local to the device of the user and
the knowledge of the initiation of the triggered action only rests with the user, which
may not motivate the user to be cautious in the future.

Therefore, it is a need to have a solution that enables a user to be monitored in a manner
such that any triggered action is not locally initiated for the user to easily ignore. It is
also a need for a solution that enables an experiential learning for the user so that he/she
does not repeat the same. It is a further need to have a solution that could preempt any
such situations and plan corrective actions even before the user commits such a mistake.
Summary of the invention
In an aspect of the present invention, a system for controlling user access to a media
consumption device to maintain safe viewing distance is provided. The system includes
a plurality of media consumption devices, each including a processor, a display device
coupled to the processor to display user content, and an access control module
positioned adjacent to the display device and adapted to detect the proximity of the
user’s face to the display device. The access control module includes a proximity
transmitter communicably coupled to the processor and is adapted to send an electronic
signal in a direction away from the display device to impinge on the user’s face for
being reflected back. The access control module also includes a proximity receiver
communicably coupled to the processor, which is adapted to receive the electronic
signal reflected back after impinging the user’s face. The media consumption device
also includes an alerting module communicably coupled to the processor to generate at
least one of an audio and visual alerts upon detecting proximity of the user’s face to the
display device of the media consumption device. The present invention envisages that
based on the time elapsed between sending of the electronic signal and the receipt of
the reflected signal, the processor determines distance between the user’s face and the
display device. Further, based upon the detection that the distance is equal to or less
than a threshold distance, the processor performs at least one of blocking access to the
display device and instructing the alerting module to generate the at least one of the
audio and visual alerts. Moreover, the system includes a server communicably coupled
to the plurality of media consumption devices to receive information from the access
control module thereof pertaining to at least the detection of proximity of the user’s
face to the display device and the generation of the audio/visual alert and generate usage
insights for enabling access control of any of the plurality of media consumption
devices.

In another aspect of the present invention, the access control module detects a time
duration for which the user’s face is proximal to the display device.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the processor of a first media
consumption device of the plurality of media consumption devices generates the at least
one of the audio and visual alerts on a second media consumption device of the plurality
of media consumption devices upon detecting that the time duration is equal to or more
than a threshold period.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the processor of a first user device of the
plurality of user devices generates the at least one of the audio and visual alerts on a
second media consumption device of the plurality of devices upon detecting that the
distance between a user’s face and a display device of the first user device is equal to
or less than a threshold distance.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the server receives information from the
plurality of media consumption devices pertaining to at least one of the time duration
for which the user’s face is proximal to the display device and time duration for which
the distance between the user’s face and the display device is less than or equal to the
threshold distance.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the usage insights are generated to
regulate use of the media consumption device by the user.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the access control module is detachably
mounted to the media consumption device.
In still another aspect of the present invention an access control module detachably
mountable to a media consumption device is disclosed. The access control module
includes a processor, a proximity transmitter communicably coupled to the processor
and adapted to send an electronic signal in a direction away from the display device to
impinge on the user’s face for being reflected back, and a proximity receiver

communicably coupled to the processor and adapted to receive the electronic signal
reflected back after impinging the user’s face. The alerting module also includes an
alerting module communicably coupled to the processor to generate at least one of an
audio and visual alerts upon detecting proximity of the user’s face to the display device
of the media consumption device. The processor is adapted to determine distance
between the user’s face and the display device based on the time elapsed between
sending of the electronic signal and the receipt of the reflected signal. Also, based upon
the detection that the distance is equal to or less than a threshold distance, the processor
performs at least one of blocking access to the display device and instructing the
alerting module to generate the at least one of the audio and visual alerts.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the processor of the detachably
mountable access control module detects a time duration for which the user’s face is
proximal to the display device and signals the alerting module to generate the at least
one of the audio and visual alerts on a second media consumption device upon detecting
that the time duration is equal to or more than a threshold period.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the processor of a first access control
module generates the at least one of the audio and visual alerts on a second media
consumption device upon detecting that the distance between a user’s face and a display
device of the first user device is equal to or less than a threshold distance
These objects, and other objects expressed or implied in this document, are
accomplished by a pre-warning system for providing an indication observable by a
person located outside of an area which is partially bordered by a door.
Other advantages and attributes of this invention will be readily discernable upon a
reading of the text hereinafter.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 illustrates a system for controlling user access to a media consumption device, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figs. 2A and 2B illustrate a detachably mounted access control module used in the
system of Fig. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a server used in the system of Fig. 1
While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms,
specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be
described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not
necessarily to limit the invention to the particular embodiments, aspects and features
described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and
alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention and as defined by the
appended claims.

Detailed description of the invention
The present invention envisages a solution for controlling user access to a media consumption device to ensure that the user maintains a safe viewing distance from the display of the media consumption device. Particularly, the present invention envisages a solution that ensures that the user of the media consumption device adheres to any alerts that are generated, failing which the user’s access to the media consumption device may be blocked. The present invention also envisages that apart from generating an alert on the user’s media consumption device, an alert may be additionally generated on another user’s media consumption device to provide a warning about maintaining safe viewing distance. This could be particularly useful when the user is a child does not adhere to the audio-visual alerts and continues to use the device from an unsafe viewing distance. In that case, the other user could intervene and instruct the child to use the device from a safe distance. Fig. 1 illustrates a system 100 for controlling user access to media consumption devices, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The system 100 includes a plurality of media consumption devices 200a, 200b….200n (collectively referred to as media consumption device 200) communicably coupled to a server 300. Each of the media consumption device 200a, 200b..200n could be a notebook computer, a tablet PC, a smartphone or any other similar device that is capable of enabling a user to consume audio-video content. The media consumption devices are also capable of being communicably coupled to the server 300 over a communication interface, such as LAN, Wi-fi or mobile telephony. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, each of the media consumption device 200 includes a processor 205 that enables the media consumption device to play audio-video content, and a display device 210 that is coupled to the processor 205 and is capable of displaying the audio-video content for enabling user consumption thereof. Each of the media consumption device 200 further includes an access control module 215 that is positioned adjacent to the display device 210 in a manner to face the user. The access control module 215 is adapted to detect the proximity of the user’s face to the display device by providing a proximity transmitter 220 that sends an outward electric signal in a direction away from the display device 210 to impinge upon the head portion, and particularly the face, of the user. The proximity transmitter 220 may be an infrared (IR) ray emitter that sends out IR rays outwardly, which impinge upon any obstacle, such as the head portion of the user, lying in its path to be reflected back towards the access control module 215. The access control module 215 additionally includes a proximity receiver 225, which is capable of detecting the reflected IR rays directed from the user’s head portion. Also, the access control module 215 includes an alerting module 230 capable of giving audio and/or visual alerts. The utility of the alerting module 230 will be evident from the ensuing description.

Further, the proximity transmitter 220 and the proximity receiver 225 are communicably coupled to the processor 205, which controls the operations thereof. Particularly, the processor 205 instructs the proximity transmitter 220 to generate the IR rays at predetermined intervals when the media consumption device 200 is in use. As already explained, the IR rays emanate outwardly from the display device 210 to impinge upon the face of the user of the media consumption device 200. Ihe IR rays are reflected back and detected by the proximity receiver 225 and the processor 205 determines the time elapsed between the transmission of the IR rays and receipt of the reflected ray. The time elapsed information is used by the processor 205 for determining the distance between the user’s face and the display device 210. If it is determined that the distance between the user’s face and the display device is less than or equal to a predetermined distance, the processor 205 understands that a corrective action may be required. The predetermined distance could be a range based on the prescribed safe viewing distance for a human eye. In an embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined distance shall be set between 30 cm to 50 cm.

Further, the present invention envisages that the processor 205 may either block the access of the user to the display device 210 or cause audio and/or visual alerts to be generated using the alerting module 230 that is communicably coupled to the processor 205. In terms of blocking access of the user to the display device 210, the processor 205 may lock the screen of the display device 205, which doesn’t get unlocked even after carrying out the usual unlocking processes, such as using a biometric id-based unlocking or a numeric code-based unlocking, until the user maintains a safe distance from the display device 205. Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the audio alert generated by the alerting module 230 could be a loud sound or alarm generated using the audio components of the media consumption device 200, which alerts any other person, such as a guardian or parent, in the vicinity of the user who may supervise the user and cause him/her to maintain safe distance from the display screen 210. In another embodiment of the present invention, the alerting module 230 may generate a visual alert in the form of a media message that is displayed on the media consumption device of the user and additionally on a second media consumption device of a second user, such as a supervisor or guardian of the user, to ensure that a corrective action is necessarily taken by the user.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the access control module 215 could be configured as a detachable module connected to the display device 210. This enables any media consumption device 200 to be used for the purposes of the present invention. Fig. 2 depicts an embodiment of the access control module 400 that is a separate detachably connectable unit. The access control module 400 has similar functioning as the access control module 215 but has a different form factor. As shown, the access control module 400 includes a proximity transmitter 410 and a proximity receiver 415, an alerting module 420 capable of giving visual and/or audio alerts, a battery module 425 to power the various components of the access control module 400 and a communication module 425 that is capable of enabling a communicable coupling between the access control module 400 and the processor 205 through a data cable ‘C’ or a wireless connection. If the access control module 400 uses the processor 205 of the media consumption device 200, the processor 205 functions as a processor of the access control module 400 in addition to performing the usual processing functions of the media consumption device 200. In an embodiment of the present invention, the access control module 400 may include an independent processor 430, and any reference to the processor 205a of the first media consumption device in the ensuing description may optionally mean the processor of the access control module 400. The access control module 400 also includes attachment means 435 to detachably attach the access control module 400 to the display screen 210 of the media consumption device 200. In an embodiment of the present invention, the attachment coupling could be a magnetic coupler or a screw-based coupler. It may be noted that despite the access control module 400 being a detachable assembly, it functions in the same manner as the access control module 215. Also, the functioning of the proximity transmitter 410 and the proximity receiver 415, the alerting module 420 is same as that of the equivalent modules of the access control module 215 and thus, for sake of brevity, same is not being repeated herein. However, it should be understood that similar to access control module 215, the access control module 400 is able to generate audio/visual alerts on a second media consumption device 200 pertaining to a guardian or parent of the user as already explained above.

Further, besides determining the distance between the user’s face and the display screen 210, the access control module 215, 400 also tracks the time duration for which the user’s face is proximal to the display screen 210 such that the distance between the user’s face and the display device 210 is less than or equal to the threshold distance. If the determined time duration is equal to or more than a threshold period, say 5-10 seconds, then the processor 205a of a first media consumption device 200a (or processor 430 of the access control module 400), pertaining to the user, alerts the alerting module of a second media consumption device 200b pertaining to a second user (such as a parent or a guardian) and instructs it to generate at least one of audio and visual alerts. In an embodiment of the present invention, the access control module 215, 400 also detects the motion of the media consumption device 200 while in use and the number of instances when the screen was moved while viewing a content, the brightness level settings of the display screen 210 and the safety status i.e., whether the device has been used from a safe range. In another embodiment of the present invention, the access control module 215, 400 also determines whether the user is wearing glasses. For the described embodiment, the access control module 215, 400 may use the camera of the media consumption device 200 to obtain the picture of the user while he/she is using the media consumption device 200 for viewing content. All this information helps in providing a useful indication of how much time a user is exposed to the IR rays emanating from the display screen.

The present invention envisages that if such details are tracked, the same may serve as a useful parameter to control the general usage pattern of similar users. Particularly, if there are a number of young users, the system 100 could control access to their media consumption devices 200 based on historical usage patterns culled from tracking of at least the time duration for which the user’s face is proximal to the display screen 210. In particular, the present invention envisages that the server 300 is communicably coupled to the access control modules 215, 400 of the media consumption devices 200 of all the users so as to receive the information pertaining to usage pattern of the media consumption devices 200 by the respective users. The present invention envisages that the server 300 receives information pertaining to at least the time duration for which the user’s face is proximal to the display device and/or the time duration for which the distance between the user’s face and the display device is less than or equal to the threshold distance. In an embodiment of the present invention, the server 300 may also receive the information collected by the access control module 215, 400 of all media consumption devices 200, as elaborated above, in respect of at least the detection of proximity of the user’s face to the display device 210 and the generation of the audio/visual alert in response thereto. In another embodiment of the present invention, the server 300 tracks the response time for users and/or supervisors/guardians in taking actions in respect of the generated audio-visual alerts. Particularly, it is tracked if based on the audio-visual alert, the user improved his/her usage so that the viewing distance was optimal. The time taken between the generation of alert and corrective measure by the user is tracked as well to understand the response times. Whether or not the alerts motivated the user to bring the viewing distance to an optimal level is also tracked as a success failure record. Tracking of this information helps the server 300 to predict the expected behavior of user(s) and regulate their usage of their media consumption devices 200. For instance, if there are three kids in a room, the server 300 will be able to predict the expected behavior of the kids and pre-intimate the guardians to pre-empt the actions of the kids while viewing their media consumption devices.

Fig. 3 depicts a block diagram of the server 300 that includes a data repository 305 for storing the data collected by the access control module 215, 400 and an AI model 310 that is adapted to use all the afore-said data for analysis and training purposes and subsequently generate predictions pertaining to users’ usage behavior so that corrective actions could be planned in advance. As shown in Fig. 3, the server 300 includes an AI training module 315 that trains the AI model 310. The AI training module 315 includes a training data module 320 that gathers the different types of data from the access control module 215, 400 pertaining to the distance between the user’s face and the display screen 210, the time intervals for which the user maintains safe and unsafe distances, motion of the display screen 210 during usage, brightness level of the display screen 210 during the usage period, whether the user is wearing glasses during usage, safety status, the response time of the user and/or the supervisors to the audio/visual alerts and the like. The training data module 320 cleans the collected data, preprocesses it and formats the same to make it compatible with the type of AI algorithm used by the AI model 310. Further, the AI training module 315 also includes a testing data module 325 that gathers data similar to that of the training data module 320 and uses the same for evaluation of the performance of the AI model 310. The AI training module 315 also includes an AI algorithm module 330 that may use any of the available machine learning algorithms selected from, but not limited to, decision trees, random forests, support vector machines (SVM), neural networks (convolutional neural networks, recurrent neural networks), gradient boosting machines (e.g. XGBoost, LightGBM), K-nearest neighbors (KNN), logic regression and the like. The training data module 320 feeds the training data into the chosen algorithm and train the same to recognize patterns and make predictions. Further, before the AI model 310 could be deployed for prediction, it needs to be tested for accuracy and preciseness of its predictions and for this, the present invention envisages, an AI model testing module 335 that evaluates the AI model 310 for its accuracy, robustness and generalization capabilities by consideration of key performance metrices like accuracy, precision, recall and F1 score. Particularly, the AI model 310 is tested for specific use cases. With specific reference to the present invention, the AI model 310 may be tested to check, in an embodiment, the accuracy in predicting and recording the time the user spends on the media consumption device, the ability of the model to classify time intervals spent at safe viewing distances versus unsafe distances, its effectiveness in identifying the trends where the user moves closer to the phone that could result in deterioration of vision, how accurately the model predicts and records user’s responsiveness to alerts generated, and/or model’s accuracy in identifying constant violations and generation of alerts for supervision by a guardian/parent. Based on the test results, the AI model 310 could be refined to achieve the desired performance level. The AI model is deployed in the system 100 once it conforms to the desired performance related metrices.

It will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the various components and modules of the system 100, as described hereinabove, could be implemented as a hardware, a software or a combination of both. Further, the access control module 215, 400 could include an independent processor, memory and associated firmware, or could be coupled to the processor 205 for economy of design. Moreover, the communicable coupling the various components, as described hereinabove, could be enabled by wired or wireless means in accordance with the existing state of the art.

The foregoing description and drawings were given for illustrative purposes only, it being understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is intended to embrace any and all alternatives, equivalents, modifications and rearrangements of elements falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

, Claims:

1. A system for controlling user access to a media consumption device to maintain safe viewing distance, the system comprising:
a plurality of media consumption devices, each of the media consumption device comprising
a processor,
a display device coupled to the processor to display user content,
an access control module positioned adjacent to the display device and adapted to detect the proximity of the user’s face to the display device, the access control module comprising:
a proximity transmitter communicably coupled to the processor and being adapted to send an electronic signal in a direction away from the display device to impinge on the user’s face for being reflected back, and
a proximity receiver communicably coupled to the processor and adapted to receive the electronic signal reflected back after impinging the user’s face, and
an alerting module communicably coupled to the processor to generate at least one of an audio and visual alerts upon detecting proximity of the user’s face to the display device of the media consumption device,
wherein based on the time elapsed between sending of the electronic signal and the receipt of the reflected signal, the processor determines distance between the user’s face and the display device, and
wherein based upon the detection that the distance is equal to or less than a threshold distance, the processor performs at least one of blocking access to the display device and instructing the alerting module to generate the at least one of the audio and visual alerts;
and
a server communicably coupled to the plurality of media consumption devices to receive information from the access control module thereof pertaining to at least the detection of proximity of the user’s face to the display device and the generation of the audio/visual alert and generate usage insights for enabling access control of any of the plurality of media consumption devices.

2. The system for access control of a user device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access control module detects a time duration for which the user’s face is proximal to the display device.

3. The system for access control of a user device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the processor of a first media consumption device of the plurality of media consumption devices generates the at least one of the audio and visual alerts on a second media consumption device of the plurality of media consumption devices upon detecting that the time duration is equal to or more than a threshold period.

4. The system for access control of a user device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor of a first user device of the plurality of user devices generates the at least one of the audio and visual alerts on a second media consumption device of the plurality of devices upon detecting that the distance between a user’s face and a display device of the first user device is equal to or less than a threshold distance.

5. The system for access control of a user device as claimed in claim 3 and 4, wherein the server receives information from the plurality of media consumption devices pertaining to at least one of the time duration for which the user’s face is proximal to the display device and time duration for which the distance between the user’s face and the display device is less than or equal to the threshold distance.

6. The system for access control of a user device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the usage insights are generated to regulate use of the media consumption device by the user.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the access control module is detachably mounted to the media consumption device.
8. An access control module detachably mountable to a media consumption device adjacent to a display device thereof, the access control module comprising:
a processor;
a proximity transmitter communicably coupled to the processor and being adapted to send an electronic signal in a direction away from the display device to impinge on the user’s face for being reflected back, and
a proximity receiver communicably coupled to the processor and adapted to receive the electronic signal reflected back after impinging the user’s face, and
an alerting module communicably coupled to the processor to generate at least one of an audio and visual alerts upon detecting proximity of the user’s face to the display device of the media consumption device,
wherein based on the time elapsed between sending of the electronic signal and the receipt of the reflected signal, the processor determines distance between the user’s face and the display device, and
wherein based upon the detection that the distance is equal to or less than a threshold distance, the processor performs at least one of blocking access to the display device and instructing the alerting module to generate the at least one of the audio and visual alerts.
9. The access control module as claimed in claim 8, wherein the processor detects a time duration for which the user’s face is proximal to the display device and signals the alerting module to generate the at least one of the audio and visual alerts on a second media consumption device upon detecting that the time duration is equal to or more than a threshold period.

10. The access control module as claimed in claim 8, wherein the processor generates the at least one of the audio and visual alerts on a second media consumption device upon detecting that the distance between a user’s face and a display device of the first user device is equal to or less than a threshold distance.