Maintaining an Authenticated State

Abstract

This document describes techniques and systems for maintaining an authenticated state based radar data from a radar system, and in some cases, on sensor data from an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). The techniques and systems use radar data to determine, after an indication that the user has potentially disengaged with the user equipment, to determine whether or not the user is passively engaged with the user equipment. Responsive to determining that the user is passively engaged, the techniques and systems maintain the authenticated state. By maintaining this authenticated state, the techniques manage the user equipment's state to correspond to a user's engagement with the user equipment, which can save power and improve a user's experience.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 determining, during an authenticated state of a user equipment, a potential disengagement by the user of the user equipment, the authenticated state permitting access by the user of data, applications, functions, accounts, or components of the user equipment;   determining, based on radar data and by the user equipment, a passive engagement by the user with the user equipment; and   responsive to the determination of the passive engagement by the user with the user equipment, maintaining the authenticated state.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the authenticated state permits access by the user to the data, the applications, the functions, at least one of the accounts, and at least one of the components of the user equipment. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining that an inactivity time period has expired and wherein determining the potential disengagement is based on the determination that the inactivity time period has expired. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the inactivity timer period begins at a last user action with the user equipment, a last active engagement with the user equipment, or a last-determined intent to engage with the user equipment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, based on inertial data of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) integral with the user equipment, a movement of the user equipment, and wherein determining the potential disengagement is based on the determined movement. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the passive engagement by the user with the user equipment is responsive to the determination of the potential disengagement and further comprising, prior to determining the passive engagement by the user, increasing a power state of a component of a radar system from which the radar data is received. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining passive engagement by the user determines, based on the radar data, that a hand of the user is holding the user equipment at an orientation at which a display of the user equipment is maintained. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining passive engagement by the user of the user equipment determines, based on the radar data, that the user is oriented toward or looking toward the user equipment. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining passive engagement by the user of the user equipment determines, based on the radar data, that the user is within two meters of the user equipment. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reducing an information state of the user equipment from a high-information state to an intermediate-information state or a low-information state. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein reducing the information state is responsive to determining that the user is oriented or looking away from the user equipment. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, based on the radar data or later-received radar data, an intent to engage of a non-user or a presence of the non-user and, responsive to the determination of the intent to engage of the non-user or the presence of the non-user, ceasing to maintain the authenticated state. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising returning to the authenticated state responsive to determining that the non-user is no longer present. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, responsive to the determination of the intent to engage of the non-user or the presence of the non-user, reducing an information state of the user equipment and, responsive to returning to the authenticated state, increasing the information state of the user equipment. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein increasing the information state of the user equipment presents information as presented prior to the reduction of the information state. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus configured to:
 determine, during an authenticated state of the apparatus and by at least one of a radar manager, a movement manager, and a state manager, a potential disengagement by the user of the apparatus, the authenticated state permitting access by the user of data, applications, functions, accounts, or components of the apparatus;   determine, based on radar data and by the radar manager, a passive engagement by the user with the apparatus; and   responsive to the determination of the passive engagement by the user with the apparatus, maintain the authenticated state.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the determination of the passive engagement by the user with the apparatus is responsive to the determination of the potential disengagement; and   the apparatus further configured to, prior to the determination of the passive engagement by the user, increase a power state of a component of a radar system from which the radar data is received.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is configured to, in determining passive engagement by the user with the apparatus, determine, based on the radar data, that the user is within two meters of the apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to reduce, responsive to a determination that the user is oriented or looking away from the apparatus, an information state of the apparatus from a high-information state to an intermediate-information state or a low-information state. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further configured to determine, based on the radar data or later-received radar data, an intent to engage of a non-user or a presence of the non-user and, responsive to the determination of the intent to engage of the non-user or the presence of the non-user, ceasing to maintain the authenticated state.