Apple's new patent: adult movies will stop automatically when kids come in

The US Patent and Trademark Office approved an Apple patent application this Thursday, titled "System and Method for Detecting Human Presence and Controlling Content Output Based on Identification Data". The patent describes how electronic devices, including portable ones, can use built-in sensors such as cameras to detect or sense the presence of humans.

The modern devices described in Apple's patent can detect various users, such as automatically sensing children or elderly people around them, and then automatically play certain media based on the detected information. Such a system enhances data privacy and provides a simple and secure way for users to consume content. According to the patent, one or more sensors on the device can collect data from the surrounding environment to look for the presence of other humans. It particularly mentions cameras and infrared technology, with identification data potentially being facial data, thermal maps, voice, or other attributes. The sensors can collect data at pre-set frequencies.

Each time, multiple humans can be detected. For example, if three people are standing in front of a computer, it can identify one adult male and two young girls. The system will analyze and assign permissions to these individuals, then decide which content can be accessed. For instance, private emails and adult movies may be restricted based on user age. If the device detects someone unsuitable for viewing the content nearby, the content will not play.

For example, if an adult is watching an adult movie, the movie will continue playing normally when another adult enters the room, but if a child enters, the movie will stop immediately. Additionally, users can allocate rights based on specific attributes, such as automatically increasing the volume when an elderly person is present. When the elderly person leaves, the volume will return to normal. The user's voice can also determine the volume of media playback; if the user is farther away from the device, the volume will automatically increase. This human identification patent was filed in 2012 by inventors Michael I. Ingrassia, Jr. and Nathaniel Paine Hramits.