Biometric interface system and method

• US 10,013,542 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2017
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Razouane, Mohamed Ali, Boesen, Peter Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Barakat, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US15/497,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20170316192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1172 using fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/21 Design, administration or maintenance of databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/212 with details for data modelling support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/40 by quorum, i.e. whereby two or more security principals are required
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2147 Locking files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/25 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 : Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

A system includes a wearable device having at least one sensor configured to determine a user'"'"'s fingerprint data, at least one data storage device containing authentication data, and at least one processor configured to compare the user'"'"'s fingerprint data with the authentication data in order to authenticate a user. A method of authenticating a wearable device includes producing a fingerprint, determining fingerprint data derived from the fingerprint with one or more sensors, comparing the fingerprint data with authentication data on one or more data storage devices, and authenticating the user if the fingerprint data and the authentication data match.

Claims

1. An earpiece for authenticating users using stored fingerprint authentication data, the earpiece comprising:

an earpiece housing;

at least one speaker;

at least one microphone;

a processor disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the at least one speaker and the at least one microphone;

a sensor operatively connected to the processor;

a data storage device disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the processor, wherein a first portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data is stored on the data storage device; and

a radio transceiver disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the processor, wherein a second portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data is stored at a remote location and accessible over a network through the radio transceiver;

wherein the processor is configured to receive fingerprint data from the sensor at a fingerprint contact surface on the earpiece housing and analyze the fingerprint data using the first portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data and the second portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data to make an authentication decision based on the fingerprint data.

2. The earpiece of claim 1 further comprising a gesture control interface operatively connected to the processor, wherein the gesture control interface is configured to receive gestures.

3. The earpiece of claim 2 wherein the sensor is an optical sensor and wherein the optical sensor is used by the gesture control interface to receive the gestures and to sense the fingerprint data.

4. The earpiece of claim 1 wherein the sensor is an ultrasound sensor.

5. The earpiece of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to process audio data from the at least one microphone and wherein the authentication decision is based on the fingerprint data and the audio data.

6. The earpiece of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to process pulse oximetry data from a pulse oximeter disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the processor and wherein the authentication decision is based on the fingerprint data and the pulse oximetry data.

7. A method for authenticating a user of an earpiece comprising an earpiece housing, a processor disposed within the earpiece housing, a sensor operatively connected to the processor, at least one speaker operatively connected to the processor, at least one microphone operatively connected to the processor, a data storage device disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the processor, and a radio transceiver disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the processor, the method comprising:

acquiring fingerprint data using the sensor from a finger of the user contacting a fingerprint contact area on the earpiece housing;

accessing a first portion of stored fingerprint authentication data, the first portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data stored on the data storage device;

accessing a second portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data from a remote location over a network and through the radio transceiver; and

analyzing the fingerprint data using the first portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data and the second portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data to make an authentication decision based on the fingerprint data.

8. An earpiece for authenticating users using stored fingerprint authentication data, the earpiece comprising:

an earpiece housing;

at least one speaker;

at least one microphone;

a processor disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the at least one speaker and the at least one microphone;

an optical sensor operatively connected to the processor;

a data storage device disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the processor, wherein a first portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data is stored on the data storage device; and

a radio transceiver disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the processor, wherein a second portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data is stored at a remote location and accessible over a network through the radio transceiver;

wherein the processor is configured to receive fingerprint data from the optical sensor at a fingerprint contact surface on the earpiece housing and analyze the fingerprint data using the first portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data and the second portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data to make an authentication decision based on the fingerprint data.