Multifactorial unlocking function for smart wearable device and method

• US 10,667,033 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2017
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter Vincent, Milevski, Veniamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan S
• Application Number:
  US15/443,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20170257698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/00 Speaker identification or verification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/305 Self-monitoring or self-testing

Abstract

A system, method and one or more wireless earpieces for authenticating functionality of one or more wireless earpieces. A request that requires authentication is received through the one or more wireless earpieces. Biometric readings are performed for a user utilizing sensors of the one or more wireless earpieces. The biometric readings are analyzed to determine whether the user is authorized for the one or more wireless earpieces to fulfill the request. The request is authenticated in response to determining the biometric readings performed by the one or more wireless earpieces authorize fulfillment of the request.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating functionality of a pair of wireless earpieces, the method comprising:

receiving a request to perform an action from a user of the pair of wireless earpieces, wherein the action requires authentication through the pair of wireless earpieces;

determining by the pair of wireless earpieces a level of authentication based upon the action, wherein the level of authentication requires a password input by the user;

prompting by the pair of wireless earpieces to the user to provide a password for authorization;

receiving a password specified by the user from the user through the pair of wireless earpieces;

performing at least one biometric reading for the user utilizing sensors of the pair of wireless earpieces, wherein a number of types of the at least one biometric readings is determined by the level of authentication;

analyzing the password and the at least one biometric reading by the pair of wireless earpieces to determine whether the user is authorized for the pair of wireless earpieces to fulfill the request; and

authenticating the request after determining the user is authorized for the pair of wireless earpieces to fulfill the request;

wherein the at least one biometric reading includes at least one of a pulse rate, a heartbeat pattern, a blood oxygenation, a temperature, and skin conduction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is associated with information securely stored by the pair of wireless earpieces.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one biometric reading is automatically performed in response to the pair of wireless earpieces being worn by the user to immediately authenticate the request when received.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is automatically generated in response to a user action utilizing the pair of wireless earpieces.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

fulfilling the request in response to the authenticating the request.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising biasing the at least one biometric reading in response to a determination that the at least one biometric reading from the sensors is inaccurate.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receipt of the password and the performance of the at least one biometric reading is performed in a specific order defined by the user.

8. A wireless earpiece comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions; and

a memory for storing the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are executed to;

receive a request to perform an action from a user wherein the action requires authentication through the wireless earpiece;

determine a level of authentication based upon the action at a logic engine of the wireless earpiece, wherein the level of authentication requires at least two biometric readings;

perform at least two biometric readings for a user utilizing sensors of the wireless earpiece, wherein the sensors include a plurality of sensor types;

analyze the at least two biometric readings to determine whether the user is authorized for the wireless earpiece to fulfill the request; and

authenticate the request in response to determining the at least two biometric readings performed by the wireless earpiece authorize fulfillment of the request;

wherein the at least one two biometric readings include at least two of a pulse rate, a heartbeat pattern, a blood oxygenation, a temperature, and skin conduction.

9. The wireless earpiece of claim 8, wherein the request is received from a wireless device associated with the wireless earpiece.

10. The wireless earpiece of claim 8, wherein the set of instructions are further executed to:

reject the request in response to determining the at least two biometric readings do not authorize the wireless earpiece to fulfill the request.

11. The wireless earpiece of claim 8, wherein the request is associated with information securely stored by the wireless earpiece.

12. The wireless earpiece of claim 8, wherein the wireless earpiece is one of a pair of wireless earpieces worn in ears of the user.

13. The wireless earpiece of claim 8, wherein the set of instructions are further executed to:

fulfill the request in response to the authenticating the request.

14. The wireless earpiece of claim 8, wherein the set of instructions are further executed to:

play an alert to the user regarding a status of the request.

15. The wireless earpiece of claim 8, wherein the request is associated with personal health data of the user and in response to the request, performing an extra biometric reading for the user utilizing the sensors of the wireless earpiece.

16. The wireless earpiece of claim 8, wherein each biometric reading is performed using a different sensor of the plurality of sensor types.

17. The wireless earpiece of claim 8, wherein the performance of the at least two biometric readings are performed in a specific order defined by the user.

18. A wireless earpiece, comprising:

a frame for fitting in an ear of a user;

a logic engine controlling functionality of the wireless earpiece; and

a plurality of sensors performing a plurality of biometric readings of the user, wherein each biometric reading is associated with a different unique characteristic of the user and at least one different unique characteristic of the user is specifically associated with a request to perform an action from a user of the wireless earpieces

wherein the logic engine receives the request that requires authentication through the wireless earpiece, determines a level of authentication based upon the action wherein a number of types of the at least two biometric readings is determined by the level of authentication, authenticates the request in response to determining the plurality of biometric readings performed by the wireless earpiece to authorize fulfillment of the request, and fulfills the request in response to the authenticating the request; and

wherein the plurality of biometric readings include at least two of a pulse rate, a heartbeat pattern, a blood oxygenation, a temperature, and skin conduction.

19. The wireless earpiece of claim 18, wherein the wireless earpiece is one of a pair of wireless earpieces worn in-ear.

20. The wireless earpiece of claim 18, wherein the plurality of biometric readings comprises a sequence of biometric readings associated with a secondary user, wherein the sequence of biometric readings unlocks a user profile associated with the secondary user.