Method and apparatus for secure data entry using multiple function keys

• US 20040100362A1
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mohamed, Magdi, Tarlton, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/305,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20040100362A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.82
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for secure data entry by sensing biometric information and determining a desired data based on the biometric information. The method can include sensing a biometric characteristic of an object, generating an expression by associating the biometric characteristic with enrollment data, the expression identifying at least a portion of a specific finger unique to a individual user of the multipurpose input device, determining positional information corresponding to a source location of the biometric characteristic, and generating a token representing a desired data entry based on the expression and the positional information. The positional information or the expression can indicate a subset of a set of potential data entry values and the combination of the positional information and the expression can uniquely define the token representing a desired data entry of the subset of potential data entry values.

Claims

1. A method for data entry using a multipurpose input device having a sensor comprising:

sensing a biometric characteristic of an object;

generating an expression by associating the biometric characteristic with enrollment data, the expression identifying at least a portion of a specific finger unique to a individual user of the multipurpose input device;

determining positional information corresponding to a source location of the biometric characteristic; and

generating a token representing a desired data entry based on the expression and the positional information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the positional information describes a movement of a finger.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the positional information represents an angle of a finger.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the positional information represents a location of a finger.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the positional information represents a location of a single key.

6. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the positional information corresponds to a subset of a set of potential data entry values, and

wherein a combination of the positional information and the expression uniquely define the token representing a desired data entry of the subset of potential data entry values.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the set of potential data entry values include data entry values corresponding to keypad entries for a communication device.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the set of potential data entry values include data entry values corresponding to a sequence of data entry values.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the set of potential data entry values include data entry values corresponding to phonebook entries.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein different expressions represent different fingers of an individual user.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein different expressions represent different portions of the specific fingers unique to the individual user.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the biometric characteristic is a fingerprint.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the token represents a specific entry of a plurality of entries available on specific key of a plurality of keys on a communication device keypad.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the token represents at least one command for the operation of a communication device.

30. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two functions include functions facilitating the input of at least two different characters associated with the at least one key.

31. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the database includes data relating to at least three fingerprint images corresponding to at least three characters associated with the at least one key.

32. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to output a sorted list of three characters associated with the at least one key.

33. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a security module, the security module being configured to verify a password based on a plurality of first fingerprint images associated with a plurality of keys.

15. A data entry device, comprising:

a keypad;

a biometric sensor coupled to the keypad; and

a controller coupled to the biometric sensor, the controller configured to sense a biometric characteristic of an object at the biometric sensor, generate an expression by associating the biometric characteristic with enrollment data, the expression identifying at least a portion of a specific finger unique to a individual user of the data entry device, determine positional information corresponding to a source location of the biometric characteristic, and generate a token representing a desired data entry based on the expression and the positional information.

16. The data entry device according to claims 15,

wherein the positional information indicates a subset of a set of potential data entry values, and

wherein a combination of the positional information and the expression uniquely define the token representing a desired data entry of the subset of potential data entry values.

17. The data entry device according to claims 16, wherein the set of potential data entry values include data entry values corresponding to keypad entries for a communication device.

18. The data entry device according to claims 16, wherein the set of potential data entry values include data entry values corresponding to a sequence of data entry values.

19. The data entry device according to claims 16, wherein the set of potential data entry values include data entry values corresponding to phonebook entries.

20. The data entry device according to claims 15, wherein the positional information describes a movement of a finger.

21. The data entry device according to claims 15, wherein the positional information represents an angle of a finger.

22. The data entry device according to claims 15, wherein the positional information represents a location of a finger.

23. The data entry device according to claims 15, wherein the positional information represents a location of a single key.

24. The data entry device according to claims 15, wherein different expressions represent different fingers of an individual user.

25. The data entry device according to claims 15, wherein different expressions represent different portions of the specific fingers unique to the individual user.

26. The data entry device according to claims 15, wherein the biometric characteristic is a fingerprint.

27. The data entry device according to claims 15, wherein the token represents a specific entry of a plurality of entries available on specific key of a plurality of keys on a communication device keypad.

28. The data entry device according to claims 15, wherein the token represents at least one command for the operation of a communication device.

29. A communication device comprising:

a keypad including at least one key, the at least one key having at least two functions associated with the at least one key;

a fingerprint reader coupled to the at least one key, the fingerprint reader being configured to capture a fingerprint image;

a database including

data related to a first fingerprint image; and

data related to a first function of the at least two functions;

a controller coupled to the fingerprint reader, the controller including

a fingerprint analysis module configured to analyze the fingerprint image; and

a fingerprint function determination module configured to determine a function corresponding to a combination of data relating to the at least one key and data related to the first fingerprint image.