EMBEDDED AUTHENTICATION SYSTEMS IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20090083850A1
• Filed: 09/09/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Schell, Stephan, Zadesky, Stephen, Caballero, Ruben, Sanford, Emery, Hodge, Andrew, Fadell, Anthony, Dorogusker, Jesse Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,943,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/316 by observing the pattern of computer usage, e.g. typical user behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1312 direct reading, e.g. contactless acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/165 using facial parts and geometric relationships
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/67 by interactive indications to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2358/00 Arrangements for display data security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3231 Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 : using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

This invention is directed to an electronic device with an embedded authentication system for restricting access to device resources. The authentication system may include one or more sensors operative to detect biometric information of a user. The sensors may be positioned in the device such that the sensors may detect appropriate biometric information as the user operates the device, without requiring the user to perform a step for providing the biometric information (e.g., embedding a fingerprint sensor in an input mechanism instead of providing a fingerprint sensor in a separate part of the device housing). In some embodiments, the authentication system may be operative to detect a visual or temporal pattern of inputs to authenticate a user. In response to authenticating, a user may access restricted files, applications (e.g., applications purchased by the user), or settings (e.g., application settings such as contacts or saved game profile).

Claims

1. A method for seamlessly authenticating a user of an electronic device, comprising:

receiving an input from a user using an input mechanism of the electronic device;

detecting identification information of the user as the input is received using a sensor adjacent to the input mechanism; and

authenticating the user based on the detected information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the user with access to restricted electronic device resources in response to authenticating.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the restricted electronic device resources comprise at least one of:

an application;

data associated with an application; and

data files.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the user with a personalized display in response to authenticating.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving further comprises receiving an input to unlock an electronic device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the input comprises dragging an option across a display.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information comprises at least one of:

a fingerprint;

a palm print;

a hand print;

a knuckle print;

a blood vessel pattern;

a retina pattern;

an iris pattern;

an ear canal pattern; and

a DNA sequence.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is embedded in the input mechanism.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor is embedded in a portion of a touch screen.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor is embedded in at least one of:

a keyboard;

a button;

a mouse;

a touchpad; and

an electronic device housing adjacent to the input mechanism.

11. A method for authenticating a user of an electronic device, comprising:

determining that the user is aligned with a sensing component of the device without directing the user to align with the sensing component;

detecting biometric attributes of the user using the sensing component in response to determining; and

authenticating the user in response to detecting.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining further comprises determining that the user is within the field of view of the sensor.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting further comprises detecting at least one of:

features of the user'"'"'s face; and

features of the user'"'"'s eyes.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing no indication to the user of the sensing component.

15. An electronic device for seamlessly authenticating a user, comprising:

an input mechanism operative to receive an input from a user;

a sensing component operative to detect an identifying feature of the user as the input is received; and

a processor operative to authenticate the user based on the detected identifying feature.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the sensing component is embedded in the input mechanism.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the sensing component is positioned such that a field of view of the sensing component captures at least one identifying feature of a user providing inputs to the input mechanism.

18. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the input mechanism comprises at least one of:

a keyboard;

a button;

a mouse;

a touchpad;

a touch screen; and

a scroll wheel.

19. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the sensing component is operative to detect at least one of a feature of the user'"'"'s skin and a feature underneath a user'"'"'s skin.

20. An electronic device operative to authenticate a user without requiring a user input, comprising:

a display operative to provide screens for at least one application available from the electronic device;

a sensor operative to detect a unique attribute of the user when the user faces the display; and

a processor operative to;

receive the detected unique attribute;

compare the detected unique attribute to a library of attributes associated with authorized users; and

provide access to restricted resources in response to determining that the detected attributes match attributes in the library.

21. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the sensor is further operative to detect an attribute of a user'"'"'s skin.

22. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the sensor is positioned on a surface of the device that is opposite the surface of the display.

23. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the sensor is further operative to detect an attribute of at least one of the user'"'"'s face and the user'"'"'s eyes.

24. The electronic device of claim 23, wherein the sensor is positioned on a surface of the device that includes the display.

25. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the sensor is operative to automatically detect the unique attribute when the sensor detects the user within the sensing region of the sensor.

26. A computer readable medium for authenticating a user of an electronic device, comprising computer program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving an input from a user using an input mechanism of the electronic device;

detecting identification information of the user as the input is received using a sensor adjacent to the input mechanism; and

authenticating the user based on the detected information.