Systems and Methods for Accessing a Tamperproof Storage Device in a Wireless Communication Device Using Biometric Data

• US 20090193519A1
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Tamkhane, Pravin Sajan, Bairi, Shrinivas
• Granted Patent: US 8,943,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

A novel system and method for accessing data stored in a secure or tamperproof storage device in a wireless communication device is provided. The wireless communication device may include a biometric sensor for capturing a biometric sample of the user. The captured biometric sample may be compared to known biometric samples of users stored in a memory device of the wireless communication device. If the captured biometric sample matches one of the known biometric samples, the user is allowed access to the tamperproof storage device for a preset amount of time. The user may delete existing data, add new data, modify existing data or view existing data stored in the tamperproof storage device.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device comprising:

a biometric sensor for capturing a biometric sample of a user;

a memory device, coupled to the biometric sensor, for storing a known biometric sample of the user; and

a processing circuit coupled to the memory device, the processing circuit configured to

compare the captured biometric sample to the known biometric sample stored in the memory device;

extract data from a tamperproof storage device if the captured biometric sample matches the known biometric sample; and

present the extracted data to the user for a preset amount of time.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface, coupled to the processing circuit, for inputting the data stored in the tamperproof storage device.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the user interface is a keypad.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the extracted data is user defined.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the data includes at least one of a credit card number, a password, a secret locker code, an automated teller machine (ATM) personal identification number (PIN), an insurance policy number, a social security number, and a driver license number.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to set the preset amount of time.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a display for presenting the extracted data.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the preset amount of time is user defined and wherein the extracted data is cleared from the display after the preset amount of time has lapsed.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor is selected from the group consisting of a fingerprint scanner, an iris scanner, facial recognition device, a hand scanner and a voice recognition device.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the tamperproof storage device is a protected area in the memory device, protected from external access and available only to an authentication application of the processing circuit.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising an authentication module within the processing circuit for comparing the captured biometric sample of the user to the known biometric sample of the user to authenticate the identity of the user.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the tamperproof storage device is separate from the memory device.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to prompt the user to provide the biometric sample using the biometric sensor.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to

determine whether the captured biometric sample is acceptable for comparison to authenticate the identity of the user;

and

prompt the user to provide another biometric sample using the biometric sensor if the sample is not acceptable.

15. A method operational on a wireless communication device, comprising:

capturing a biometric sample of a user;

comparing the captured biometric sample to a known biometric sample of the user stored in a memory device;

extracting data from a tamperproof storage device if the captured biometric sample matches the known biometric sample; and

presenting the extracted data to the user for a preset amount of time.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising inputting the data stored in the tamperproof storage device using a user interface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the user interface is a keypad.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the extracted data is user defined.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the data includes at least one of a credit card number, a password, a secret locker code, an automated teller machine (ATM) personal identification number (PIN), an insurance policy number, a social security number and a driver license number.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising defining the preset amount of time.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising presenting the extracted data for the preset amount of time on a display.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising clearing the extracted data from the display after the preset amount of time has lapsed.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the data in the tamperproof storage device is protected from external access and available only to an authentication application of the wireless communication device.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising prompting the user to provide the biometric sample using the biometric sensor.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining whether the captured biometric sample is acceptable for comparison to authenticate the identity of the user; and

prompting the user to provide another biometric sample if the sample is not acceptable.

26. A wireless communication device comprising:

means for capturing a biometric sample of a user;

means for storing a known biometric sample of the user;

means for comparing the captured biometric sample to the known biometric sample stored in a memory device;

means for extracting data from a tamperproof storage device if the captured biometric sample matches the known biometric sample; and

means for presenting the extracted data to the user for a preset amount of time.

27. The device of claim 26, further comprising means for inputting the data stored in the tamperproof storage device.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein the data includes at least one of a credit card number, a password, a secret locker code, an automated teller machine (ATM) personal identification number (PIN), an insurance policy number, a social security number, and a driver license number.

29. The device of claim 26, wherein the preset amount of time is user defined.

30. The device of claim 26, wherein the tamperproof storage device is a protected area in the memory device which is protected from external access.

31. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for accessing data in a wireless communication device which when executed by a processor causes the processor to

capture a biometric sample of a user;

compare the captured biometric sample to a known biometric sample stored in a memory device;

extract data from a tamperproof storage device if the captured biometric sample matches the known biometric sample; and

present the extracted data to the user for a preset amount of time.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to input the data in the tamperproof storage using a user interface.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to define the preset amount of time.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to clear the extracted data from a display after the preset amount of time has lapsed.

35. A circuit for accessing data in a wireless communication device, wherein the circuit is adapted to

capture a biometric sample of a user;

compare the captured biometric sample to a known biometric sample stored in a memory device of the wireless communication device;

extract data from a tamperproof storage device in the wireless communication device if the captured biometric sample matches the known biometric sample; and

present the extracted data to the user for a preset amount of time.

36. The circuit of claim 35, wherein the circuit is further adapted to input the data in the tamperproof storage device using a user interface.

37. The circuit of claim 35, wherein the circuit is further adapted to define the preset amount of time.

38. The circuit of claim 35, wherein the circuit is further adapted to clear the extracted data after the preset amount of time has lapsed.