MAN-MACHINE INTERFACE FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20090213087A1
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Privaris, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Barry W., Abdallah, David S., Olvera, Kristen R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,688,314 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/22 Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1076 Revocation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/72 in cryptographic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• 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 63/102 Entity profiles
• 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: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4415 using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein describes a man-machine interface device for controlling access to electronic devices. The man-machine interface device comprises an electronic display unit including a transparent finger touch sensor region that is seated above the display apparatus, which is responsible for determining the presence and absence of a finger and for generating fingerprint images when a finger is detected. The man-machine interface device also includes a controller unit that is coupled to the display apparatus, the finger touch sensor region, and at least one electronic device. The method of the invention describes a process for authenticating individuals and verifying their security privileges to access sensitive data, based on a finger-touch selection of an icon presented on the display apparatus of the man-machine interface device.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory configured to store a plurality of biometric templates and a plurality of security privileges, each biometric template from the plurality of biometric templates being associated with a security privilege from the plurality of security privileges;

a touch screen configured to receive an icon selection input at a location of the touch screen; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory and the touch screen, the processor configured to permit access to a function associated with the location of the touch screen when (1) the icon selection input is associated with a biometric template from the plurality of biometric templates, and (2) a security privilege from the plurality of security privileges is associated with the function and that biometric template.

2. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the processor is configured to deny access to the function associated with the location of the touch screen when at least one of (1) the icon selection input is not associated with a biometric template from the plurality of biometric templates, or (2) a security privilege from the plurality of security privileges is not associated the function and that biometric template.