METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING AN IDENTITY OF A USER

• US 20090307182A1
• Filed: 08/18/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Eytchison, Edward, Kumar, Saket, Phan, Dan M., Srinivasan, Nisha
• Granted Patent: US 8,706,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/54
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/316 by observing the pattern of computer usage, e.g. typical user behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for determining the identity of the user detect a current user'"'"'s electronic device activity pattern; compare the detected activity pattern against a plurality of user action identification profiles, wherein each user action identification profile is associated with a particular user; and use the comparing to identify the current user as being the particular user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a user'"'"'s electronic device activity pattern;

comparing the detected activity pattern against a plurality of user action identification profiles, wherein each user action identification profile is associated with a particular unique user; and

using the comparing to identify the current user as being one of the particular users.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein comparing the detected activity pattern comprises scoring a comparison between the detected activity pattern and a user action identification profile.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein comparing the user activity pattern comprises scoring a comparison between the detected activity pattern and a user action identification profile, and wherein using the comparing comprises comparing the comparison score against a predetermined threshold score.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein comparing the detected activity pattern comprises determining a number of matches between the detected activity pattern and the user action identification profiles, and wherein using the comparing comprises comparing the determined number of matches against a predetermined number of matches.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of detecting additional activity of the current user if the act of using the comparing does not identify the current user.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the current user'"'"'s electronic device activity includes selection of content.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the current user'"'"'s electronic device activity includes selection of an application.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the activity of the user includes selection of a category.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detected activity pattern includes a length of time between the current user'"'"'s inputs on the electronic device.

10. A system comprising:

means for detecting a user'"'"'s electronic device activity pattern;

means for comparing the detected activity pattern against a plurality of user action identification profiles, wherein each user action identification profile is associated with a particular unique user; and

means for using the comparing to identify the current user as being one of the particular users.

11. A method comprising:

comparing a user'"'"'s activity pattern against a plurality of user action identification profiles, wherein each user action identification profile is associated with a particular unique user and wherein the current user'"'"'s activity includes an input selection;

using the comparing to identify the current user as being one of the particular users.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein comparing the current user'"'"'s activity pattern comprises scoring a comparison between the detected activity pattern and a user action identification profile.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein comparing the current user'"'"'s activity pattern comprises scoring a comparison between the current user'"'"'s activity pattern and a user action identification profile, and wherein using the comparing comprises comparing the comparison score against a predetermined threshold score.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein comparing the current user'"'"'s activity pattern comprises determining a number of matches between the current user'"'"'s activity pattern and the user action identification profiles, and wherein using the comparing comprises comparing the determined number of matches against a predetermined number of matches.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the act of detecting additional activity of the current user if the act of using the comparing does not identify the current user.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the input selection includes selection of content.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the input selection includes selection of an application.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the input selection includes selection of a category.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the current user'"'"'s activity pattern includes a length of time between the current user'"'"'s inputs.

20. The method according to claim 11, further comprising detecting the user'"'"'s activity pattern.

21. A method comprising:

determining a particular user'"'"'s identity;

detecting the particular user'"'"'s activity pattern; and

storing the particular user'"'"'s activity pattern within a user action identification profile, wherein the user action identification profile is configured to be compared with an unknown user'"'"'s activity pattern.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the determining the particular user'"'"'s identity further comprises detecting a particular user'"'"'s biometric parameter.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the user'"'"'s biometric parameter includes one of an iris scan, a DNA sample, and a fingerprint.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the determining the particular user'"'"'s identity further comprises detecting a particular user'"'"'s password.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the determining the particular user'"'"'s identity further comprises comparing the particular user'"'"'s activity pattern with the user action identification profile.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein confirming the identity of the particular user further comprises scoring a sufficient match between the activity of the particular user with profile data associated with a known user in response to comparing the activity.

27. An identification system comprising.

a detection module configured for detecting a user'"'"'s activity pattern;

and

a comparator module configured for comparing the user'"'"'s activity pattern to a user action identification profile, wherein the comparator module is configured to determine a user'"'"'s identity based on scoring a comparison between the user'"'"'s activity pattern and the user action identification profile.

28. The system according to claim 27, further comprising a database module configured for storing the user action identification profile.

29. The system according to claim 27, wherein the user'"'"'s activity pattern includes one of selection of content, selection of an application, and selection of a category.

30. The system according to claim 27, wherein the comparator module is configured to compare a score comparison against a predetermined threshold score.

31. The system according to claim 27, wherein the comparator module is configured to determine a best comparison score based on the user'"'"'s activity pattern for a predetermined length of time.