FINGER RECOGNITION FOR AUTHENTICATION AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE INPUT

• US 20100265204A1
• Filed: 04/21/2009
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tsuda, Takamoto
• Application Number:
  US12/427,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20100265204A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

A device may include a display and a processor. The display may include a first sensor for detecting a nearby finger and a second sensor for capturing an image of the nearby finger. The processor may be configured to obtain an image from the second sensor when the first sensor detects a finger, obtain identification information associated with the image, perform a function associated with the obtained identification information and a GUI object when the finger touches the GUI object shown on the display.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a display including;

a first sensor for detecting a nearby finger, and

a second sensor for capturing an image of the nearby finger; and

a processor to;

obtain an image from the second sensor when the first sensor detects a finger,

obtain identification information associated with the image, and

perform a function associated with the obtained identification information and a GUI object when the finger touches the GUI object shown on the display.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device includes;

a cell phone, an electronic notepad, a gaming console, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, or a personal computer.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first sensor includes a touch screen;

and the second sensor includes one of;

a scanner;

a charge coupled device;

an infrared sensor;

or an acoustic sensor.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the image includes at least one of:

a fingerprint, finger shape, or image of veins of the finger.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is located with an action button area included within the display.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the GUI objects include at least one of:

a button;

a menu item;

icon;

cursor;

arrow;

text box;

image;

text;

or hyperlink.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

register additional functions for the finger.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

authenticate a user to whom the finger belongs.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the function includes at least one of:

browsing a web page;

placing a call;

sending an email to a particular address;

sending multimedia message;

sending an instant message;

viewing or editing a document;

playing music or video;

scheduling an event;

or modifying an address book.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

highlight the GUI object to convey to a user that the user may select the highlighted GUI object.

11. A method comprising:

detecting a finger'"'"'s touch on a graphical user interface (GUI) object that is output on a display of a device;

obtaining an image of the finger when the touch is detected;

looking up identification information based on the image;

using the identification information to determine an action that the device is to perform when the finger touches the GUI object; and

performing the action.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the action includes one or more of:

loading a web page;

placing a call to a particular user;

opening an email application to compose an email to be sent to a particular address;

sending a multimedia message to a user;

sending an instant message to one or more users;

loading a document for editing;

playing music or video;

scheduling an appointment;

or inserting or deleting an entry from an address book.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further includes:

authenticating a user based on the image.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein registering the finger includes:

receiving the identification information from a user;

capturing a registration image of the finger;

creating an association between the registration image and the identification information; and

storing the registration image, the identification information, and the association between the registration image and the identification information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein registering the finger further includes:

creating an association between the identification information, the action, and the GUI object.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein obtaining an image includes:

obtaining an image of veins of the finger;

obtaining a fingerprint;

or

obtaining a shape of the finger.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein obtaining an image includes:

obtaining the image based on at least one of;

reflected light from the finger, a reflected infrared signal, or a reflected acoustic signal.

18. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions including instructions for:

obtaining an image of a finger from a sensor when a device detects a touch;

retrieving identification information by looking up the identification information in a database based on the image;

retrieving a list of functions that are available for selection by the finger;

highlighting, on a display, graphical user interface (GUI) objects that are associated with the functions; and

performing one of the functions when the finger touches one of the GUI objects, the performed function being associated with the touched GUI object.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the device includes one of:

a cell phone, an electronic notepad, a gaming console, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, or a personal computer.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions for associating the GUI objects, the identification information, and the functions.