SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTHENTICATION WITH A COMPUTER STYLUS

• US 20120242603A1
• Filed: 03/21/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: N-Trig Ltd (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: ENGELHARDT, Leonard, PARADIS, Guy, KAHAN, Tomer
• Granted Patent: US 9,946,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• 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 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0441 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for receiving changes in electrical potential transmitted by the digitiser, e.g. tablet driving signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0442 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method for securing operation of a computing device operated with a stylus includes recognizing a pre-defined gesture performed by a stylus on a touch screen, the pre-defined gesture defined as a user command to lock an item displayed on the touch screen, determining a location of the gesture, determining identity of the stylus, locking an item displayed at the location determined, and recording identity of the stylus. A method for operating a computing device with a stylus includes receiving a command with a stylus to add restricted annotations to a document, receiving identity of the stylus, linking an annotation to the identity, restricting display of the annotation on the document to a computing device receiving input from the stylus; and displaying the document absent the at least one annotation on a computing device on which input from the stylus is not received.

Claims

1. A method for securing operation of a computing device operated with a stylus, the method comprising:

recognizing a pre-defined gesture performed by a stylus on a touch screen, the pre-defined gesture defined as a user command to lock an item displayed on the touch screen;

determining a location at which the gesture was performed;

determining identity of the stylus performing the gesture;

locking an item displayed at the location determined; and

recording identity of the stylus initiating the command to lock.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the item displayed includes at least one of a document, a file, an email, an image, an entry in a table and an application.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

registering identity of at least one stylus authorized to perform secure operations with the computing device;

comparing identity of the stylus performing the gesture with identity of the at least one stylus authorized to perform secure operations with the computing device; and

locking the item displayed on the touch screen, responsive to a match between the identity of the stylus performing the gesture and identity of the at least one stylus authorized to perform secure operations with the computing device.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising storing information identifying a user authorized to perform secure operations with the stylus.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving a command initiated by a stylus to open the item that is locked;

determining identity of the stylus initiating the command to open the item that is locked;

comparing identity of the stylus initiating the command to open the item displayed on the touch screen and a file that is locked with the recorded identity of the stylus that initiated the command to lock the item displayed on the touch screen; and

unlocking the item displayed on the touch screen responsive to a match between identity of the stylus initiating the command to open the item displayed on the touch screen that is locked with the recorded identity of the stylus that initiated the command to lock the item displayed on the touch screen.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising:

storing information for verifying identity of a user in possession of a stylus;

requesting verification of identity of a user in possession of the stylus initiating the command to open the item displayed on the touch screen that is locked; and

unlocking the item displayed on the touch screen responsive to verification of identity of the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the information includes at least one of biometric information, a password, a signature and a gesture performed with the stylus.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the stylus is operative to transmit an identity code at a pre-defined repetition rate.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the stylus is operative to transmit an identity code responsive to a writing tip of the stylus touching the touch screen.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the stylus is operative to transmit an identity code response to a user command.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the identity code is encoded on a location signal transmitted by the stylus.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the identity code is encoded on a burst signal transmitted between location burst signals transmitted by that stylus.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the stylus is operative to transmit a dynamic code.

14. A method for operating a computing device operated with a stylus, the method comprising:

receiving a command with a stylus to add restricted annotations to a document;

receiving identity of the stylus providing the command;

linking at least one annotation to the identity of the stylus, responsive to receiving the command;

restricting display of the at least one annotation on the document to a computing device receiving input from the stylus; and

displaying the document absent the at least one annotation on a computing device on which input from the stylus is not received.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the document is concurrently displayed with a plurality of computing devices and wherein the document is only displayed on the computing device receiving input from the stylus.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the annotations are entered with the stylus.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the annotations are entered with at least one of finger touch, keyboard and mouse.

18. The method of claim 14 comprising displaying the at least one annotation on the document responsive to verifying identity of a user in possession of the stylus.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein verifying identity of a user includes:

requesting information from the user;

receiving the information from the user; and

matching the information received to stored information that was provided by an authorized user for verifying the user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the information is at least one of biometric information, a password, a signature and a gesture performed with the stylus.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the stylus is operative to transmit an identity code at a pre-defined repetition rate.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the stylus is operative to transmit an identity code responsive to a writing tip of the stylus touching the touch screen.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the stylus is operative to transmit an identity code response to a user command.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the identity code is encoded on a location signal transmitted by the stylus.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the identity code is encoded on a burst signal transmitted between location burst signals transmitted by that stylus.

26. The method of claim 21, where the stylus is operative to transmit a dynamic identity code.

27. A method for operating a computing device operated with a stylus, the method comprising:

receiving a command with a stylus to track changes to a document;

receiving identity of the stylus providing the command;

linking changes to the document to the identity of the stylus responsive to receiving the command with the stylus; and

displaying the changes to the document that is linked to the identity of the stylus with a same color.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the changes to the document are responsive to input from at least one of a stylus, keyboard, mouse and finger touch.

29. The method of claim 27, comprising:

receiving input from at least one other stylus;

receiving identity of the at least one other stylus;

linking changes to the document responsive to input from the at least one other stylus to identity of the at least one other stylus; and

displaying the changes to the document that is linked to the identity of the at least one other stylus with a different color.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the stylus is operative to transmit an identity code at a pre-defined repetition rate.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the identity code is encoded on a location signal transmitted by the stylus.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the identity code is encoded on a burst signal transmitted between location burst signals transmitted by that stylus.

33. A method for securing operation of a computing device operated with a stylus, the method comprising:

recognizing a pre-defined gesture performed by a stylus on a touch screen, the pre-defined gesture defined as a user command to lock an item displayed on the touch screen;

determining identity of the stylus performing the gesture;

locking an item displayed on the touch screen; and

recording identity of the stylus initiating the command to lock.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the pre-define gesture defines the item displayed on the screen to be locked.