LOGIN METHOD BASED ON DIRECTION OF GAZE

• US 20120243729A1
• Filed: 03/21/2011
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: PASQUERO, Jerome
• Granted Patent: US 8,625,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/18 Eye characteristics, e.g. of the iris

Abstract

A method of authenticating a user of a computing device is proposed, together with computing device on which the method is implemented. A plurality of objects is displayed on a display screen. The plurality of objects includes at least objects that make up a sequence of objects pre-selected as the user'"'"'s passcode. In response to a trigger signal an image of the user'"'"'s face is captured while looking at one of the objects on the display screen. A determination of which object is in the direction of the user'"'"'s gaze is made from the photograph and whether or not the gaze is on the correct object in the sequence of the passcode. This is repeated for each object in the sequence of the passcode.

Claims

1. One or more computer readable media having computer readable instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor implement a method of user authentication at a computing device, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of objects on a display screen, the plurality of objects comprising objects that have been pre-selected as part of a passcode, the passcode comprising a sequence of the pre-selected objects;

for each object in the sequence of the passcode,

receiving a trigger signal;

in response to the trigger signal, causing an image sensor to capture an image;

analysing the image to determine a direction of gaze;

determining the object on the display screen that corresponds to the direction of gaze;

determining whether the object that corresponds to the direction of the gaze matches the object in the sequence; and

after the photographs have been analysed for all objects of the sequence, determining if a threshold for matches has been exceeded and if the threshold has been exceeded indicating positive authentication.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises comparing a face of at least one of the images to images of faces of pre-authorized users and only indicating positive authentication if the face matches the face of an authorized user.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the method comprises displaying the plurality of objects in a different order after each determination of whether the object that corresponds to the direction of the gaze matches the object in the sequence.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the method comprises displaying the plurality of objects in a random order.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises tracking relative position of the computing device after the image sensor captures the image and collecting position related data.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 5 wherein the method further comprises using the position related data to determine change in position of the computing device from the image to a subsequent image.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein determining if the threshold is exceeded comprises determining if a minimum number of matches has been exceeded.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein determining if the threshold is exceeded comprises determining if a minimum probability of matches for the sequence has been exceeded.

9. A method of user authentication at a computing device, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of objects on a display screen, the plurality of objects comprising objects that have been pre-selected as part of passcode, the passcode comprising a sequence of the pre-selected objects;

for each object in the sequence of the passcode,

receiving a trigger signal;

in response to the trigger signal, causing an image sensor to capture an image;

analysing the image to determine a direction of gaze;

determining the object on the display screen that corresponds to the direction of gaze;

determining whether the object that corresponds to the direction of the gaze matches the object in the sequence; and

after the photographs have been analysed for all objects of the sequence, determining if a threshold for matches has been exceeded and if the threshold has been exceeded indicating positive authentication.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising comparing a face of at least one of the images to images of faces of pre-authorized users and only indicating positive authentication if the face matches the face of an authorized user.

11. The method of claim 9, comprising displaying the plurality of objects in a different order after each determination of whether the object that corresponds to the direction of the gaze matches the object in the sequence.

12. The method of claim 9 comprising displaying the plurality of objects in a random order.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising tracking relative position of the computing device after the image sensor captures the image and collecting position related data.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising using the position related data to determine change in position of the computing device from the image to a subsequent image.

15. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a display;

an image sensor;

input interface for receiving a trigger signal causing the image sensor to capture an image; and

one or more computer readable media having computer readable instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor implement a method of user authentication at the computing device, the method comprising;

displaying a plurality of objects on a display screen, the plurality of objects comprising objects that have been pre-selected as part of a passcode, the passcode comprising a sequence of the pre-selected objects;

for each object in the sequence of the passcode, receiving the trigger signal;

in response to the trigger signal, causing the image sensor to capture an image;

analysing the image to a direction of gaze;

determining which object on the display screen corresponds to the direction of gaze;

determining whether the object that corresponds to the direction of the gaze matches the object in the sequence; and

after the photographs have been analysed for all objects of the sequence, determining if a threshold for matches has been exceeded and if the threshold has been exceeded indicating positive authentication.

16. The computing device of claim 15, further comprising a motion detecting device to track relative position of the computing device after the image sensor captures the image and to collect position related data.

17. The computing device of claim 16 wherein the motion detecting device comprises an accelerometer.

18. The computing device of claim 15 comprising a tablet device.

19. The computing device of claim 15 wherein the input interface is a touch sensitive interface.

20. The computing device of claim 15 wherein the input interface is a mechanical button.