Authenticating with Active Stylus

• US 20130106800A1
• Filed: 07/24/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yilmaz, Esat, Bakken, Vemund Kval, Sundara-Rajan, Kinshore
• Granted Patent: US 9,958,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• 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 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes

Abstract

In one embodiment, a stylus operable to communicate wirelessly with a device through a touch sensor of the device contains one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to access first data representing a recently occurred authentication event involving the stylus or the device. The logic is further operable to access second data representing a pre-defined authentication event. The logic is further operable to compare the first data with the second data to authenticate a user to the stylus or the device, a stylus to the user or the device, or a device to the user or the stylus.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a stylus comprising one or more electrodes for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch sensor of the device;

one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media within the stylus and embodying logic that is operable when executed to;

access first data representing a recently-occurred authentication event involving the stylus or the device;

access second data representing a pre-defined authentication event; and

compare the first data with the second data to;

authenticate a user of the stylus or the device to the stylus or the device;

authenticate the stylus to the device or the user;

or

authenticate the device to the stylus or the user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first and second data is accessed from a memory element of the stylus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first and second data is accessed from a memory element of the device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the recently-occurred authentication event comprises one or more manipulations of the stylus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the recently-occurred authentication event comprises output provided by one or more elements comprising:

a pressure sensor;

a radio frequency identification system;

a fingerprint reader;

a global positioning system;

or

a near-field communication system.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the one or more elements is located on the stylus.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the one or more elements is located on the device.

8. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic operable when executed to:

access first data representing a recently-occurred authentication event involving a stylus or a device, the stylus comprising one or more electrodes operable to transmit signals wirelessly to the device through a touch sensor of the device;

access second data representing a pre-defined authentication event; and

compare the first data with the second data to;

authenticate a user of the stylus or the device to the stylus or the device;

authenticate the stylus to the device or the user;

or

authenticate the device to the stylus or the user.

9. The media of claim 8, wherein one or more of the first and second data is accessed from a memory element of the stylus.

10. The media of claim 8, wherein one or more of the first and second data is accessed from a memory element of the device.

11. The media of claim 8, wherein the recently-occurred authentication event comprises one or more manipulations of the stylus.

12. The media of claim 8, wherein the recently-occurred authentication event comprises output provided by one or more elements comprising:

a pressure sensor;

a radio frequency identification system;

a fingerprint reader;

a global positioning system;

or

a near-field communication system.

13. The media of claim 12, wherein at least one of the one or more elements is located on the stylus.

14. The media of claim 12, wherein at least one of the one or more elements is located on the device.

15. A method comprising:

accessing first data representing a recently-occurred authentication event involving a stylus or a device, the stylus comprising one or more electrodes operable to transmit signals wirelessly to the device through a touch sensor of the device;

accessing second data representing a pre-defined authentication event; and

comparing the first data with the second data to;

authenticate a user of the stylus or the device to the stylus or the device;

authenticate the stylus to the device or the user;

or

authenticate the device to the stylus or the user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein one or more of the first and second data is accessed from a memory element in the stylus.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein one or more of the first and second data is accessed from a memory element in the device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the recently-occurred authentication event comprises one or more manipulations of the stylus.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the recently-occurred authentication event comprises output provided by one or more elements comprising:

a pressure sensor;

a radio frequency identification system;

a fingerprint reader;

a global positioning system;

or

a near-field communication system.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one of the one or more elements is located on the stylus.