COMBINING NAVIGATION AND FINGERPRINT SENSING

• US 20130127592A1
• Filed: 11/23/2011
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Fyke, Steven Henry, Griffin, Jason Tyler
• Granted Patent: US 8,836,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.53
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/086 using security domains

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed whereby fingerprint data is attempted to be captured from a touch sensitive input device during normal operation of an electronic device. If fingerprint data matching a stored fingerprint data is not captured within a threshold time period, security action is taken.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

during operation of a touch sensitive input device to perform a function other than authentication on an electronic device, attempting to capture fingerprint data; and

if, after a threshold time period, fingerprint data matching a stored fingerprint data is not captured, taking a security action related to access to at least a portion of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein taking the security action comprises denying access to the portion of the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein taking the security action comprises initiating an authentication process.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein taking the security action comprises locking the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein taking the security action comprises turning off the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein attempting to capture the finger print data is after a successful authentication.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored fingerprint data is fingerprint data for a person authorized to access the portion of the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored fingerprint data is fingerprint data for a person presently logged into the portion of the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the attempting to capture the fingerprint data is performed on a periodic basis.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the captured fingerprint data to an authentication server to determine if the captured fingerprint data matches the stored fingerprint data.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that when executed implement a method, the method comprising:

during operation of a touch sensitive input device to perform a function other than authentication on an electronic device, attempting to capture fingerprint data; and

if, after a threshold time period, fingerprint data matching a stored fingerprint data is not captured, taking a security action related to access to at least a portion of the electronic device.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein taking the security action comprises at least one of denying access to the portion of the electronic device, initiating an authentication process, locking the electronic device and turning off the electronic device.

13. An electronic system comprising:

an electronic device;

a touch sensitive input device comprising a touch input sensor and a fingerprint sensor; and

a processor configured to, during operation of the touch sensitive input device to perform a function other than authentication on an electronic device, attempt to capture fingerprint data from the fingerprint sensor and if, after a threshold time period, fingerprint data matching a stored fingerprint data is not captured, take a security action related to access to at least a portion of the electronic device.

14. The electronic system of claim 13 further comprising a memory on which the stored fingerprint data is stored.

15. The electronic system of claim 13 further comprising a transmitter and wherein the processor is further configured to cause the transmitter to transmit the fingerprint data to an authentication server to determine if the captured fingerprint data matches the stored fingerprint data.

16. The electronic system of claim 13 wherein the electronic device includes the touch sensitive input device and the processor.

17. The electronic system of claim 13 wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile electronic device.

18. The electronic system of claim 13 wherein the stored fingerprint data is stored on a memory on the electronic device.

19. The electronic system of claim 13 wherein the stored fingerprint data is stored on a memory on a server.

20. The electronic system of claim 13 further comprising an authentication server.