KEYBOARD AS BIOMETRIC AUTHENTICATION DEVICE

• US 20130347099A1
• Filed: 06/26/2012
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: SMITH, NED M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,165,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/316 by observing the pattern of computer usage, e.g. typical user behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints

Abstract

Various embodiments are generally directed to use of a keyboard as a biometric authentication device. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus comprises a processor circuit executing a sequence of instructions causing the processor circuit to receive a signal indicative of a keypress of at least one key of a keyboard communicatively coupled to the apparatus, and indicative of at least one physical characteristic associated with the keypress; compare the at least one physical characteristic to at least one stored physical characteristic associated with at least one authorized user of the apparatus; and determine if the keypress is associated with at least one authorized user of the apparatus based on the comparison. Other embodiments are described and claimed herein.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of a keypress of at least one key of a keyboard communicatively coupled to a computing device, and indicative of at least one physical characteristic associated with the keypress;

comparing the at least one physical characteristic to at least one stored physical characteristic associated with at least one authorized user of the computing device;

determining if the keypress is associated with at least one authorized user of the computing device based on the comparison; and

refining the at least one stored physical characteristic in response to determining that the at least one physical characteristic has changed to an extent consistent with a physical change of an authorized user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the at least one physical characteristic selected from a group comprising a velocity at which the key is pressed, a pressure exerted to press the key, an amount of time during which the key is held in a fully pressed state, a pressure exerted to hold the key in the fully pressed state, a velocity at which the key is released from the fully pressed state, and an amount of time elapsing from pressing the key to pressing another key.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising presenting a visual prompt on a display of the computing device requesting a user of the computing device to enter text to enable authentication prior to the user being authenticated as an authorized user.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, the visual prompt comprising a preselected text to enter, the preselected text selected to cause a user to use a defined quantity of digits to operate a defined quantity of keys of the keyboard.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising placing the computing device in an unlocked mode allowing access to a first data in response to determining that the keypress is associated with at least one authorized user and in response to the computing device being in a locked mode denying access to the first data.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, comprising allowing access to a limited subset of available functionality of the computing device during the locked mode, the limited subset of available functionality comprising an opportunity to enter text.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, comprising presenting a visual prompt on a display of the computing device requesting a user of the computing device to enter text in response to the user attempting to access the first data while the computing device is in the locked mode, the visual prompt comprising a preselected text to enter.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, comprising placing the computing device in the locked mode in response to:

determining that the at least one physical characteristic has changed since a last authentication of an authorized user to an extent consistent with a different user operating the keyboard in place of the authorized user; and

determining that the different user is not an authorized user.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, comprising placing the computing device in the locked mode in response to a predetermined period of time having elapsed since the computing device was last interacted with by an authorized user.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, comprising refraining from placing the computing device in the locked mode in response to detecting the continuing presence of an authorized user in proximity to the computing device.

11. (canceled)

12. An apparatus comprising:

a first processor circuit; and

a first storage communicatively coupled to the first processor circuit and storing a first sequence of instructions that when executed by the first processor circuit, causes the first processor circuit to;

receive a signal indicative of a keypress of at least one key of a keyboard communicatively coupled to the apparatus, and indicative of at least one physical characteristic associated with the keypress;

compare the at least one physical characteristic to at least one stored physical characteristic associated with at least one authorized user of the apparatus;

determine if the keypress is associated with at least one authorized user of the apparatus based on the comparison; and

refine the at least one stored physical characteristic in response to determining that the at least one physical characteristic has changed to an extent consistent with a physical change of an authorized user.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, the at least one physical characteristic selected from a group comprising a velocity at which the key is pressed, a pressure exerted to press the key, an amount of time during which the key is held in a fully pressed state, a pressure exerted to hold the key in the fully pressed state, a velocity at which the key is released from the fully pressed state, and an amount of time elapsing from pressing the key to pressing another key.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, the keyboard communicatively coupled to the apparatus through an interface through which the apparatus receives the signal from the keyboard as a digitally serially transmitted message from the keyboard.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, comprising the keyboard, a plurality of keys of the keyboard being directly scanned by the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, the first processor circuit caused to present a visual prompt on a display requesting a user of the apparatus to enter text to enable authentication prior to the user being authenticated as an authorized user.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, the visual prompt comprising a preselected text to enter, the preselected text selected to cause a user to use a defined quantity of digits to operate a defined quantity of keys of the keyboard.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, the first processor circuit caused to place the apparatus in an unlocked mode allowing access to a first data in response to determining that the keypress is associated with at least one authorized user and in response to the apparatus being in a locked mode denying access to the first data.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, the first processor circuit caused to allow access to a limited subset of available functionality of the apparatus during the locked mode, the limited subset of available functionality comprising an opportunity to enter text.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, the first processor circuit caused to present a visual prompt on a display requesting a user of the apparatus to enter text in response to the user attempting to access the first data while the apparatus is in the locked mode, the visual prompt comprising a preselected text to enter.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, comprising:

the display;

a second processor circuit; and

a second storage communicatively coupled to the second processor circuit and storing a second sequence of instructions, the first processor circuit causing a visual prompt to be presented comprising the first processor circuit caused by executing the first sequence of instructions to signal the second processor circuit, and the second processor circuit caused by executing the second sequence of instructions to present the visual prompt on the display in response to the signal.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, the first processor circuit caused to place the apparatus in the locked mode in response to:

the first processor circuit determining that the at least one physical characteristic has changed since a last authentication of an authorized user to an extent consistent with a different user operating the keyboard in place of the authorized user; and

the first processor circuit determining that the different user is not an authorized user.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, comprising:

a second processor circuit; and

a second storage communicatively coupled to the second processor circuit and storing a second sequence of instructions, the first processor circuit causing the apparatus to be placed in one of the locked mode and the unlocked mode comprises the first processor circuit caused by executing the first sequence of instructions to signal the second processor circuit, and the second processor circuit caused by executing the second sequence of instructions to place the apparatus in one of the locked mode and the unlocked mode in response to the signal.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, the first processor circuit caused to place the apparatus in the locked mode in response to a predetermined period of time having elapsed since the apparatus was last interacted with by an authorized user.

25. (canceled)

26. At least one non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions that when executed by a computing device, causes the computing device to:

receive a signal indicative of a keypress of at least one key of a keyboard communicatively coupled to the computing device, and indicative of at least one physical characteristic associated with the keypress;

compare the at least one physical characteristic to at least one stored physical characteristic associated with at least one authorized user of the computing device;

determine if the keypress is associated with at least one authorized user of the computing device based on the comparison; and

refine the at least one stored physical characteristic in response to determining that the at least one physical characteristic has changed to an extent consistent with a physical change of an authorized user.

27. The at least one non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 26, the at least one physical characteristic selected from a group comprising a velocity at which the key is pressed, a pressure exerted to press the key, an amount of time during which the key is held in a fully pressed state, a pressure exerted to hold the key in the fully pressed state, a velocity at which the key is released from the fully pressed state, and an amount of time elapsing from pressing the key to pressing another key.

28. The at least one non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 26, the computing device caused to:

place the computing device in an unlocked mode allowing access to a first data in response to determining that the keypress is associated with at least one authorized user and in response to the computing device being in a locked mode denying access to the first data; and

allow access to a limited subset of available functionality of the computing device during the locked mode, the limited subset of available functionality comprising an opportunity to enter text.

29. An apparatus comprising:

a first processor circuit;

a second processor circuit;

a first storage communicatively coupled to the first processor circuit and storing a first sequence of instructions that when executed by the first processor circuit, causes the first processor circuit to;

receive a signal indicative of a keypress of at least one key of a keyboard communicatively coupled to the apparatus, and indicative of at least one physical characteristic associated with the keypress;

compare the at least one physical characteristic to at least one stored physical characteristic associated with at least one authorized user of the apparatus;

determine if the keypress is associated with at least one authorized user of the apparatus based on the comparison;

refine the at least one stored physical characteristic in response to determining that the at least one physical characteristic has changed to an extent consistent with a physical change of an authorized user; and

signal the second processor circuit to place the apparatus in an unlocked mode allowing access to a first data in response to determining that the keypress is associated with at least one authorized user and in response to the apparatus being in a locked mode denying access to the first data; and

a second storage communicatively coupled to the second processor circuit and storing a second sequence of instructions that when executed by the second processor circuit, causes the second processor circuit to place the apparatus in the unlocked mode in response to receiving the signal from the first processor circuit to place the apparatus in the unlocked mode.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, the first processor circuit caused by executing the first sequence of instructions to signal the second processor circuit to present a visual prompt on a display requesting a user of the apparatus to enter text, and the second processor circuit caused by executing the second sequence of instructions to present the visual prompt on the display in response to receiving the signal from the first processor circuit to present the prompt on the display.