EMBEDDED AUTHENTICATION SYSTEMS IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20140230049A1
• Filed: 04/17/2014
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: ZADESKY, Stephen, FADELL, Anthony, HODGE, Andrew, SCHELL, Stephan, CABALLERO, Ruben, DOROGUSKER, Jesse Lee, SANFORD, Emery
• Granted Patent: US 8,788,838 B1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1312 direct reading, e.g. contactless acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/165 using facial parts and geometric relationships
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/67 by interactive indications to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2358/00 Arrangements for display data security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• 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 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3231 Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 : using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

This invention is directed to an electronic device with an embedded authentication system for restricting access to device resources. The authentication system may include one or more sensors operative to detect biometric information of a user. The sensors may be positioned in the device such that the sensors may detect appropriate biometric information as the user operates the device, without requiring the user to perform a step for providing the biometric information (e.g., embedding a fingerprint sensor in an input mechanism instead of providing a fingerprint sensor in a separate part of the device housing). In some embodiments, the authentication system may be operative to detect a visual or temporal pattern of inputs to authenticate a user. In response to authenticating, a user may access restricted files, applications (e.g., applications purchased by the user), or settings (e.g., application settings such as contacts or saved game profile).

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a touchscreen display;

a fingerprint sensor at a first location on the device;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

while a respective function of the device is in a locked state;

displaying a user interface that includes a displayed unlock element;

detecting a gesture that includes movement of a finger contact on the unlock element on the touchscreen display toward the first location on the device;

identifying, by the fingerprint sensor, a fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture; and

determining whether the gesture meets unlock criteria based on;

the movement of the finger contact toward the first location;

the fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture; and

in response to detecting the gesture;

in accordance with a determination that the gesture meets the unlock criteria, unlocking the respective function; and

in accordance with a determination that the gesture does not meet the unlock criteria, maintaining the respective function in the locked state.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is located in an area comprising the touchscreen display.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is located in an area separate from an area comprising the touchscreen display.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is embedded in the touchscreen display.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is embedded in the device such that it is not visible from the touchscreen display.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein

the touchscreen display comprises a display stack including at least one of a capacitance sensing component, a light source component and a display surface component;

and

the fingerprint sensor is embedded in the display stack.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is embedded in an input mechanism of the device that is distinct from the touchscreen display.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the touchscreen display comprises a capacitance sensing component; and

the fingerprint sensor identifies, in response to a signal outputted from the capacitance sensing component, the fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the signal outputted by the capacitance sensing component activates the fingerprint sensor.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the user interface moves in response to detecting the gesture.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the finger contact is detected at a location of a moveable user interface object; and

the device includes instructions for, in response to detecting the gesture, moving the moveable user interface object towards the first location.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the unlock element includes instructions to move the finger contact towards the first location on the touchscreen display.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the gesture includes movement of the finger contact across the touchscreen display from left to right.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the gesture includes movement of the finger contact toward a location on the touchscreen display over the fingerprint sensor.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the unlock element is displayed on the touchscreen display at a location over the fingerprint sensor.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the touchscreen display comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being adjacent to the first location;

the first portion of the touchscreen display comprises a capacitance sensing component of a first character; and

the second portion of the touchscreen display comprises a capacitance sensing component of a second character distinct from the first character.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the first character is a first density of capacitance sensing components in the first portion of the touchscreen display, and the second character is a second density of capacitance sensing components in the second portion of the touchscreen display, the first density being higher than the second density.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with one or more processors and memory, cause the device to:

while a respective function of the device is in a locked state;

display a user interface that includes a displayed unlock element;

detect a gesture that includes movement of a finger contact on the unlock element on a touchscreen display of the device toward a first location on the device;

identify, using a fingerprint sensor located at the first location of the device, a fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture; and

determine whether the gesture meets unlock criteria based on;

the movement of the finger contact toward the first location;

the fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture; and

in response to detecting the gesture;

in accordance with a determination that the gesture meets the unlock criteria, unlock the respective function; and

in accordance with a determination that the gesture does not meet the unlock criteria, maintain the respective function in the locked state.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein the device is caused to identify the fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture, using the fingerprint sensor that is located in an area comprising the touchscreen display.

20. The medium of claim 18, wherein the device is caused to identify the fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture, using the fingerprint sensor that is located in an area separate from an area comprising the touchscreen display.

21. The medium of claim 18, wherein the device is caused to identify the fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture, using the fingerprint sensor that is embedded in the touchscreen display.

22. The medium of claim 18, wherein the device is caused to identify the fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture, using the fingerprint sensor that is embedded in the device such that it is not visible from the touchscreen display.

23. The medium of claim 18, wherein the device is caused to identify the fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture, using the fingerprint sensor that is embedded in an input mechanism of the device, the input mechanism being distinct from the touchscreen display.

24. The medium of claim 18, wherein the device is caused to identify the fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture, using a signal outputted from a component of the touchscreen display.

25. The medium of claim 24, wherein the signal outputted by the component of the touchscreen display activates the fingerprint sensor.

26. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a fingerprint sensor and a touchscreen display;

while a respective function of the device is in a locked state;

displaying a user interface that includes a displayed unlock element;

detecting a gesture that includes movement of a finger contact on the unlock element on the touchscreen display toward a first location on the device;

identifying, using a fingerprint sensor located at the first location of the device, a fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture; and

determining whether the gesture meets unlock criteria based on;

the movement of the finger contact toward the first location;

the fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture; and

in response to detecting the gesture;

in accordance with a determination that the gesture meets the unlock criteria, unlocking the respective function; and

in accordance with a determination that the gesture does not meet the unlock criteria, maintaining the respective function in the locked state.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture is identified using the fingerprint sensor that is located in an area comprising the touchscreen display.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture is identified using the fingerprint sensor that is located in an area separate from an area comprising the touchscreen display.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture is identified using the fingerprint sensor that is embedded in the touchscreen display.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein:

the fingerprint that corresponds to the finger contact used to perform the gesture is identified using a signal outputted from a component of the touchscreen display;

the component is a capacitance sensing component; and

the signal outputted by the capacitance sending component activates the fingerprint sensor.