WEARABLE DEVICE USER AUTHENTICATION

• US 20140341441A1
• Filed: 06/27/2013
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Slaby, Jiri, Ady, Roger W.
• Application Number:
  US13/928,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20140341441A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/117
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/193 Preprocessing; Feature extraction
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/197 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/33 using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses

Abstract

In embodiments, a wearable device includes an imager that captures eye feature images of one or both eyes of a user of the wearable device, such as while the user is wearing the wearable device. The user can then be authenticated based on a comparison of the eye feature images to a biometric template of the user. The eye feature images may include iris images, retina images, and/or eye vein images of the eyes of the user. The user can be authenticated based on each of the iris images, the retina images, and the eye vein images, both individually and in combination. The imager can also be periodically initiated, to capture the eye feature images to confirm user presence and maintain operability of the wearable device.

Claims

1. A wearable device, comprising:

an imager configured to capture one or more eye feature images of an eye of a user of the wearable device;

a processing system to implement an authentication module configured to;

authenticate the user based on a comparison of the one or more eye feature images to a biometric template of the user; and

periodically initiate the imager to capture the one or more eye feature images to confirm user presence and maintain operability of the wearable device.

2. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the imager is configured to capture the one or more eye feature images of the eye of the user while wearing the wearable device.

3. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a display lens configured to display a viewable image, wherein:

the display lens is configured to display the viewable image as a viewing target on the display lens to position the eye of the user to facilitate the imager capturing an eye feature image of a first side of the eye; and

the display lens is configured to display the viewing target shifted on the display lens to position the eye of the user to facilitate the imager capturing another eye feature image of a second side of the eye.

4. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the imager is configured to capture the one or more eye feature images of a portion of the eye of the user.

5. The wearable device as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

an additional imager configured to capture the one or more eye feature images of a different portion of the eye of the user.

6. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

multiple imagers each configured to capture a portion of either a left eye or a right eye of the user while wearing the wearable device.

7. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the imager is implemented in the wearable device further configured to capture forward-facing images of an environment viewed by the user wearing the wearable device; and

die imager is configured to capture the one or more eye feature images with the wearable device held facing towards the eye of the user.

8. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a display lens configured to display an image for user viewing, the display lens including a prism structure configured to reflect eye features of the eye of the user to the imager.

9. The wearable device as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

a light source configured to illuminate the display lens, the light source further configured to illuminate the eye of the user to facilitate the one or more eye feature images being captured with the imager.

10. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more eye feature images include at least one of iris images, retina images, and eye vein images of the eye of the user.

11. The wearable device as recited in claim 10, wherein the authentication module is configured to authenticate the user based on each of the iris images, the retina images, and the eye vein images both individually and in combination.

12. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, further comprising;

an infra-red light source configured to illuminate the eye of the user; and

wherein the authentication module is configured to initiate the infra-red light source to illuminate the eye of the user to facilitate the one or more eye feature images being captured.

13. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the authentication module is configured to use likely user location information to further authenticate the user of the wearable device.

14. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a data exchange system configured to communicate the one or more eye feature images to a companion device of the wearable device, the companion device configured to compare the one or more eye feature images to the biometric template of the user to said authenticate the user.

15. The wearable device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a presence sensor configured to periodically detect the user who wears the wearable device, the presence sensor comprising one of;

a capacitive sensor configured to detect the user based on continued contact with the wearable device;

an ultrasonic sensor configured to detect user wellness or presence feedback;

or

an infra-red (IR) sensor configured to detect the user wellness or presence feedback.

16. A method, comprising:

capturing one or more eye feature images of an eye of a user of a wearable device;

comparing the one or more eye feature images to a biometric template of the user;

authenticating the user to use the wearable device based on the comparison;

initiating an imager to periodically capture the one or more eye feature images for said comparing to confirm user presence; and

confirming the user presence to maintain operability of the wearable device.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

reflecting eye features of the eye of the user to the imager with a prism structure of a display fens that is configured to display an image for user viewing, the imager said capturing the one or more eye feature images from the reflected eye features.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

illuminating the eye of the user to facilitate said capturing the one or more eye feature images.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein;

the one or more eye feature images include at least one of iris images, retina images, and eye vein images of the eye of the user; and

said authenticating the user based, on each of the iris images, the retina images, and the eye vein images both individually and in combination.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said capturing the one or more eye feature images of the eye of the user comprises:

displaying a viewing target on a display lens of the wearable device to position the eye of the user to capture an eye feature image of a first side of the eye; and

shifting the viewing target on the display lens to position the eye of the user to capture another eye feature image of a second side of the eye.

21. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

utilizing likely user location information to further authenticate the user of the wearable device.

22. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

communicating the one or more eye feature images to a companion device of the wearable device, the companion device said comparing the one or more eye feature images to the biometric template of the user.

23. A system, comprising:

a wearable device configured to capture eye feature images of a user and periodically detect a presence of the user wearing the wearable device; and

a companion device of the wearable device, the companion device configured to compare the eye feature images to a biometric template of the user and authenticate the user to use the wearable device based on the comparison.

24. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the wearable device is configured to periodically capture the eye feature images of the user for comparison to the biometric template of the user and to confirm user presence and maintain operability of the wearable device.

25. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the wearable device is configured to capture fee eye feature images of the user while wearing the wearable device.