METHOD OF EXECUTING FUNCTION OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING THE SAME

• US 20150186710A1
• Filed: 01/02/2015
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: AHN, Yumi, KIM, Hyunkyoung, KIM, Daesung, AHN, Jihyun, LEE, Hyemi
• Granted Patent: US 9,697,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/22 Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for executing a function of an electronic device using fingerprint verification. A security level of the function to be performed is acquired, if the function requires the fingerprint verification. A fingerprint input of a user is received. A count of a number of matching points that exist between the fingerprint input and a prestored fingerprint is determined. The count of the number of matching points is compared with a minimum number of matching points corresponding to the security level of the function.

Claims

1. A method of executing a function of an electronic device using fingerprint verification, the method comprising:

acquiring a security level of the function to be performed, if the function requires the fingerprint verification;

receiving a fingerprint input of a user;

determining a count of a number of matching points that exist between the fingerprint input and a prestored fingerprint; and

comparing the count of the number of matching points with a minimum number of matching points corresponding to the security level of the function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the count of the number of matching points comprises:

determining the count of the number of matching points by comparing minutiae of the fingerprint input and minutiae of the prestored fingerprint.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing the function when the count of the number of matching points is greater than or equal to the minimum number of matching points corresponding to the security level; and

displaying an error message when the count of the number of matching points is less than the minimum number of matching points corresponding to the security level.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving the fingerprint input again when a number of times that the error message has been displayed is less than a preset number; and

determining whether the function is to be executed by changing the security level, when a number of times that the error message has been displayed is greater than or equal to a preset number.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining whether the function is to be executed by changing the security level comprises:

comparing the count of the number of matching points measured and a preset number of limited matching points.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

changing the security level of the function by the user, when the count of the number of matching points is greater than or equal to the preset number of limited matching points.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein changing the security level of the function by the user comprises:

recommending an optimal security level, at which the function is to be executed, to the user by the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

when the user changes the security level of the function, acquiring a new security level of the function and re-receiving a fingerprint input.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the fingerprint input comprises:

displaying a color on a portion of a display or on an entire display, wherein the color is dependent upon the security level, or

displaying at least one of a guide and an animation, wherein content of the guide and a speed of the animation is dependent upon the security level.

10. A method of executing a function of an electronic device using fingerprint verification, the method comprising:

acquiring a number of required matching points corresponding to the function to be performed, if the function requires the fingerprint verification;

receiving a fingerprint input of a user;

determining a count of a number of matching points that exist between the fingerprint input and a prestored fingerprint; and

comparing the count of the number of matching points with the number of required matching points.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a display unit configured to display an indication and a guide for inputting a fingerprint;

a fingerprint sensor configured to sense a fingerprint input of a user;

a storage unit configured to store the fingerprint input; and

a controller configured to acquire a security level of a function to be performed if the function requires fingerprint verification, receive the fingerprint input, determine a count of a number of matching points that exist between the fingerprint input and a prestored fingerprint, and compare the count of the number of matching points with a minimum number of matching points corresponding to the security level.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the count of the number of matching points by comparing minutiae of the fingerprint input and minutiae of the prestored fingerprint.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to execute the function when the count of the number of matching points is greater than or equal to the minimum number of matching points corresponding to the security level.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to display an error message when the count of the number of matching points is less than the minimum number of matching points corresponding to the security level.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to receive the fingerprint input again when a number of times that the error message has been displayed is less than a preset number.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the function is to be executed by changing the security level when a number of times that the error message has been displayed is greater than or equal to a preset number, and the determination of whether the function is to be executed is made by comparing the count of the number of matching points measured and a preset number of limited matching points.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to allow the user to change the security level of the function when the count of the number of matching points is greater than or equal to the preset number of limited matching points, and the change of the security level is made by recommending an optimal security level, at which the function is to be executed, to the user by the electronic device.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein, when the user changes the security level of the function, the controller is further configured to acquire a new security of the function again and re-receives a fingerprint input.

19. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to display a color on a portion of a display or on an entire display, wherein the color is dependent upon the security level, or display at least one of a guide and an animation, wherein content of the guide and a speed of the animation is dependent upon the security level.

20. An electronic device comprising:

a display unit configured to display an indication and a guide for inputting a fingerprint;

a fingerprint sensor configured to sense a fingerprint input of a user;

a storage unit configured to store the fingerprint input; and

a controller configured to acquire a number of required matching points corresponding to the function to be performed if the function requires the fingerprint verification, receive the fingerprint input, determine a count of a number of matching points that exist between fingerprint input and a prestored fingerprint, and compare the count of the number of matching points with the number of required matching points.