Dynamic Profile Switching Based on User Identification

• US 20150355915A1
• Filed: 08/19/2015
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sipe, Michael Andrew, Barra, Hugo, Schneiderman, Henry Will
• Granted Patent: US 9,690,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4451 User profiles; Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264

Abstract

A method for dynamic switching of user profiles on a computing device. The computing device is coupled to at least one image-sensing device and can be configured using a plurality of stored user profiles. The method includes receiving at least one image from the at least one image-sensing device and generating a current user value based on the at least one received image. The method further includes determining if the current user value corresponds to at least one stored user value corresponding to a stored user profile. If the current user value corresponds to at least one stored user value, the method includes retrieving the stored user profile and configuring at least some programs operating on the computing device using the retrieved user profile. If the current user value does correspond to at least one stored user value, the method includes configuring the computing device using an alternative method.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computing device, comprising:

capturing at least one first image of a first user automatically when the first user interacts with the computing device;

configuring at least some programs operating on the computing device based on a first profile associated with the first image;

capturing at least one second image of a second user automatically when the second user interacts with the computing device that has been configured based on the first profile; and

configuring at least some programs operating on the computing device based on a second profile associated with the second image.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the at least some programs operating on the computing device based on a second profile without executing a log out of the first user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profiles include respective program access settings that regulate what types of programs can be operated by a corresponding user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profiles include respective network access settings that regulate which networks can be accessed by a corresponding user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profiles include respective device access settings that regulate which devices controlled by the computing device can be accessed by a corresponding user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising discontinuing operating the computing device in a configured state corresponding to a user when the computing device is placed in a locked state.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein user profile information is stored in one or more external servers.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

capturing at least one first image of the first user when the first user interacts with a second computing device; and

configuring at least some programs operating on the second computing device based on the first profile stored in the one or more external servers.