MOBILE TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

• US 20150363632A1
• Filed: 05/07/2015
• Published: 12/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: CHO, Hangshin, SIN, Mansoo, AHN, Yehan, KIM, Cheegoog
• Granted Patent: US 10,055,633 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 21/602 Providing cryptographic facilities or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0338 Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• 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 40/13 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1312 direct reading, e.g. contactless acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• 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: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a method for controlling the same. The present invention determines whether received touch input is touch input by a finger of a user and, when a function executed by the touch input requires authentication, provides a user interface necessary for authentication differently according to whether the touch input is touch input by the user'"'"'s finger. Accordingly, fingerprint authentication is processed as necessary, thereby improving processor efficiency.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a touchscreen configured to sense touch inputs; and

a controller configured to determine whether a touch input is an input using a finger of a user,

wherein, when the touch input is determined to be a touch input using a user'"'"'s finger and a function associated with the touch input requires authentication, a prescribed user interface for authentication is provided, the prescribed user interface for authentication when the touch input is an input using a user'"'"'s finger being different than a user interface for authentication when the touch input is not an input using a user'"'"'s finger.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising a fingerprint sensor integrated with the touchscreen and configured to recognize a fingerprint, wherein fingerprint information of the user is acquired through the fingerprint sensor when the touch input is a touch input using the user'"'"'s finger and authentication is necessary, and the function intended by the touch input is executed when the acquired fingerprint information corresponds to pre-registered fingerprint information.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the touchscreen comprises a touch IC including a plurality of Tx lines, a plurality of Rx lines intersecting the Tx lines and touch sensors formed at intersections of the Tx lines and the Rx lines, wherein the touch IC is configured to acquire a fingerprint image corresponding to touch sensors touched by the user'"'"'s finger from among the touch sensors.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to recognize coordinates of a touch point corresponding to the touch input and to acquire the fingerprint image through the touch IC when fingerprint authentication is necessary to execute an application corresponding to the recognized coordinates.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to provide, on the touchscreen, a notification indicating that acquisition of the fingerprint information of the user through the fingerprint sensor is in progress.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to display a fingerprint input window on the touchscreen and to acquire the fingerprint information of the user through the fingerprint sensor when a finger of the user touches the fingerprint input window.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the fingerprint sensor is activated when the fingerprint input window is displayed.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the fingerprint sensor is activated when the touch input is determined to be a touch input using a user'"'"'s finger.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the fingerprint sensor is activated when the touch input is determined to be a touch input using a user'"'"'s finger and the function associated with the touch input requires authentication.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the user interface for authentication when the touch input is not an input using the user'"'"'s finger is a window for inputting a predetermined pattern for authentication on the touchscreen.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the touch input is an input using a stylus pen.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the user interface for authentication when the touch input is not an input using the user'"'"'s finger is a window for inputting a password or passcode.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein, when the touch input is recognized as including a touch by the user'"'"'s finger and a part of the user'"'"'s body other than the finger, the controller is configured to process the touch input for only the touch by the user'"'"'s finger as a normal touch input.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein functions requiring authentication include at least one of a function to unlock a locked screen, a function to unlock a locked application or a function to unlock a locked touchscreen while turning on the touchscreen from an off state.

15. A method for controlling a mobile terminal, comprising:

receiving touch input applied to a touchscreen;

processing the touch input to determine whether the touch input is an input using a finger of a user; and

providing a user interface for authentication when a function associated with the touch input requires authentication,

wherein the user interface for authentication when the touch input is an input using the user'"'"'s finger is different than a user interface necessary for authentication when the touch input is not an input using a user'"'"'s finger.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

acquiring fingerprint information of the user through a fingerprint sensor integrated with the touchscreen when the touch input is an input using the user'"'"'s finger and authentication is necessary; and

executing the function intended by the touch input when the acquired fingerprint information corresponds to pre-registered fingerprint information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the fingerprint sensor is activated when the touch input is determined to be a touch input using a user'"'"'s finger and the function associated with the touch input requires authentication.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the user interface for authentication when the touch input is not an input using a user'"'"'s finger is a window for inputting a predetermined pattern for authentication on the touchscreen.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the user interface for authentication when the touch input is not an input using a user'"'"'s finger is a window for inputting a password or passcode.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein, when the touch input is recognized as including a touch by the user'"'"'s finger and a part of the user'"'"'s body other than the finger, processing the touch input for only the touch by the user'"'"'s finger as a normal touch input.