Biometric Device Pairing

• US 20160094550A1
• Filed: 09/30/2015
• Published: 03/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bradley, Bob, Marciniak, Craig A.
• Application Number:
  US14/871,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20160094550A1
• 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: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• 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 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• 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: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• 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 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A first electronic device is associated with a biometric sensor. Biometric data received by the biometric sensor is used to permit the first electronic device to pair with, unlock, and/or access a second electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a first biometric sensor;

a processing device operably connected to the first biometric sensor, the processing device configured to receive biometric data from the first biometric sensor and determine if the biometric data matches a biometric template; and

at least one transmitter device operably connected to the processing device, the at least one transmitter device operative to pair the electronic device to a second electronic device across a network and to transmit an authorization message to the second electronic device based on a match between the biometric data and the biometric template, wherein the authorization message permits the electronic device to automatically access the second electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one transmitter device comprises:

a first transmitter device operative to pair the electronic device to the second electronic device; and

a low power transmitter device operative to transmit the authorization message to the second electronic device to permit the electronic device to automatically access the second electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the first transmitter device is operative to receive a key from the second electronic device when pairing to the second electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first biometric sensor comprises a fingerprint sensor and the biometric data comprises fingerprint data.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second electronic device permits automatic access to the second electronic device only while the electronic device is within a communication range of the second electronic device.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second electronic device permits automatic access only while the electronic device is paired with the second electronic device.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processing device receives additional biometric data from the first biometric sensor to provide access to information on the second electronic device.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a second biometric sensor.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein biometric data received from the second biometric sensor provides access to information on the second electronic device.

10. A method for a controller device to pair with an accessory device, comprising:

receiving, by the controller device, biometric data associated with a user of the controller device;

establishing a secure connection between the controller device and the accessory device;

generating, by the controller device, an asymmetric key pair based on the biometric data to produce a first public key;

transmitting, by the controller device, the first public key to the accessory device; and

receiving, by the controller device, a second public key associated with the accessory device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising prior to generating, by the controller device, the asymmetric key pair based on the biometric data, verifying the biometric data associated with the user matches a biometric template associated with the user.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving, by the controller device, biometric data associated with a user of the controller device comprises receiving, by the controller device, biometric data associated with the user of the controller device from a biometric sensor associated with the controller device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the biometric data comprises fingerprint data and the biometric sensor comprises a fingerprint sensor.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising prior to establishing the secure connection between the controller device and the accessory device, discovering, by the controller device, the accessory device by scanning for peripherals supporting the pairing function.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the controller device discovers the accessory device using a low power transmitter device.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein establishing the secure connection comprises:

sending, by the controller device, a start request to the accessory device;

receiving, by the controller device, a response to the start request transmitted by the accessory device;

receiving, by the controller device, a personal identification number associated with the accessory device based on the response to the start request;

transmitting, by the controller device, a secure remote password verify request that includes a proof of the personal identification number;

receiving, by the controller device, a secure remote password response transmitted by the accessory device, wherein the secure remote password response verifies the proof of the personal identification number; and

verifying, by the controller device, the proof of the personal identification number.

17. A method for a controller device to access information on an accessory device paired with the controller device, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller device, first biometric data;

generating, by the controller device, an authorization message based on a match between the first biometric data and a first biometric template;

communicating the authorization message from the controller device to the accessory electronic device;

unlocking the accessory device based on the authorization message; and

accessing, by the controller device, the information on the accessory device based on the authorization message.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

prior to generating the authorization message, receiving by the controller device second biometric data; and

generating, by the controller device, the authorization message based on the match between the first biometric data and the first biometric template and a match between the second biometric data and a second biometric template.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second biometric data each comprise fingerprint data.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first biometric data comprises fingerprint data and the second biometric data comprises non-fingerprint biometric data.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein communicating the authorization message from the controller device to the accessory electronic device comprises communicating the authorization message from the controller device to the accessory electronic device using a low power transmitter device.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the authorization message is transmitted from the controller device to the accessory device only when the accessory device is located within a communication range of the controller device.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising continuing to permit the controller device to access the accessory device only while the controller device is paired with the accessory device.