Motion password control system

• US 6,721,738 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gaveo Technology LLC
• Inventors: Wells, Martin, Lee, W. David, Turner, Christopher, Verplaetse, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, SHAHID AL
• Application Number:
  US09/773,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20010047488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 707/9, 707/10, 707/8, 707/100, 707/102, 707/103.R, 707/104.1, 340/571, 702/141, 713/202, 700/66, 345/158, 345/741
• US Class Current: 700/237
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

A motion password control system including a motion sensor responsive to motion of a device and providing a signal corresponding to movement of the device; a database including stored data values corresponding to predetermined motion of the device; and an electronic circuit, responsive to the motion sensor, configured to compare the motion sensor signal with the stored database values, and, in response, to provide an output signal for performing at least one action of a preselected set of actions when the comparison reveals that the device has moved in a way which corresponds to the stored data values.

Claims

1. A motion password control system for controlling a host device comprising:

a motion sensor responsive to motion of the device and providing a signal corresponding to movement of the device;

a database including stored data values corresponding to predetermined motion of the device; and

an electronic circuit responsive to the motion sensor, configured to

compare the motion sensor signal with the stored database values,

and in response, provide an output signal for causing the device to perform at least one action of a preselected set of actions when the comparison reveals that the device has moved in a way which corresponds to the stored data values;

wherein the electronic circuit is further configured to detect when the motion sensor has sensed one or more partial sequences of predetermined motion data caused by an unauthorized attempt to control the system, and in response, provide an output signal for denying access to the device.

2. The motion password control system of claim 1 in which the database includes data corresponding to a set of discrete orientations of the device and the electronic circuit further includes a timer and means for determining whether any movement of the device matches the set of orientations within predetermined time periods.

3. The motion password control system of claim 1 in which the database includes motion data indicative of an authorized path of movement.

4. The motion password control system of claim 1 in which the motion sensor is an accelerometer.

5. The motion password control system of claim 1 in which the database is resident in a memory device.

6. The motion password control system of claim 5 in which the memory is a programmable read only memory.

7. The motion password control system of claim 1 in which the electronic circuit is embodied in a microcontroller.

8. The motion password control system of claim 1 in which the device is a computer.

9. The motion password control system of claim 1 in which the device includes an electronic access locking subsystem and one preselected action is to change the state of the electronic access locking subsystem.

10. The motion password control system of claim 1 in which the system further includes an audible alarm subsystem, responsive to the output signal of the electronic circuit, the audible alarm subsystem including an audible alarm and means for arming and disarming the audible alarm subsystem in response to the output signal and means for activating the audible alarm when the audible alarm subsystem is armed and movement of the device does not match the database values.

11. The motion password control system of claim 1 in which the device is a firearm with a firing locking mechanism and one of the predetermined set of actions is changing the state of the firing locking mechanism.

12. The motion password control system of claim 1 in which the electronic circuit is further configured to prompt a user of the device to enter a motion password, and store the entered motion password data values in the database.

13. A method of controlling a device, the method comprising:

sensing movement of the device;

storing in a database values corresponding to predetermined motions of the device;

comparing any motion of the device with the stored database values and, in response, providing an output signal for causing the device to perform at least one action of a preselected set of actions when the comparison reveals that the device has moved in a way which corresponds to the stored data values; and

detecting when the motion sensor has sensed one or more partial sequences of predetermined motion data caused by an unauthorized attempt to control the system, and in response, providing an output signal for denying access to the device.

14. The method of claim 13 in which the database includes data corresponding to a set of discrete orientations and the method further includes determining whether any movement of the device matches the set of orientations within predetermined time periods.

15. The method of claim 13 in which the database includes motion data indicative of an authorized path of movement.

16. The method of claim 13 in which the device includes an electronic access locking mechanism and the method further includes allowing access when the movement of the device matches the database values.

17. The method of claim 13 in which the device includes an audible alarm subsystem, the method further including arming and disarming the audible alarm subsystem in response to the output signal and activating the audible alarm when the audible alarm subsystem is armed and the movement of the device does not match the database values.

18. The method of claim 13 in which the device is a firearm with a trigger locking mechanism and one of the predetermined set of actions is disarming the trigger locking mechanism.

19. The method of claim 13 further including prompting a user of the device to enter a motion password and storing the movement data values in the database.