Method and apparatus for eye-scan authentication using a liquid lens

• US 8,233,673 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2009
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Britz, David, Miller, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARIAM, DANIEL G
• Application Number:
  US12/605,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20110096960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 382/115, 382117-118, 382/124, 382/209, 382/218
• US Class Current: 382/117
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/004 based on a displacement or a deformation of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/18 Eye characteristics, e.g. of the iris
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• 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 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing eye-scan authentication using an adaptive liquid lens are disclosed. For example, in one embodiment, the method receives a request for eye-scan authentication from a mobile endpoint device of a user, wherein the request comprises a first retinal image of the user captured using an adaptive liquid lens of the mobile endpoint device. The method obtains a second retinal image of the user, wherein the second retinal image is a stored retinal image of the user. The method authenticates the first retinal image against the second retinal image. In another embodiment, the method captures a first retinal image of a user via a mobile endpoint device of the user, wherein the mobile endpoint device comprises an adaptive liquid lens. The method then sends a request for eye-scan authentication from the mobile endpoint device over a network, wherein the request comprises the first retinal image.

Claims

1. A method for providing authentication in a network, comprising:

receiving a request for eye-scan authentication from a mobile endpoint device of a user, wherein the request comprises a first retinal image of the user captured using an adaptive liquid lens and a second lens of the mobile endpoint device, wherein the first retinal image of the user comprises a near-field image;

obtaining a second retinal image of the user, wherein the second retinal image is a stored retinal image of the user; and

authenticating the first retinal image against the second retinal image.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a positive response to the mobile endpoint device if the request for eye-scan authentication is successful; and

providing a negative response to the mobile endpoint device if the request for eye-scan authentication has failed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second lens comprises a fixed camera lens, wherein the adaptive liquid lens and the fixed camera lens are used to perform near field imaging.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile endpoint device comprises a mobile phone.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user is a subscriber of a network service provided by a service provider of the network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the authenticating is performed by the service provider.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the authenticating is performed by a third party.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile endpoint device uses infrared radiation for illumination of a retina of the user in capturing the first retinal image.

9. A method for providing authentication, comprising:

capturing a first retinal image of a user via a mobile endpoint device of the user, wherein the mobile endpoint device comprises an adaptive liquid lens and a second lens, wherein the first retinal image of the user comprises a near-field image; and

sending a request for eye-scan authentication from the mobile endpoint device over a network, wherein the request comprises the first retinal image.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a positive response over the network if the request for eye-scan authentication is successful; and

receiving a negative response over the network if the request for eye-scan authentication has failed.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the eye-scan authentication is performed by obtaining a second retinal image of the user, wherein the second retinal image is a stored retinal image of the user, and authenticating the first retinal image against the second retinal image.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the second lens comprises a fixed camera lens, wherein the adaptive liquid lens and the fixed camera lens are used to perform near field imaging.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the mobile endpoint device comprises a mobile phone.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the user is a subscriber of a network service provided by a service provider of the network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the request for eye-scan authentication is processed by the service provider.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the request for eye-scan authentication is processed by a third party.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the mobile endpoint device uses infrared radiation for illumination of a retina of the user in capturing the first retinal image.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for providing authentication, comprising:

capturing a first retinal image of a user via a mobile endpoint device of the user, wherein the mobile endpoint device comprises an adaptive liquid lens and a second lens, wherein the first retinal image of the user comprises a near-field image; and

sending a request for eye-scan authentication from the mobile endpoint device over a network, wherein the request comprises the first retinal image.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a positive response over the network if the request for eye-scan authentication is successful; and

receiving a negative response over the network if the request for eye-scan authentication has failed.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the eye-scan authentication is performed by obtaining a second retinal image of the user, wherein the second retinal image is a stored retinal image of the user, and authenticating the first retinal image against the second retinal image.