System and method for providing secure access to an electronic device using both a screen gesture and facial biometrics

• US 8,627,096 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2012
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensible Vision Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sensible Vision Incorporated
• Inventors: Azar, Cyrus, Brostoff, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Zee, Edward
• Application Number:
  US13/550,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20130167212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 713/186, 713/182, 713/183, 726/34, 726/16, 726/26
• US Class Current: 713/186
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/70 Multimodal biometrics, e.g. combining information from different biometric modalities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/082 applying multi-factor authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication H04L9/32
• 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: H04N 7/002 Special television systems not provided for by H04N7/007 - H04N7/18 still pictures via a television channel H04N1/00098

Abstract

A system and method for providing secure authorization to an electronic device by combining two or more security features of authentication process at substantially the same time where at least one of the factors is a “tolerant” factor. By combining two factors such as a facial recognition any screen gesture, these can be analyzed at substantially the same time such that the tolerance match required by the tolerant factors providing a better user authentication experience without reducing the overall security accuracy.

Claims

1. A biometric recognition system for providing security for an electronic device comprising:

a digital camera having a field of view for providing at least one facial biometric image from a user of the electronic device;

at least one processor configured for use with the electronic device for;

comparing the at least one facial biometric image to both facial biometric image data and a user selected screen gesture stored in a database;

utilizing a first matching tolerance factor based on the at least one facial biometric image and a second matching tolerance factor based on the user selected screen gesture to authenticate the identity of the user; and

selecting a reduced strength of the first matching tolerance factor or second matching tolerance factor such that the strength of the first matching tolerance factor and second matching tolerance factor are used in combination by the at least one processor to provide access to the electronic device, without reducing the reliability of the authentication.

2. A facial biometric recognition system as in claim 1, wherein the screen gesture is a symbol continuously input from the user'"'"'s finger on a touch screen of the electronic device.

3. A facial biometric recognition system as in claim 1, wherein the screen gesture is a plurality of shape indicia entered on the touch screen in a predetermined sequence.

4. A facial biometric recognition system as in claim 3, wherein the plurality of shape indicia are arranged in a fixed or random grid pattern.

5. A facial biometric recognition system as in claim 1, wherein the selected screen gesture is a plurality of gestures each assigned different colors.

6. A biometric recognition system as in claim 1, wherein a predefined deviation from an entered biometric image to an exact match of a stored biometric image is utilized for providing ease of use of the electronic device.

7. A biometric recognition system as in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is one from the group of personal computer, tablet, mobile telephone or gaming device.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of facial biometric images provided from a digital imaging device input into a database;

storing a user selected screen gesture into the database;

providing a first matching tolerance factor based on the facial biometric images and a second matching tolerance factor based on the user selected screen gesture;

selecting a reduced strength of the first matching tolerance factor or second matching tolerance factor;

utilizing at least one processor in an electronic device for authenticating the identity of the user such that the strength of the first matching factor and second matching factor are used in combination by the at least one processor to provide access to the electronic device, without reducing the reliability of the authentication; and

inputting local or cloud based credentials into an application run on the electronic device if the user is authenticated.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium as in claim 8, further comprising the step of:

utilizing a predefined shape input on a touch screen as the selected screen gesture.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium as in claim 8, further comprising the step of:

utilizing a plurality of shape indicia entered on the touch screen in a predetermined sequence as the selected screen gesture.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium as in claim 10, further comprising the step of:

arranging the plurality of shape indicia in a fixed or random grid pattern.

12. A facial biometric recognition system as in claim 8, wherein the selected screen gesture is a plurality of gestures each assigned different colors.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium as in claim 8, further comprising the step of:

utilizing biometric images from at least one from the group of a facial image, finger print image or retinal image.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium as in claim 8, further comprising the step of:

selecting the electronic device that is from the group of personal computer, tablet, mobile telephone or gaming device.

15. A method for providing security to an electronic device comprising the steps of:

displaying an authentication screen;

providing data from at least one camera for providing facial biometric authentication data;

providing a first matching factor for the facial biometric authentication data;

providing at least one screen gesture to a touch screen display;

providing a second matching factor for the at least one screen gesture;

utilizing the first matching factor and second matching factor to determine if the biometric authentication data matches information stored in a cloud or database;

utilizing the second matching factor to determine if the at least one screen gesture matches a gesture stored in a cloud or database;

selecting a reduced strength of the first matching tolerance factor or second matching tolerance factor;

providing access to the electronic device upon entry of authentication credentials such that a predefined deviation from the first matching factor and second matching factor is used in combination for providing relaxed authentication of a user of the electronic device, without reducing the reliability of the authentication.

16. A method for providing security as in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

using a predefined shape input on the touch screen as the screen gesture.

17. A method for providing security as in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

using a plurality of shape indicia arranged in a predetermined pattern and entered on the electronic device in a predetermined sequence as the screen gesture.

18. A method for providing security as in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

using a plurality of identical gestures each assigned a different color entered in a predetermined sequence as the screen gesture.

19. A method for providing security as in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

selecting the electronic device that is from the group of personal computer, tablet, mobile telephone or gaming device.