Embedded authentication systems in an electronic device

• US 8,782,775 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2008
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony, Hodge, Andrew, Schell, Stephan, Caballero, Ruben, Dorogusker, Jesse Lee, Zadesky, Stephen, Sanford, Emery
• Primary Examiner(s): Gergiso, Techane
• Application Number:
  US12/207,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20090083847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 Days
• Field of Search: 726/16, 726/19
• US Class Current: 726/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/316 by observing the pattern of computer usage, e.g. typical user behaviour
• 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: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• 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 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1312 direct reading, e.g. contactless acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/165 using facial parts and geometric relationships
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/67 by interactive indications to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2358/00 Arrangements for display data security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity 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: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3231 Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 : using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

This invention is directed to an electronic device with an embedded authentication system for restricting access to device resources. The authentication system may include one or more sensors operative to detect biometric information of a user. The sensors may be positioned in the device such that the sensors may detect appropriate biometric information as the user operates the device, without requiring the user to perform a step for providing the biometric information (e.g., embedding a fingerprint sensor in an input mechanism instead of providing a fingerprint sensor in a separate part of the device housing). In some embodiments, the authentication system may be operative to detect a visual or temporal pattern of inputs to authenticate a user. In response to authenticating, a user may access restricted files, applications (e.g., applications purchased by the user), or settings (e.g., application settings such as contacts or saved game profile).

Claims

1. A method for authenticating a user of an electronic device, comprising:

while access to one or more resources of the electronic device is restricted;

displaying a plurality of shapes on a display of the electronic device;

receiving a user selection that includes detecting a plurality of inputs selecting a subset of the plurality of shapes displayed on the display of the electronic device;

while receiving the user selection, detecting time delays between consecutive inputs in the plurality of inputs;

after receiving the user selection, determining whether the selected subset of the plurality of shapes meet visual pattern criteria based on which shapes in the plurality of shapes were selected and whether the user selection meets temporal pattern criteria based on one or more time delays between inputs in the plurality of inputs; and

in response to the determining;

in accordance with a determination that the user selection meets the visual pattern criteria and the temporal pattern criteria, providing access to the one or more restricted resources; and

in accordance with a determination that the user selection does not meet both the visual pattern criteria and the temporal pattern criteria, forgoing providing access to the one or more restricted resources.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the user selection of the plurality of shapes includes receiving concurrent selection of two or more shapes in the subset of the plurality of shapes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the user selection of the plurality of shapes includes receiving sequential selection of two or more shapes in the subset of the plurality of shapes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of the plurality of shapes comprises a number of shapes in the range of 4 to 8.

5. The method of claim 1, including, in accordance with a determination that the user selection does not meet both the visual pattern criteria and the temporal pattern criteria, changing the distribution of the displayed shapes on the display.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the subset of the plurality of shapes includes a first shape, a second shape and a third shape;

the user selection includes selecting the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape in that order; and

the temporal pattern criteria include a criterion that is met when there is a first time delay between selection of the first shape and selection of the second shape and there is a second time delay, longer than the first time delay, between selection of the second shape and selection of the third shape.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the subset of the plurality of shapes includes a first shape, a second shape and a third shape;

the user selection includes selecting the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape; and

the temporal pattern criteria include a criterion that is met when the second shape and the third shape are selected simultaneously and there is a pause between selecting the first shape and the simultaneous selection of the second and third shapes.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

while access to one or more resources of the electronic device is restricted;

displaying a plurality of shapes on the display of the electronic device;

receiving a user selection that includes detecting a plurality of inputs selecting a subset of the plurality of shapes displayed on the display of the electronic device;

while receiving the user selection, detecting time delays between consecutive inputs in the plurality of inputs;

after receiving the user selection, determining whether the selected subset of the plurality of shapes meet visual pattern criteria based on which shapes in the plurality of shapes were selected and whether the user selection meets temporal pattern criteria based on one or more time delays between inputs in the plurality of inputs; and

in response to the determining;

in accordance with a determination that the user selection meets the visual pattern criteria and the temporal pattern criteria, providing access to the one or more restricted resources; and

in accordance with a determination that the user selection does not meet both the visual pattern criteria and the temporal pattern criteria, forgoing providing access to the one or more restricted resources.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein each input of the plurality of inputs comprises a touch on the touch-sensitive display.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein each input of the plurality of inputs comprises a movement of one or more fingers of the user on the touch-sensitive display.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein receiving the user selection of the plurality of shapes includes receiving concurrent selection of two or more shapes in the subset of the plurality of shapes.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein receiving the user selection of the plurality of shapes includes receiving sequential selection of two or more shapes in the subset of the plurality of shapes.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for, in accordance with a determination that the user selection does not meet both the visual pattern criteria and the temporal pattern criteria, changing the distribution of the displayed shapes on the display.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein:

the subset of the plurality of shapes includes a first shape, a second shape and a third shape;

the user selection includes selecting the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape in that order; and

the temporal pattern criteria include a criterion that is met when there is a first time delay between selection of the first shape and selection of the second shape and there is a second time delay, longer than the first time delay, between selection of the second shape and selection of the third shape.

15. The device of claim 8, wherein:

the subset of the plurality of shapes includes a first shape, a second shape and a third shape;

the user selection includes selecting the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape; and

the temporal pattern criteria include a criterion that is met when the second shape and the third shape are selected simultaneously and there is a pause between selecting the first shape and the simultaneous selection of the second and third shapes.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the device to:

while access to one or more resources of the electronic device is restricted;

display a plurality of shapes on a display of the electronic device;

receive a user selection that includes detecting a plurality of inputs selecting a first subset of the plurality of shapes displayed on the display of the electronic device;

after receiving the user selection, determine meet visual pattern criteria based on which shapes in the plurality of shapes were selected and whether the user selection meets temporal pattern criteria based on one or more time delays between inputs in the plurality of inputs; and

in response to the determining;

in accordance with a determination that the user selection meets the visual pattern criteria and the temporal pattern criteria, provide access to the one or more restricted resources; and

in accordance with a determination that the user selection does not meet both the visual pattern criteria and the temporal pattern criteria, forgo providing access to the one or more restricted resources.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein receiving the user selection of the plurality of shapes includes receiving concurrent selection of two or more shapes in the subset of the plurality of shapes.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein receiving the user selection of the plurality of shapes includes receiving sequential selection of two or more shapes in the subset of the plurality of shapes.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs include instructions which, when executed, cause the device to, in accordance with a determination that the user selection does not meet both the visual pattern criteria and the temporal pattern criteria, change the distribution of the displayed shapes on the display.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein:

the subset of the plurality of shapes includes a first shape, a second shape and a third shape;

the user selection includes selecting the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape in that order; and

the temporal pattern criteria include a criterion that is met when there is a first time delay between selection of the first shape and selection of the second shape and there is a second time delay, longer than the first time delay, between selection of the second shape and selection of the third shape.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein:

the subset of the plurality of shapes includes a first shape, a second shape and a third shape;

the user selection includes selecting the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape; and

the temporal pattern criteria include a criterion that is met when the second shape and the third shape are selected simultaneously and there is a pause between selecting the first shape and the simultaneous selection of the second and third shapes.