Tool and method for authenticating transactions
First Claim
1. A method for authentication on an electronic device having a capacitive touch sensor comprising:
- detecting, on the capacitive touch sensor, a first set of points of capacitively interactive contact resulting from proximity of a hardware tool to the capacitive touch sensor, wherein the hardware tool is not a human hand;
wherein the first set of points is arranged in a spatial pattern;
wherein detecting the first set of points comprises detecting the first set of points substantially simultaneously;
computing, from the first set of points, a first set of parametric descriptors;
generating a first comparison between the first set of parametric descriptors and a set of known parametric descriptors; and
authenticating an event on the electronic device based on the first comparison.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a hardware tool for interacting with an “intelligent device” such as a “smart phone,” e.g., Apple Corporation'"'"'s “iPhone”, or other devices with certain comparable capabilities, such as the Apple “iPad” tablet computer, and to a method for authorizing transactions based on successful interaction. More specifically, the invention relates to employment of a hardware tool having contact members for contacting the touch-sensitive screens of such devices at plural locations in specific spatial relation to one another. The device, running an application program or “app”, then detects the locations at which the screen has been thus contacted, and compares those locations to stored locations specific to a particular type of transaction, and, if the detected locations match a set of stored locations, authorizes the transaction to proceed.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for authentication on an electronic device having a capacitive touch sensor comprising:
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detecting, on the capacitive touch sensor, a first set of points of capacitively interactive contact resulting from proximity of a hardware tool to the capacitive touch sensor, wherein the hardware tool is not a human hand;
wherein the first set of points is arranged in a spatial pattern;
wherein detecting the first set of points comprises detecting the first set of points substantially simultaneously;computing, from the first set of points, a first set of parametric descriptors; generating a first comparison between the first set of parametric descriptors and a set of known parametric descriptors; and authenticating an event on the electronic device based on the first comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for authentication on an electronic device having a capacitive touch sensor comprising:
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detecting, on the capacitive touch sensor, a sequence of capacitively interactive contacts from a hardware tool, wherein the hardware tool is not a human hand, wherein the sequence of capacitively interactive contacts is characterized by a sequence length and by timings between contacts, wherein each capacitively interactive contact comprises a set of points of capacitively interactive contact arranged in a spatial pattern, wherein the spatial pattern has an orientation relative to the capacitive touch sensor; measuring a motion of the hardware tool during the sequence of capacitively interactive contacts; computing a set of parametric descriptors based upon the sequence of capacitively interactive contacts, the sequence length, the timings between contacts, the motion of the hardware tool, and each capacitively interactive contact;
wherein computing based upon each capacitively interactive contact comprises computing based upon the set of points of the capacitively interactive contact, the spatial pattern of the set of points, and the orientation of the spatial pattern;generating a comparison between the set of parametric descriptors and a set of known parametric descriptors; and
,authenticating an event on the electronic device based on the comparison.
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14. A hardware tool for authentication on an electronic device having a capacitive touch sensor, the hardware tool comprising:
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a dielectric substrate; a microprocessor; a set of conductive contact pads arranged in a spatial pattern on the dielectric substrate and connected to the microprocessor; memory storing a first sequence for switching the switches; and a hardware means for actuating the first sequence; wherein the set of conductive contact pads is configured to create a change in capacitance detectible by the capacitive touch sensor of the electronic device when the hardware tool is in proximity to and is oriented relative to the electronic device; wherein the microprocessor is configured to alter a capacitance of each of the set of conductive contact pads by controlling switches connected to each of the set of conductive contact pads. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification