Embedded authentication systems in an electronic device

• US 9,329,771 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2014
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• 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:
  US14/311,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20140304809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 713/186
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

An electronic device with a display and a fingerprint sensor may authenticate a user for a respective function. While a respective function of the device is in a locked state, the device displays a graphical element on the display, the graphical element indicating a first direction of finger movement that enables unlocking of the respective function. While displaying the graphical element, the device detects an input that includes movement of a finger in the first direction over the fingerprint sensor and determines whether the input meets unlock criteria based at least in part on fingerprint information of the finger detected by the fingerprint sensor during the input. In accordance with a determination that the input meets the unlock criteria, the device unlocks the respective function; and in accordance with a determination that the input does not meet the unlock criteria, the device maintains the respective function in the locked state.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at an electronic device with a display and a biometric fingerprint sensor;

while a respective function of the device is in a locked state;

displaying a graphical element on the display, the graphical element indicating a first direction of finger movement that enables unlocking of the respective function; and

while displaying the graphical element, detecting an input that includes movement of a finger in the first direction over the biometric fingerprint sensor, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is located on the device at a location such that the finger moving from the graphical element in the first direction indicated by the graphical element will move over the biometric fingerprint sensor;

determining whether the input meets unlock criteria based at least in part on fingerprint information of the finger detected by the biometric fingerprint sensor during the input; and

in response to detecting the input;

 

in accordance with a determination that the input meets the unlock criteria, unlocking the respective function; and

 

in accordance with a determination that the input does not meet the unlock criteria, maintaining the respective function in the locked state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor detects the fingerprint information as the finger is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor in the first direction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor detects the fingerprint information as the finger is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor at a predetermined speed range.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is a one-dimensional sensor that detects the fingerprint information of the finger as the finger is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor along a first axis.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is embedded in the electronic device such that the biometric fingerprint sensor is not visible to a user of the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the input meets unlock criteria includes comparing the fingerprint information of the finger detected by the biometric fingerprint sensor with a library of fingerprint information that is pre-registered in the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fingerprint information is an image of a user'"'"'s skin pattern in a portion of the finger that is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the input includes an initial finger contact with the display on the graphical element and continuous movement of the finger contact, without breaking the contact with the device, in the first direction over the biometric fingerprint sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one visual characteristic of the graphical element is changed in accordance with the movement of the finger contact.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical element comprises a text.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is embedded in an input mechanism of the electronic device.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions for an electronic device with a display and a biometric fingerprint sensor, which when executed by the electronic device, cause the device to:

while a respective function of the device is in a locked state;

display a graphical element on the display, the graphical element indicating a first direction of finger movement that enables unlocking of the respective function; and

while displaying the graphical element, detect an input that includes movement of a finger in the first direction over the biometric fingerprint sensor, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is located on the device at a location such that the finger moving from the graphical element in the first direction indicated by the graphical element will move over the biometric fingerprint sensor;

determine whether the input meets unlock criteria based at least in part on fingerprint information of the finger detected by the biometric fingerprint sensor during the input; and

in response to detecting the input;

in accordance with a determination that the input meets the unlock criteria, unlock the respective function; and

in accordance with a determination that the input does not meet the unlock criteria, maintain the respective function in the locked state.

13. The medium of claim 12, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor detects the fingerprint information as the finger is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor in the first direction.

14. The medium of claim 12, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor detects the fingerprint information as the finger is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor at a predetermined speed range.

15. The medium of claim 12, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is a one-dimensional sensor operative to detect the fingerprint information of the finger as the finger is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor along a first axis.

16. The medium of claim 12, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is embedded in the electronic device such that the biometric fingerprint sensor is not visible to a user of the electronic device.

17. The medium of claim 12, wherein determining whether the input meets unlock criteria includes comparing the fingerprint information of the finger detected by the biometric fingerprint sensor with a library of fingerprint information that is pre-registered in the electronic device.

18. The medium of claim 17, wherein the fingerprint information is an image of a user'"'"'s skin pattern in a portion of the finger that is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor.

19. The medium of claim 12, wherein the input includes an initial finger contact with the display on the graphical element and continuous movement of the finger contact, without breaking the contact with the device, in the first direction over the biometric fingerprint sensor.

20. The medium of claim 12, wherein at least one visual characteristic of the graphical element is changed in accordance with the movement of the finger contact.

21. The medium of claim 12, wherein the graphical element comprises a text.

22. The medium of claim 12, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is embedded in an input mechanism of the electronic device.

23. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a biometric fingerprint sensor;

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 a respective function of the device is in a locked state;

displaying a graphical element on the display, the graphical element indicating a first direction of finger movement that enables unlocking of the respective function; and

while displaying the graphical element, detecting an input that includes movement of a finger in the first direction over the biometric fingerprint sensor, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is located on the device at a location such that the finger moving from the graphical element in the first direction indicated by the graphical element will move over the biometric fingerprint sensor;

determining whether the input meets unlock criteria based at least in part on fingerprint information of the finger detected by the biometric fingerprint sensor during the input; and

in response to detecting the input;

in accordance with a determination that the input meets the unlock criteria, unlocking the respective function; and

in accordance with a determination that the input does not meet the unlock criteria, maintaining the respective function in the locked state.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor detects the fingerprint information as the finger is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor in the first direction.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor detects the fingerprint information as the finger is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor at a predetermined speed range.

26. The device of claim 23, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is a one-dimensional sensor operative to detect the fingerprint information of the finger as the finger is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor along a first axis.

27. The device of claim 23, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is embedded in the electronic device such that the biometric fingerprint sensor is not visible to a user of the electronic device.

28. The device of claim 23, wherein determining whether the input meets unlock criteria includes comparing the fingerprint information of the finger detected by the biometric fingerprint sensor with a library of fingerprint information that is pre-registered in the electronic device.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the fingerprint information is an image of a user'"'"'s skin pattern in a portion of the finger that is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor.

30. The device of claim 23, wherein the input includes an initial finger contact with the display on the graphical element and continuous movement of the finger contact, without breaking the contact with the device, in the first direction over the biometric fingerprint sensor.

31. The device of claim 23, wherein at least one visual characteristic of the graphical element is changed in accordance with the movement of the finger contact.

32. The device of claim 23, wherein the graphical element comprises a text.

33. The device of claim 23, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is embedded in an input mechanism of the electronic device.