Methods and systems for enrolling biometric data

• US 9,600,709 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2013
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Russo, Anthony P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhavesh
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEMIEUX, IAN L
• Application Number:
  US13/759,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20130272586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,505 Days
• Field of Search: 382/125, 382/124, 382/115, 340/5.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6272 by registering files or documents with a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/82 Protecting input, output or interconnection devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1335 Combining adjacent partial images (e.g. slices) to create a composite input or reference pattern; Tracking a sweeping finger movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/50 Maintenance of biometric data or enrolment thereof
• 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

Abstract

Methods and systems for enrolling biometric data that is easier to use and provides a more positive end user experience. Additionally, machine readable medium storing instructions configurable to achieve the results when executed by a computing device are also provided.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method of compiling an initial enrollment record, comprising:

automatically obtaining a plurality of fingerprint views during an initial enrollment process without providing an indication to a user that the plurality of fingerprint views are being obtained either before or during the initial enrollment process;

creating a user authentication record containing the plurality of fingerprint views;

determining whether the user authentication record of the plurality of fingerprint views reaches a target threshold value; and

concluding the method of compiling the initial enrollment record at least partially based on a threshold amount of time having passed since a beginning of the method of compiling the enrollment record and a sensing of fingerprint information from a different user from the plurality of fingerprint views.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically obtaining a plurality of fingerprint views during the initial enrollment process has a lower processing priority than normal operating functions of the computing device.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein normal operating functions of the computing device comprise turning the computing device on.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein normal operating functions of the computing device comprise launching an application.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the step of concluding the method of compiling the initial enrollment record is at least partially based on a threshold number of views being collected.

6. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

automatically obtain a plurality of fingerprint views during an initial enrollment process without providing an indication to a user that the plurality of fingerprint views are being obtained either before or during the initial enrollment process;

create a user authentication record containing the plurality of fingerprint views;

determine whether the user authentication record of the plurality of fingerprint views reaches a target threshold value; and

conclude the initial enrollment process at least partially based on a sensing of fingerprint information from a different user from the plurality of fingerprint views.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the initial enrollment process concludes at least partially based on a threshold amount of time having passed since a beginning of the initial enrollment process.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to perform the step automatically obtaining the plurality of fingerprint views during the initial enrollment process at a lower processing priority than normal operating functions of the processor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein normal operating functions of the processor comprise turning the processor on.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein normal operating functions of the processor comprise launching an application.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the user authentication record is created without providing an indication to the user that the user authentication record containing the plurality of fingerprint views is being created.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is associated with a device that is configured to be locked and may be unlocked upon receiving a user selected Personal Identification Number (PIN),

wherein the initial enrollment process is begun without providing an indication to the user that the initial enrollment process is being begun, and

wherein the initial enrollment process is begun when the user selected PIN is created to unlock the device.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the initial enrollment process is begun without providing an indication to the user that the initial enrollment process is being begun, wherein the initial enrollment process is begun after a welcome app.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the initial enrollment process is begun without providing an indication to the user that the initial enrollment process is being begun, wherein the initial enrollment process is begun and the plurality of fingerprint views are obtained at a pre-determined time after initial activation of a device associated with the processor.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein concluding the method of compiling the initial enrollment record is further at least partially based on a weighted combination of one or more of:

a target amount of an area of a fingerprint being collected, a threshold number of views being collected, and a threshold amount of time having passed since a beginning of the method of compiling the initial enrollment record.

16. A method of compiling an initial enrollment record, the method comprising:

automatically obtaining a plurality of fingerprint views during an initial enrollment process without providing an indication to a user that the plurality of fingerprint views are being obtained either before or during the initial enrollment process;

creating a user authentication record containing the plurality of fingerprint views;

determining whether the user authentication record of the plurality of fingerprint views reaches a target threshold value; and

concluding the compiling of the initial enrollment record upon identified criteria.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the identified criteria includes a target amount of an area of a fingerprint is collected.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the identified criteria includes a threshold number of views are collected.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the identified criteria includes a threshold amount of time has passed.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the identified criteria includes consistent fingerprint information is no longer sensed.