Device and method for authenticating a user

• US 9,632,574 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Guerrero, Marjorie, Kennedy, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): REVAK, CHRISTOPHER A
• Application Number:
  US13/665,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20140123258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent

Abstract

Certain aspects of a device and method for authenticating a user are disclosed. The device may display a first set of images and receive a user input. The received user input may comprise a set of gestures and a selection of a plurality of images from the first set of images in a pre-determined sequence. The selected plurality of images may be modified based on the set of gestures. The device compares the modified selected plurality of images with a second set of pre-stored images. The device may authenticate the user based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating a user, said method comprising:

displaying a first set of images on a device;

receiving a user input, wherein said received user input comprises;

a set of gestures,

a first selection for selecting a plurality of images from said first set of images in a pre-determined sequence based on said set of gestures, and

a second selection for modifying said selected plurality of images based on said set of gestures;

comparing said modified selected plurality of images with a second set of pre-stored images; and

authenticating said user based on said comparing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said device is one of:

a touch screen device, a tablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a touchpad device, a smartphone, or a desktop monitor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said set of gestures comprises one or more of:

hand gestures, finger gestures, facial gestures and/or body gestures.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said user input further comprises speech input for said first selection and said second selection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said modification of said selected plurality of images comprises one or more of:

rotating one or more of said selected plurality of images, flipping one or more of said selected plurality of images, clipping one or more of said selected plurality of images, and/or generating a collage of one or more of said selected plurality of images.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said collage is generated based on selection and combination of said one or more of said selected plurality of images in said pre-determined sequence, a position or a shape.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from said user said second set of pre-stored images during a configuration of said device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising storing in a memory, said second set of pre-stored images in said pre-determined sequence during said configuration of said device.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving from said user a degree of complexity for performing one or more activities during said configuration of said device,

wherein said degree of complexity depends upon a level of security required by said user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said authenticating comprises enabling said user to perform one or more activities, said one or more activities correspond to one or more of:

locking said device, locking one or more features of said device, locking one or more applications of said device, unlocking said device, unlocking one or more features of said device, unlocking one or more applications of said device, and/or launching one or more applications in said device.

11. A device for user authentication, said device comprising:

one or more processors in said device, said one or more processors being operable to;

display a first set of images on said device;

receive a user input, wherein said received user input comprises;

a set of gestures,

a first selection for selecting a plurality of images from said first set of images in a pre-determined sequence based on said set of gestures, and

a second selection for modifying said selected plurality of images based on said set of gestures;

compare said modified selected plurality of images with a second set of pre-stored images; and

authenticate said user based on said comparison.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said modification of said selected plurality of images comprises one or more of:

rotating one or more of said selected plurality of images, flipping one or more of said selected plurality of images, clipping one or more of said selected plurality of images, and/or generating a collage of one or more of said selected plurality of images.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said collage is generated based on selection and combination of said one or more of said selected plurality of images in a pre-determined sequence, a position or a shape.

14. A method for authenticating a user, said method comprising:

displaying a first set of images on a device and a pre-stored message;

receiving a user input, wherein said received user input comprises;

a set of gestures;

a first selection of a plurality of images from said first set of images in a pre-determined sequence based on said set of gestures and said pre-stored message displayed on said device; and

a second selection for modifying said selected plurality of images based on said set of gestures;

comparing a combination of said pre-stored message and said selected plurality of images with a combination of a plurality of pre-stored messages and a second set of pre-stored images; and

authenticating said user based on said comparing.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a plurality of images in said second set of pre-stored images are tagged with at least one of said plurality of pre-stored messages.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising associating at least one of said plurality of images in said second set of pre-stored images with said pre-stored message during a configuration of said device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said plurality of images in said second set of pre-stored images includes a plurality of personal images uploaded by said user.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said authenticating comprises enabling said user to perform one or more activities, said one or more activities correspond to one or more of:

locking said device, locking one or more features of said device, locking one or more applications of said device, unlocking said device, unlocking one or more features of said device, unlocking one or more applications of said device, and/or launching one or more applications of said device.