Electro-biometric authentication

• US 9,672,339 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2012
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Lange, Daniel H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Luu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baum, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US13/711,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20140165184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: 726 19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints

Abstract

Electro-biometric data obtained from a user of a processor-based device may be used to authenticate that user. In some cases, no special action may need to be taken to initiate authentication.

Claims

1. A computer executed method comprising:

acquiring heartbeat data, using an electrocardiogram (EKG)-based biometric apparatus, from electro-physiological signals belonging to an individual to establish a statistical norm for said individual, said statistical norm based on acquired heartbeat data to establish baseline heartbeat data for the individual;

authenticating said individual based on newly acquired heartbeat data captured during a subsequent authentication;

determining if said newly acquired heartbeat data is a deviation from said statistical norm belonging to the individual, wherein said deviation from said statistical norm is defined as a change exceeding a certain statistical norm threshold, wherein said statistical norm threshold is calculated as representing a value with a statistical probability, wherein said deviation is a difference from said statistical norm that has occurred a number of times indicative of less than a 5% chance that the deviation from said statistical norm is not physiologically based and is only due to random chance;

keeping track of the number of said deviations beyond said statistical norm over time;

keeping track of the number of times the individual has been authenticated over said time;

determining a threshold frequency based on a number of said deviations with respect to a number of authentications over said time, wherein said number of said deviations is at least two;

revising said statistical norm when the number of deviations exceeds the threshold frequency; and

subsequently authenticating said individual using the revised statistical norm and subsequently acquired heartbeat data.

2. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions to implement a sequence comprising:

acquiring heartbeat data, using an electrocardiogram (EKG)-based biometric apparatus, from electro-physiological signals belonging to an individual to establish a statistical norm for said individual, said statistical norm based on acquired heartbeat data to establish baseline heartbeat data for the individual;

authenticating said individual based on newly acquired heartbeat data captured during a subsequent authentication;

determining if said newly acquired heartbeat data is a deviation from said statistical norm belonging to the individual, wherein said deviation from said statistical norm is defined as a change exceeding a certain statistical norm threshold, wherein said statistical norm threshold is calculated as representing a value with a statistical probability, wherein said deviation is a difference from said statistical norm that has occurred a number of times indicative of less than a 5% chance that the deviation from said statistical norm is not physiologically based and is only due to random chance;

keeping track of the number of said deviations beyond said statistical norm over time;

keeping track of the number of times the individual has been authenticated over said time;

determining a threshold frequency based on a number of deviations with respect to a number of authentications over said time, wherein said number of said deviations is at least two;

revising said statistical norm when the number of deviations exceeds the threshold frequency; and

subsequently authenticating said individual using the revised statistical norm and subsequently acquired heartbeat data.

3. The media of claim 2 further storing instructions to implement a sequence including calculating deviations in said data from standard statistical norms belonging to the individual, where the standard statistical norms are established and adjusted periodically when the individual performs an authentication transaction using a data-based biometric apparatus.

4. An apparatus comprising:

a pair of electrodes; and

an electrocardiogram (EKG)-based biometric apparatus coupled to said electrodes to acquire electro-physiological signals from an individual to establish a statistical norm for said individual, said statistical norm based on acquired heartbeat data to establish baseline heartbeat data for the individual, to authenticate that individual based on newly acquired heartbeat data captured during a subsequent authentication, determining if said newly acquired heartbeat data is a deviation from said statistical norm belonging to the individual, wherein said deviation from said statistical norm is defined as a change exceeding a certain statistical norm threshold, wherein said statistical norm threshold is calculated as representing a value with a statistical probability, wherein said deviation is a difference from said statistical norm that has occurred a number of times indicative of less than a 5% chance that the deviation from said statistical norm is not physiologically based and is only due to random chance, keep track of the number of said deviations beyond said statistical norm over time;

keep track of the number of times the individual has been authenticated over said time, determine a threshold frequency based on a number of said deviations with respect to a number of authentications over said time, wherein said number of said deviations is at least two, revise said statistical norm when the number of deviations exceeds the threshold frequency; and

subsequently authenticating said individual using the revised statistical norm and subsequently acquired heartbeat data.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 said EKG-based biometric apparatus to calculate deviations in said data from standard statistical norms belonging to the individual, where the standard statistical norms are established and adjusted periodically when the individual performs an authentication transaction using a data-based biometric apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 in the form of a computer.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 in the form of a cellular telephone.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 in the form of a television remote control.