Method for controlling user access to an electronic device

• US 9,910,974 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2017
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: McKeeth, James
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFFMAN, BRANDON S
• Application Number:
  US15/417,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20170140142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• 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 21/40 by quorum, i.e. whereby two or more security principals are required
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints

Abstract

A method and system for authenticating a user to access a computer system. The method comprises communicating security information to the computer system, and providing the computer system with an implicit input. The method further comprises determining whether the security information and implicit input match corresponding information associated with the user. The method further comprises granting the user access to the computer system in the event of a satisfactory match. When authenticating the user, the method and system consider the possibility of the user being legitimate but subject to duress or force by a computer hacker.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

granting, with an access system of an apparatus comprising memory storing at least one file and a processing circuit, limited access to the at least one file when the processing circuit detects a geometric pattern performed by a user in a specified direction on a touch screen of the apparatus; and

granting, with the access system, additional access to the at least one file when the processing circuit determines one or more of a physical feature sensed by a sensing device of the apparatus matches a known physical feature, and a password entered by the user on the touch screen matches a known password.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the physical feature is a fingerprint, a retina, or a voice.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising, when the access system receives touch screen input data determined from the user'"'"'s touch and representing the user-performed geometric pattern, using the touch screen input data to detect the user-performed geometric pattern.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, when the access system receives data representative of the sensed physical feature, using the data representative of the sensed physical feature to determine if the sensed physical feature matches the known physical feature.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, when the access system receives data representative of the user-entered password, using the data representative of the user-entered password to determine if the user-entered password matches the known password.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the geometric pattern is a line.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving data representative of the user-performed geometric pattern as a first user-interactive step after the apparatus is deactivated and reactivated.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving data representative of the sensed physical feature as a first user-interactive step after the apparatus is deactivated and reactivated.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving data representative of user-entered password as a first user-interactive step after the apparatus is deactivated and reactivated.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the limited access is read-only access.

11. A method comprising:

granting, with a user access system comprising memory storing at least a first file and a second file and a processing circuit, limited access to the first file without granting access to the second file in response to a user performing, on a touch screen of the apparatus, a geometric pattern in a predetermined direction that is detected by the user access system; and

granting, with the user access system, additional access to the first file and access to the second file in response to at least one matching event, the at least one matching event selected from the group consisting of a match, determined by the user access system, between an acquired fingerprint acquired from a fingerprint acquisition device of the apparatus and a known fingerprint, and a match, determined by the user access system, between a password entered by the user on the touch screen and a known password.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the memory further stores one or more of data representative of the known fingerprint and data representative of the known password.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving touch screen input data determined from the user'"'"'s touch and representing the user-performed geometric pattern; and

using the touch screen input data to detect the user-performed geometric pattern.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving data representative of the acquired fingerprint; and

using the data representative of the acquired fingerprint to determine if the acquired fingerprint matches the known fingerprint.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving data representative of the user-entered password; and

using the data representative of the user-entered password to determine if the user-entered password matches the known password.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the geometric pattern is a line, a circle, or a rectangle.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving data representative of the user-performed geometric pattern as a first user-interactive step after the apparatus is deactivated and reactivated.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving data representative of the acquired fingerprint as a first user-interactive step after the apparatus is deactivated and reactivated.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving data representative of the user-entered password as a first user-interactive step after the apparatus is deactivated and reactivated.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the limited access is read-only access.