Embedded authentication systems in an electronic device

• US 10,956,550 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2019
• Issued: 03/23/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M., Hodge, Andrew Bert, Schell, Stephan V., Caballero, Ruben, Dorogusker, Jesse Lee, Zadesky, Stephen Paul, Sanford, Emery
• Primary Examiner(s): Gergiso, Techane
• Application Number:
  US16/386,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20190243957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• 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

This invention is directed to an electronic device with an embedded authentication system for restricting access to device resources. The authentication system may include one or more sensors operative to detect biometric information of a user. The sensors may be positioned in the device such that the sensors may detect appropriate biometric information as the user operates the device, without requiring the user to perform a step for providing the biometric information (e.g., embedding a fingerprint sensor in an input mechanism instead of providing a fingerprint sensor in a separate part of the device housing). In some embodiments, the authentication system may be operative to detect a visual or temporal pattern of inputs to authenticate a user. In response to authenticating, a user may access restricted files, applications (e.g., applications purchased by the user), or settings (e.g., application settings such as contacts or saved game profile).

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a fingerprint sensor in the display;

one or more processors;

memory storing one or more programs 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 location of the fingerprint sensor in the display, wherein displaying the graphical element on the display includes highlighting an outline of the location of the fingerprint sensor in the display;

while displaying the graphical element, detecting an input with the fingerprint sensor;

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

in response to detecting the input;

in accordance with a determination that the input meets 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 electronic device of claim 1, wherein the outline of the location of the fingerprint sensor is temporarily highlighted in accordance with a determination that the user has a difficulty providing a suitable fingerprint to the fingerprint sensor.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor has higher density of capacitive sensors than other regions of the touch-sensitive display.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is underneath a display stack of the touch-sensitive display.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises an existing component of a display stack of the touch-sensitive display.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is a two dimensional fingerprint sensor that is configured to obtain the fingerprint information from a stationary finger input at the location of the fingerprint sensor in the display.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises one or more types of a capacitive sensor, an optical sensor, a sonar sensor, a radio-frequency sensor, a pulse-detecting sensor, and a heat sensor.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor has a different type of capacitive sensor arrays compared to other regions of the display.

9. A method comprising:

at an electronic device with a display and a fingerprint sensor in the display;

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

displaying a graphical element on the display, the graphical element indicating a location of the fingerprint sensor in the display, wherein displaying the graphical element on the display includes highlighting an outline of the location of the fingerprint sensor in the display;

while displaying the graphical element, detecting an input with the fingerprint sensor;

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

in response to detecting the input;

in accordance with a determination that the input meets 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.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the outline of the location of the fingerprint sensor is temporarily highlighted in accordance with a determination that the user has a difficulty providing a suitable fingerprint to the fingerprint sensor.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the fingerprint sensor has higher density of capacitive sensors than other regions of the touch-sensitive display.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the fingerprint sensor is underneath a display stack of the touch-sensitive display.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises an existing component of a display stack of the touch-sensitive display.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the fingerprint sensor is a two dimensional fingerprint sensor that is configured to obtain the fingerprint information from a stationary finger input at the location of the fingerprint sensor in the display.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises one or more types of a capacitive sensor, an optical sensor, a sonar sensor, a radio-frequency sensor, a pulse-detecting sensor, and a heat sensor.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the fingerprint sensor has a different type of capacitive sensor arrays compared to other regions of the display.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a display screen and a fingerprint sensor in the display, 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 location of the fingerprint sensor in the display, wherein displaying the graphical element on the display includes highlighting an outline of the location of the fingerprint sensor in the display;

while displaying the graphical element, detecting an input with the fingerprint sensor;

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

in response to detecting the input;

in accordance with a determination that the input meets 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 that the user input includes a typographical error, correcting the displayed user input.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the outline of the location of the fingerprint sensor is temporarily highlighted in accordance with a determination that the user has a difficulty providing a suitable fingerprint to the fingerprint sensor.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the fingerprint sensor has higher density of capacitive sensors than other regions of the touch-sensitive display.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the fingerprint sensor is underneath a display stack of the touch-sensitive display.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises an existing component of a display stack of the touch-sensitive display.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the fingerprint sensor is a two dimensional fingerprint sensor that is configured to obtain the fingerprint information from a stationary finger input at the location of the fingerprint sensor in the display.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises one or more types of a capacitive sensor, an optical sensor, a sonar sensor, a radio-frequency sensor, a pulse-detecting sensor, and a heat sensor.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the fingerprint sensor has a different type of capacitive sensor arrays compared to other regions of the display.