ARRANGEMENTS FOR IDENTIFYING USERS IN A MULTI-TOUCH SURFACE ENVIRONMENT

• US 20140259151A1
• Filed: 03/25/2014
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Do, Lydia M., Nesbitt, Pamela A., DeLuca, Lisa Seacat
• Granted Patent: US 9,171,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/16
• 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 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Arrangements to identify, in some form, multiple participants by an interactive surface system utilizing multi-touch technology are disclosed. The interactive surface system could identify, authorize, and allocate space on a surface for a participant based on identifying at least one attribute of the participant such as an object associated with the participant. The method can include searching for a first distinctive attribute of the participant, assigning an identifier to the attribute,. and storing the identifier for future use. Other embodiments are also disclosed.”

Support for the directly above amendment can be found, inherently or otherwise, at least in the Abstract, as originally filed, and elsewhere in the Specification.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method comprising the steps of:

detecting a presence of an entity proximate to a multi-touch interactive surface, wherein the entity is a participant in a multi-participant activity supported by the multi-touch interactive surface;

scanning for an attribute of the entity, wherein the attribute is one of i) a mobile device attribute or ii) a camera attribute;

acquiring the attribute of the entity;

assigning an identifier to the attribute based on the attribute; and

storing the identifier for authenticating the entity.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the attribute is a mobile device attribute of the entity residing on a mobile device of the entity.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the mobile device attribute is a cell phone desktop background of the entity.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the identifier is based on the mobile device attribute and a location of the entity relative to the multi-touch interactive surface.

25. The method according to claim 24 further comprising the step of:

authenticating the entity based on the identifier.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the attribute is a camera attribute of a camera of the entity.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the camera attribute is a last photo taken by the camera.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the identifier is based on the camera attribute and a location of the entity relative to the multi-touch interactive surface.

29. The method according to claim 28 further comprising the step of:

authenticating the entity based on the identifier.

30. A system comprising:

a multi-touch interactive surface;

an identifier module coupled to the multi-touch interactive surface to identify an attribute of an entity that is proximate to the interactive surface via an electromagnetic signal from the entity, wherein the entity is a participant in a multi-participant activity supported by the multi-touch interactive surface;

memory coupled to the multi-touch interactive surface to store data on attributes of entities;

a compare module coupled to the identifier module to compare the identified attribute to the stored data on attributes and to determine a presence of the attribute in the memory; and

an assignment module to assign an identifier to the identified attribute when the identifier is absent from the memory, wherein the identifier is based on the identified attribute, and wherein the attribute is one of i) a mobile device attribute or ii) a camera attribute.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the attribute is a mobile device attribute of the entity residing on a mobile device of the entity.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein the mobile device attribute is a cell phone desktop background of the entity.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the identifier is based on the mobile device attribute and a location of the entity relative to the multi-touch interactive surface.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the attribute is a camera attribute of a camera of the entity.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the camera attribute is a last photo taken by the camera.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the identifier is based on the camera attribute and a location of the entity relative to the multi-touch interactive surface.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the identifier is for authenticating the entity.

38. An article of manufacture tangibly embodying computer-readable instructions which, when implemented cause a computer to carry out the steps of a method, comprising the steps of:

detecting a presence of an entity proximate to a multi-touch interactive surface, wherein the entity is a participant in a multi-participant activity supported by the multi-touch interactive surface;

scanning for an attribute of the entity, wherein the attribute is one of i) a mobile device attribute or ii) a camera attribute;

acquiring the attribute of the entity;

assigning an identifier to the attribute based on the attribute; and

storing the identifier for authenticating the entity.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the attribute is a mobile device attribute of the entity residing on a mobile device of the entity, wherein the mobile device attribute is a cell phone desktop background of the entity, wherein the identifier is based on the mobile device attribute and a location of the entity relative to the multi-touch interactive surface, and wherein the method further comprises he step of:

authenticating the entity based on the identifier.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the attribute is a camera attribute of a camera of the entity, wherein the camera attribute is a last photo taken by the camera, wherein the identifier is based on the camera attribute and a location of the entity relative to the multi-touch interactive surface, and wherein the method further comprises the step of:

authenticating the entity based on the identifier.