Biometric Initiated Communication

• US 20170315651A1
• Filed: 07/17/2017
• Published: 11/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Han, Byron B., Marciniak, Craig A., Wright, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,359,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A device has a touch processing module that processes touch screen input to determine if the manner in which the input was entered indicates that the user intends for execution of a particular command. In one embodiment, the module may acquire fingerprint data from the user'"'"'s input and analyze the data to determine if the input was entered with a particular finger or finger sequence. In another embodiment, the module may also acquire timing data from the user'"'"'s entry of a plurality of inputs and analyze the timing data to determine if the touch screen input was entered with a particular timing or cadence. In still another embodiment, the module may also acquire force data from the user'"'"'s entry of a plurality of touch screen inputs and analyze the force data to determine to determine if the touch screen input was entered with a particular force.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method comprising:

receiving a set of individual touch inputs at a touch screen of an electronic device;

acquiring fingerprint data from one or more fingers used to enter the set of individual touch inputs;

determining timing data comprising one or more time intervals between individual touch inputs of the set of individual touch inputs;

analyzing the timing data to determine if the set of individual touch inputs was entered with a particular timing sequence; and

responsive to determining that the set of individual touch inputs was entered with the particular timing sequence, executing a predetermined, user-specified command.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising, responsive to determining that the set of individual touch inputs was not entered with the particular timing sequence, executing an explicit command that is indicated by the set of individual touch inputs.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined, user-specified command is a stealth command to be executed by the electronic device without any apparent indication that the stealth command is being executed.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the method further comprises:

responsive to determining that the set of individual touch inputs was entered with the particular timing sequence;

executing a command that is indicated by the set of individual touch inputs; and

executing the stealth command without outputting an indication that the stealth command is executing.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein:

the stealth command is a panic command;

executing the panic command includes sending a communication to emergency services; and

the communication to emergency services includes at least one of transmitting a geographic location of the electronic device or transmitting streaming audio or video from the electronic device.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein a user of the electronic device has specified that the predetermined, user-specified command be executed responsive to the electronic device receiving an input with the particular timing sequence.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining force data indicating an amount of force applied to the touch screen by the one or more fingers used to enter the set of individual touch inputs;

analyzing the force data to determine if the set of individual touch inputs was entered with a particular amount of force; and

responsive to determining that the set of individual touch inputs was entered with the particular amount of force, executing the predetermined, user-specified command.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein a user of the electronic device has specified that the predetermined, user-specified command be executed responsive to the electronic device receiving an input with the particular timing sequence and the particular amount of force.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

analyzing the fingerprint data to determine if the set of individual touch inputs was entered with a particular finger or sequence of fingers; and

responsive to determining that the set of individual touch inputs was entered with the particular finger or sequence of fingers, executing the predetermined, user-specified command.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein a user of the electronic device has specified that the predetermined, user-specified command be executed responsive to the electronic device receiving an input with the particular timing sequence and the particular finger or sequence of fingers.

31. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a processor;

a touch screen operably coupled to the processor, the touch screen adapted to receive a set of individual touch inputs;

a fingerprint sensor operably coupled to the processor and to the touch screen, the fingerprint sensor adapted to acquire fingerprint data for one or more fingers used to enter the set of individual touch inputs; and

a touch processing module adapted to;

determine timing data one or more time intervals between individual touch inputs of the set of individual touch inputs; and

analyze the timing data to determine if the set of individual touch inputs was entered with a particular timing sequence;

wherein;

the processor is adapted to, responsive to determining that the set of individual touch inputs was entered with the particular timing sequence, execute a predetermined, user-specified command.

32. The mobile communication device of claim 31, wherein the processor is further adapted to, responsive to determining that the set of individual touch inputs was not entered with the particular timing sequence, execute an explicit command that is indicated by the set of individual touch inputs.

33. The mobile communication device of claim 31, wherein the predetermined, user-specified command is a stealth command to be executed by the processor without any apparent indication that the stealth command is being executed.

34. The mobile communication device of claim 33, wherein the processor is further adapted to:

responsive to determining that the set of individual touch inputs was entered with the particular timing sequence;

execute a command that is indicated by the set of individual touch inputs; and

execute the stealth command without outputting an indication that the stealth command is executing.

35. The mobile communication device of claim 31, wherein:

the touch processing module is further adapted to;

determine force data indicating an amount of force applied to the touch screen by the one or more fingers used to enter the set of individual touch inputs; and

analyze the force data to determine if the set of individual touch inputs was entered with a particular amount of force; and

the processor is further adapted to, responsive to determining that the set of individual touch inputs was entered with the particular amount of force, execute the predetermined, user-specified command.

36. The mobile communication device of claim 31, wherein a user of the electronic device has specified that the predetermined, user-specified command be executed responsive to the electronic device receiving an input with the particular timing sequence.

37. A method comprising:

receiving a set of individual touch inputs at a touch screen of an electronic device;

acquiring fingerprint data from one or more fingers used to enter the set of individual touch inputs;

determining force data indicating an amount of force applied to the touch screen by the one or more fingers used to enter the set of individual touch inputs;

analyzing the force data to determine if the set of individual touch inputs was entered with a particular amount of force; and

responsive to determining that the set of individual touch inputs was entered with the particular amount of force, executing the predetermined, user-specified command.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

analyzing the fingerprint data to determine if the set of individual touch inputs was entered with a particular finger or sequence of fingers; and

responsive to determining that the set of individual touch inputs was entered with the particular finger or sequence of fingers, executing the predetermined, user-specified command.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the method further comprises:

responsive to determining that the set of individual touch inputs was entered with the particular amount of force;

executing a command that is indicated by the set of individual touch inputs; and

executing the stealth command without outputting an indication that the stealth command is executing.

39. The method of claim 39, wherein a user of the electronic device has specified that the predetermined, user-specified command be executed responsive to the electronic device receiving an input with the particular amount of force.