User identification in cell phones based on skin contact

• US 8,913,991 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pratt, James, Everett, Sarah, Sullivan, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Obayanju, Omoniyi
• Application Number:
  US12/205,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20100042827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,293 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 713/186
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• 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: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and methodology that can customize screen time-outs on a portable electronic device based on user activity is provided. The system employs a sensing component that receives data from one or more sensors located on the portable electronic device, for example, skin conductivity sensors. The sensing component determines whether the user is using the portable device, either actively or passively and also determines the identity of the user. A configuring component is employed to change one or more features or functions of the portable electronic device based on the information determined by the sensing component. In particular, the configuring component changes one of more features of the portable electronic device based on the preferences predefined by the identified user and device usage (active and passive usage).

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a skin conductivity sensor, located on a rear surface of an electronic device, that collects user touch data;

a sensing component that identifies that the electronic device is not being actively utilized and not being passively utilized based on an analysis of the user touch data;

an identification component that determines an identity of a user that last utilized the electronic device based on measurement information obtained by a thermal sensor on the electronic device; and

a configuration component that initiates a display time-out of the electronic device in response to a determination by the sensing component that the electronic device is neither actively nor passively being utilized, wherein the display time-out is customized based at least in part on the identity.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising;

a current setting component that modifies a speaker volume of the electronic device based in part on the identity and in response to the determination by the sensing component that the electronic device is neither actively nor passively being utilized.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data store that receives preference data associated with the user during an initial setup, wherein the preference data is utilized to customize the display time-out.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the skin conductivity sensor is located below a key on the electronic device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a time-out determining component that controls the display time-out based on a preference of the user.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the user is a first user and the preference is a first preference, and wherein the time-out determining component activates a display screen of the electronic device based on a second preference of a second user, in response to detection that the electronic device is being utilized by the second user.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a current mode determining component configured to select a current mode of operation of the electronic device from a sleep, stand by, low power, and normal operation mode, based on the identity and usage data associated with the electronic device.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a machine learning component configured to employ an artificial intelligence technique to determine a current setting of the electronic device preferred by the user.

9. A method, comprising:

determining, by a system comprising at least one processor, that a mobile device is not being used including determining the mobile device is not being actively used and determining that the mobile device is not being passively used, wherein the determining includes analyzing user touch data that is received from a set of skin conductivity sensors located on a rear surface of the mobile device;

identifying, by the system, an identity of a user that last used the mobile device based on measurement information recorded by a thermal sensor on the mobile device; and

initiating, by the system, a display time-out of the mobile device that is customized for the user, based in part on a preference associated with the identity, and in response to the determining.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the initiating includes selecting between a sleep, stand by, low power, and normal operation mode based on the preference.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the user is a first user and the identity is a first identity, and the method further comprises:

detecting, by the system, that a second user is employing the mobile device;

terminating, by the system, the display time-out in response to the detecting that the second user is employing the mobile device; and

changing, by the system, a setting of a feature the mobile device based on a second identity of the second user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

verifying, by the system, an authorization of the second user to employ the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

denying, by the system, the second user access to the mobile device, in response to the verifying being unsuccessful.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the changing includes changing the setting of the feature of the mobile device, in response to the verifying being successful.

15. A non transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a system to perform operations, comprising:

receiving sensor data from a set of skin conductivity sensors located on a rear surface of a portable electronic device;

analyzing the sensor data to determine that the portable electronic device is not being passively used;

determining an identity of a user that last utilized the portable electronic device based on measurement information recorded by a thermal sensor on the portable electronic device; and

initiating a display screen time-out the portable electronic device that is customized for the user, based in part on a preference associated with the identity and in response to the analyzing.

16. The non transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

sensing contact of skin of the user with the portable electronic device to facilitate the determining.

17. The non transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining an authorization of the user to employ the portable electronic device.

18. The non transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

prohibiting the user access to the portable electronic device, in response to determining that the user is not an authorized user.

19. The non transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the implementing includes selecting a current mode of operation of the portable electronic device from a sleep mode, a stand by mode, a low power mode and a normal operation mode, in response to determining that the user is an authorized user.

20. The non transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

customizing a power management feature of the portable electronic device based in part on the sensing.