Embedded authentication systems in an electronic device

• US 9,495,531 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2016
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• 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): Schwartz, Darren B
• Application Number:
  US15/017,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20160154956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display and a fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the touch-sensitive display;

displaying a lock screen on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the lock screen includes a visual indication of the location of the fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the touch-sensitive display;

detecting, on the touch-sensitive display, a touch input that includes interaction with a graphical element displayed on the lock screen;

during the touch input that includes the interaction with the graphical element displayed on the lock screen, detecting identification information of a user as the input is received using the fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the touch-sensitive display;

authenticating the user based on the identification information detected using the fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the touch-sensitive display; and

in response to authenticating the user based on the identification information detected with the fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the touch-sensitive display, replacing display of the lock screen, on the touch-sensitive display, with display of an unlocked user interface.

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

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the visual indication of a location of the fingerprint sensor includes highlighting an outline of the fingerprint sensor on the lock screen.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the outline 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.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical element displayed on the lock screen visually indicates direction of movement of a finger to move over the fingerprint sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is underneath a display stack of the touch-sensitive display.

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

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is a two dimensional fingerprint sensor that is configured to obtain the identification information from a stationary finger input at a location of the fingerprint sensor on the touch-sensitive display.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a combination of 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.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is integrated into the touch-sensitive display at a location where the graphical element is displayed on the touch-sensitive display.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor has a different type of capacitive sensor arrays compared to other regions of the touch-sensitive display.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the unlocked user interface includes a plurality of application launch icons.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

a fingerprint sensor integrated into the touch-sensitive display;

one or more processors; and

a memory comprising computer instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to;

display a lock screen on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the lock screen includes a visual indication of the location of the fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the touch-sensitive display;

detect, on the touch-sensitive display, a touch input that includes interaction with a graphical element displayed on the lock screen;

during the touch input that includes the interaction with the graphical element displayed on the lock screen, detect identification information of a user as the input is received using the fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the touch-sensitive display;

authenticate the user based on the identification information detected using the fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the touch-sensitive display; and

in response to authenticating the user based on the identification information detected with the fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the touch-sensitive, replace display of the lock screen, on the touch-sensitive, with display of an unlocked user interface.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the fingerprint sensor has higher density of capacitive sensors than other regions of the touch-sensitive display.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein displaying the visual indication of a location of the fingerprint sensor includes highlighting an outline of the fingerprint sensor on the lock screen.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the outline 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.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the graphical element displayed on the lock screen visually indicates direction of movement of a finger to move over the fingerprint sensor.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the fingerprint sensor is underneath a display stack of the touch-sensitive display.

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

20. The device of claim 13, wherein the fingerprint sensor is a two dimensional fingerprint sensor that is configured to obtain the identification information from a stationary finger input at a location of the fingerprint sensor on the touch-sensitive display.

21. The device of claim 13, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a combination of 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.

22. The device of claim 13, wherein the fingerprint sensor is integrated into the touch-sensitive display at a location where the graphical element is displayed on the touch-sensitive display.

23. The device of claim 13, wherein the fingerprint sensor has a different type of capacitive sensor arrays compared to other regions of the touch-sensitive display.

24. The device of claim 13, wherein the unlocked user interface includes a plurality of application launch icons.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display and a fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the touch-sensitive display, cause the device to:

display a lock screen on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the lock screen includes a visual indication of the location of the fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the touch-sensitive display;

detect, on the touch-sensitive display, a touch input that includes interaction with a graphical element displayed on the lock screen;

during the touch input that includes the interaction with the graphical element displayed on the lock screen, detect identification information of a user as the input is received using the fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the touch-sensitive display;

authenticate the user based on the identification information detected using the fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the touch-sensitive display; and

in response to authenticating the user based on the identification information detected with the fingerprint sensor that is integrated into the touch-sensitive, replace display of the lock screen, on the touch-sensitive, with display of an unlocked user interface.

26. The medium of claim 25, wherein the fingerprint sensor has higher density of capacitive sensors than other regions of the touch-sensitive display.

27. The medium of claim 25, wherein displaying the visual indication of a location of the fingerprint sensor includes highlighting an outline of the fingerprint sensor on the lock screen.

28. The medium of claim 27, wherein the outline 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.

29. The medium of claim 25, wherein the graphical element displayed on the lock screen visually indicates direction of movement of a finger to move over the fingerprint sensor.

30. The medium of claim 25, wherein the fingerprint sensor is underneath a display stack of the touch-sensitive display.

31. The medium of claim 25, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises an existing component of a display stack of the touch-sensitive display.

32. The medium of claim 25, wherein the fingerprint sensor is a two dimensional fingerprint sensor that is configured to obtain the identification information from a stationary finger input at a location of the fingerprint sensor on the touch-sensitive display.

33. The medium of claim 25, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a combination of 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.

34. The medium of claim 25, wherein the fingerprint sensor is integrated into the touch-sensitive display at a location where the graphical element is displayed on the touch-sensitive display.

35. The medium of claim 25, wherein the fingerprint sensor has a different type of capacitive sensor arrays compared to other regions of the touch-sensitive display.

36. The medium of claim 25, wherein the unlocked user interface includes a plurality of application launch icons.