Wearable device authentication and operation

• US 9,594,443 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2014
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: VanBlon, Russell Speight, Painter, Alan Ladd, Ramirez Flores, Axel, Zawacki, Jennifer Greenwood
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brian
• Application Number:
  US14/191,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20150241998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications

Abstract

For wearable device authentication and operation, code authenticates the wearable device to an electronic device. In addition, the code performs a wearable device operation in response to an operation command from the electronic device.

Claims

1. A wearable device comprising:

a user interface with no physical controls;

a processor;

a memory that stores code executable by the processor to;

detect an electronic device;

communicate authentication data to the electronic device;

receive an authentication confirmation from the electronic device at the wearable device that the authentication data is received by the electronic device;

signal the authentication confirmation at the wearable device using one of an indicator light, an audible tone, and a vibration;

receive an authentication confirmation acknowledgement that the authentication confirmation is received, the authentication confirmation acknowledgement comprising a rotation of the wearable device;

communicate configuration data to the electronic device in response to receiving the authentication confirmation acknowledgement, wherein the configuration data comprises operation data and a corresponding operation commands that are displayed by the electronic device;

and

perform a wearable device operation in response to the operation command from the electronic device.

2. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the wearable device operation comprises configuring settings for the wearable device and the processor further:

receives configuration parameters from the electronic device; and

configures the wearable device in response to the configuration parameters.

3. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the processor further:

receives the operation command from the electronic device; and

performs a function in response to the operation command.

4. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the wearable device comprises an accelerometer and the authentication confirmation acknowledgement is detected by the accelerometer.

5. A method comprising the steps of:

detecting, by use of a processor, an electronic device at a wearable device comprising a user interface with no physical controls;

communicating authentication data to the electronic device;

receiving an authentication confirmation from the electronic device at the wearable device that the authentication data is received by the electronic device;

signaling the authentication confirmation at the wearable device and using one of an indicator light, an audible tone, and a vibration;

receiving an authentication confirmation acknowledgement that the authentication confirmation is received, the authentication confirmation acknowledgement comprising a rotation ofat the wearable device;

communicating configuration data to the electronic device in response to receiving the authentication confirmation acknowledgement, wherein the configuration data comprises operation data and a corresponding operation commands that are displayed by the electronic device;

and

performing a wearable device operation in response to the operation command from the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein authenticating the wearable device comprises:

completing the authentication in response to an authentication confirmation acknowledgement.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the wearable device operation comprises configuring settings for the wearable device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein configuring settings for the wearable device comprises:

receiving configuration parameters from the electronic device; and

configuring the wearable device in response to the configuration parameters.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuration data describes all wearable device operations.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuration data describes wearable device operations that are compatible with the electronic device.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein performing the wearable device operation comprises:

communicating operation data to the electronic device;

receiving the operation command from the electronic device; and

performing a function in response to the operation command.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the wearable device operation is selected in response to one or more of a time, a time of day, a location, and a weather forecast.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the wearable device is further authenticated to the electronic device in response to one or more of concurrent accelerations of the wearable device and the electronic device, a near field communication (NFC) exchange between the wearable device and the electronic device, a radio frequency identification exchange between the wearable device and the electronic device, and a Bluetooth pairing between the wearable device and the electronic device.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the wearable device is disposed upon a user and is not manually held by the user.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein the wearable device has a separate input device.

16. The method of claim 5, wherein the wearable device comprises an accelerometer and the authentication confirmation acknowledgement is detected by the accelerometer.

17. A program product comprising a computer readable storage medium that stores code executable by a processor to perform:

detecting an electronic device at a wearable device comprising a user interface with no physical controls;

communicating authentication data to the electronic device;

receiving an authentication confirmation from the electronic device at the wearable device that the authentication data is received by the electronic device;

signaling the authentication confirmation at the wearable device and using one of an indicator light, an audible tone, and a vibration;

receiving an authentication confirmation acknowledgement that the authentication confirmation is received, the authentication confirmation acknowledgement comprising a rotation of the wearable device;

communicating configuration data to the electronic device in response receiving to the authentication confirmation acknowledgement, wherein the configuration data comprises operation data and a corresponding operation command that are displayed by the electronic device;

and

performing a wearable device operation in response to the operation command from the electronic device.

18. The program product of claim 17, wherein authenticating the wearable device comprises:

completing the authentication in response to an authentication confirmation acknowledgement.

19. The program product of claim 17, wherein the wearable device operation comprises configuring settings for the wearable device by:

receiving configuration parameters from the electronic device; and

configuring the wearable device in response to the configuration parameters.

20. The program product of claim 17, wherein performing the wearable device operation comprises:

communicating operation data to the electronic device;

receiving the operation command from the electronic device; and

performing a function in response to the operation command.