Computer terminals biometrically enabled for network functions and voice communication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10313501-B2
Application number	US-201815876735-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2018
Priority date	Feb 21, 2002
Publication date	Jun 4, 2019
Grant date	Jun 4, 2019

Abstract

The invention provides a handset that includes a finger-image sensor that provides finger-image-related signals or data for authentication purposes and functions as a telephone handset for use with a computer terminal. A system, including handsets and computer terminals, enables the terminal and/or the handset to access or otherwise participate in at least one network-related function and voice communication in response to authentication of finger-image data provided by the handset.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a first computer terminal comprising a finger image sensor;
a second computer terminal; and
a host computer configured to perform operations comprising:
determining that an intended recipient is present at the first computer terminal based on a finger image sensed by the finger image sensor of the first computer terminal,
receiving a request from the second computer terminal to initiate a communication function with the first computer terminal based on the intended recipient being present at the first computer terminal, and
initiating the communication function between the first computer terminal and the second computer terminal in response to the request.

2. The system of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
enabling the first computer terminal to access a function that is not related to and does not depend upon participation by the first computer terminal in the communication function.

3. The system of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
authenticating the finger image sensed by the finger image sensor of the first computer terminal.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the authenticating is performed each time the intended recipient present at the first computer terminal initiates a particular function.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the authenticating is performed at a periodic time interval.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second computer terminal is an unauthenticated computer terminal.

7. The system of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
authenticating a second finger image sensed by a second finger image sensor of the second computer terminal.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining that an intended recipient is present at the first computer terminal based on a finger image sensed by the finger image sensor of the first computer terminal comprises:
determining that the first computer terminal is a last computer terminal at which the finger image was sensed.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second computer terminal comprises:
a display device configured to display an indication that the intended recipient is present at the first computer terminal.

10. A host computer comprising:
a processor; and
a memory to store computer program instructions, the computer program instructions when executed on the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
determining that an intended recipient is present at a first computer terminal based on a finger image sensed by a finger image sensor of the first computer terminal,
receiving a request from a second computer terminal to initiate a communication function with the first computer terminal based on the intended recipient being present at the first computer terminal, and
initiating the communication function between the first computer terminal and the second computer terminal in response to the request.

11. The host computer of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:
enabling the first computer terminal to access a function that is not related to and does not depend upon participation by the first computer terminal in the communication function.

12. The host computer of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:
authenticating the finger image sensed by the finger image sensor of the first computer terminal.

13. The host computer of claim 12 , wherein the authenticating is performed each time the intended recipient present at the first computer terminal initiates a particular function.

14. The host computer of claim 12 , wherein the authenticating is performed at a periodic time interval.

15. A method comprising:
determining that an intended recipient is present at a first computer terminal based on a finger image sensed by a finger image sensor of the first computer terminal,
receiving a request from a second computer terminal to initiate a communication function with the first computer terminal based on the intended recipient being present at the first computer terminal, and
initiating the communication function between the first computer terminal and the second computer terminal in response to the request.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
enabling the first computer terminal to access a function that is not related to and does not depend upon participation by the first computer terminal in the communication function.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second computer terminal is an unauthenticated computer terminal.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
authenticating a second finger image sensed by a second finger image sensor of the second computer terminal.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining that an intended recipient is present at a first computer terminal based on the finger image sensed at the first computer terminal comprises:
determining that the first computer terminal is a last computer terminal at which the finger image was sensed.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
sending, to the second computer terminal, an indication that the intended recipient is present at the first computer terminal for displaying at the second terminal.

Assignees

• Bloomberg Finance Lp

Inventors

• Bloomberg Michael R
• Waanders John D
• Ozolins Helmars Ericks

Classifications

• H04M3/53308

  Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party · CPC title

• H04M1/2473 Primary

  Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) (details of API H04M7/0021) · CPC title

• H04M2250/12

  including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion · CPC title

• H04M1/67 Primary

  by electronic means · CPC title

• G06F21/32

  using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints · CPC title