Computer terminals biometrically enabled for network functions and voice communication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10979549-B2
Application number	US-201916386439-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2019
Priority date	Feb 21, 2002
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

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; and
a second computer terminal configured to perform operations comprising:
determining that a user is present at the first computer terminal based on a finger image sensed by the finger image sensor of the first computer terminal, and
initiating a voice communication function with the first computer terminal based on the user being present at the first computer terminal.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first computer terminal is configured to perform operations comprising:
authenticating the finger image sensed by the finger image sensor.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein authenticating the finger image sensed by the finger image sensor comprises:
authenticating the finger image sensed by the finger image sensor each time the user initiates a particular function.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein authenticating the finger image sensed by the finger image sensor comprises:
authenticating the finger image sensed by the finger image sensor at a periodic time interval.

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

6. 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.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining that a user 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.

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

9. A computer terminal 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 a user is present at another computer terminal based on a finger image sensed by a finger image sensor of the other computer terminal, and
initiating a voice communication function with the other computer terminal based on the user being present at the other computer terminal.

10. The computer terminal of claim 9 , wherein the computer terminal is an unauthenticated computer terminal.

11. The computer terminal of claim 9 , the operations further comprising:
authenticating a second finger image sensed by a second finger image sensor of the computer terminal.

12. The computer terminal of claim 9 , wherein determining that a user is present at another computer terminal based on a finger image sensed by a finger image sensor of the other computer terminal comprises:
determining that the other computer terminal is a last computer terminal at which the finger image was sensed.

13. The computer terminal of claim 9 , further comprising:
a display device configured to display an indication that the user is present at the other computer terminal.

14. A method for operating a computer terminal, comprising:
determining that a user is present at another computer terminal based on a finger image sensed by a finger image sensor of the other computer terminal; and
initiating a voice communication function with the other computer terminal based on the user being present at the other computer terminal.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
authenticating the finger image sensed by the finger image sensor.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein authenticating the finger image sensed by the finger image sensor comprises:
authenticating the finger image sensed by the finger image sensor each time the user initiates a particular function.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein authenticating the finger image sensed by the finger image sensor comprises:
authenticating the finger image sensed by the finger image sensor at a periodic time interval.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
authenticating a second finger image sensed by a second finger image sensor of the computer terminal.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein determining that a user is present at another computer terminal based on a finger image sensed by a finger image sensor of the other computer terminal comprises:
determining that the other computer terminal is a last computer terminal at which the finger image was sensed.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
displaying an indication that the user is present at the other computer terminal.

Assignees

• Bloomberg Finance Lp

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H04M1/67 Primary

  by electronic means · 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

• H04M1/06

  Hooks; Cradles · CPC title

• H04M1/724

  User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones · CPC title

• H04M2250/12

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