Method and apparatus for a wearable based authentication for improved user experience

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016197916-A1
Application number	US-201514589741-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 5, 2015
Priority date	Jan 5, 2015
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A wearable device is provided for authentication that includes a memory element and processing circuitry coupled to the memory element. The memory element configured to store a plurality of user profiles. The processing circuitry is configured to identify a pairing between the wearable device and a device. The processing circuitry is configured to identify a user of the wearable device. The processing circuitry also is configured to determine if the identified user matches a profile of the plurality of user profiles. The processing circuitry is also configured to responsive to the identified user matching the profile, determine if the profile provides authorization to access the device. The processing circuitry is also configured to responsive to the profile providing authorization to the device, send a message to the device authorizing access to the device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A wearable device, comprising:
a memory element configured to store a plurality of user profiles; and processing circuitry coupled to the memory element, the processing circuitry configured to:
identify a pairing between the wearable device and a device;
identify a user of the wearable device;
determine if the identified user matches a profile of the plurality of user profiles;
responsive to the identified user matching the profile, determine if the profile provides authorization to access the device; and
responsive to the profile providing authorization to the device, send a message to the device authorizing access to the device.

2 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein identifying the user of the wearable device comprises the processing circuitry configured to:
monitor at least one biometric of the user.

3 . The wearable device of claim 2 , wherein determining if the identified user matches the profile of the plurality of user profiles comprises the processing circuitry configured to:
compare the at least one biometric of the user to biometrics associated with the plurality of user profiles.

4 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein identifying the user of the wearable device comprises the processing circuitry configured to:
receive an input of a password.

5 . The wearable device of claim 4 , wherein determining if the identified user matches the profile of the plurality of user profiles comprises the processing circuitry configured to:
compare the password to passwords associated with the plurality of user profiles.

6 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein a user configurable setting indicates whether a confirmation is required for access to specific functions of the device.

7 . The wearable device of claim 6 , wherein, when the confirmation is required, the confirmation is at least one of pre-determined user action, a gesture, a password, and a push of a button.

8 . The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising the processing circuitry configured to:
receive a request from the device for a password; generate the password; and associate the password with the profile.

9 . The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising the processing circuitry configured to:
receive a request from the device to re-authorize the identified user; responsive to the request, re-identify the user of the wearable device. determine if the re-identified user matches the profile of the plurality of user profiles; responsive to the re-identified user matching the profile, determine if the profile provides authorization to access the device; responsive to the profile providing access to the device, send a message to the device authorizing the user.

10 . The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising the processing circuitry configured to:
continually monitor at least one biometric of the identified user; receive a request from the device to verify the identified user; responsive to the request, verify the user of the wearable device.

11 . The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising the processing circuitry configured to:
continually monitor at least one biometric of the identified user; continually authorize the identified user based on the continual monitoring.

12 . The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising the processing circuitry configured to:
determine whether the wearable device is removed from the user; responsive to the wearable device being removed from the user, de-authorize the user.

13 . The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising the processing circuitry configured to:
receive a request from the device to authorize the identified user for a function; responsive to the request, re-identify the user of the wearable device; determine if the re-identified user matches the profile of the plurality of user profiles; responsive to the re-identified user matching the profile, determine if the profile provides authorization for the function; responsive to the profile providing access to the device, send a message to the device authorizing the function.

14 . A method for authenticating a user, the method comprising:
identifying a pairing between a wearable device and a device; identifying a user of the wearable device; determining if the identified user matches a profile of a plurality of user profiles; responsive to the identified user matching the profile, determining if the profile provides authorization to access the device; and responsive to the profile providing authorization to the device, sending a message to the device authorizing access to the device.

15 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein identifying the user of the wearable device comprises:
monitoring at least one biometric of the user.

16 . The wearable device of claim 15 , wherein determining if the identified user matches the profile of the plurality of user profiles comprises:
comparing the at least one biometric of the user to biometrics associated with the plurality of user profiles.

17 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein identifying the user of the wearable device comprises:
receiving an input of a password.

18 . The wearable device of claim 17 , wherein determining if the identified user matches the profile of the plurality of user profiles comprises:
comparing the password to passwords associated with the plurality of user profiles.

19 . A wearable device, comprising:
a memory element configured to store a plurality of user profiles; and processing circuitry coupled to the memory element, the processing circuitry configured to: identify a pairing between the wearable device and a device identify a user of the wearable device; determine if the identified user matches a profile of the plurality of user profiles; responsive to the identified user matching the profile, determine if the profile provides authorization to access the device; and receive periodic requests from the device to verify that the authorization is still valid.

20 . A mobile device, comprising:
a memory element configured to store a plurality of user profiles; and processing circuitry coupled to the memory element, the processing circuitry configured to:
identify a pairing between a wearable device and the mobile device;
send a request to the wearable device to identify a user of the wearable device;
receive the user attributes from the wearable device;
determine if the identified user matches a profile of the plurality of user profiles using the user attributes;
responsive to the identified user matching the profile, determine if the profile provides authorization to access the mobile device; and
responsive to the profile providing authorization to the device, send a message to the device authorizing access to the mobile device.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ravindran Sourabh
• Loseu Vitali
• Polley Michael
• Goel Manish
• Lee Kyong Ho
• Lee Seok-Jun

Classifications

• H04L63/0861 Primary

  using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231) · CPC title

• H04L63/10

  for controlling access to devices or network resources · CPC title

• H04W12/08

  Access security · CPC title

• H04W12/33

  using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses · CPC title

• H04W12/63

  Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent · CPC title