Identity authorization and authentication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016239652-A1
Application number	US-201415031511-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 22, 2014
Priority date	Oct 22, 2013
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of authorizing and/or authenticating a user includes: obtaining a first pressure profile of the user, the first pressure profile including at least a temporal pressure profile component; comparing at least one feature of the first pressure profile to at least one feature of a previously obtained pressure profile of the user, the previously obtained pressure profile including at least a temporal pressure profile component; and authorizing and/or authenticating the user if the at least one feature of the first pressure profile and the at least one feature of the previously obtained pressure profile match within a predefined threshold.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A method of authorizing and/or authenticating a user, comprising:
obtaining a first pressure profile of the user, the first pressure profile including at least a temporal pressure profile component; comparing at least one feature of the first pressure profile to at least one feature of a previously obtained pressure profile of the user, the previously obtained pressure profile including at least a temporal pressure profile component; and authorizing and/or authenticating the user if the at least one feature of the first pressure profile and the at least one feature of the previously obtained pressure profile match within a predefined threshold.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first pressure profile and the previously obtained pressure profile includes a combination of a spatial pressure profile and the temporal pressure profile.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the first pressure profile comprises measuring the pressure profile using an array of pressure sensors.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the first pressure profile comprises measuring the first pressure profile using a single pressure sensor.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feature includes a geometrical feature of the pressure profile.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feature is selected from a group consisting of pressure peak locations, pressure peak heights, changes in a pressure peak location, changes in a pressure peak height, relative locations between a plurality of pressure peaks, relative heights of a plurality of pressure peaks, saddle locations, integration of pressure over an area, and integration of pressure over a period of time.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining the feature of the first pressure profile by determining a difference between a pressure peak location to a predefined location

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining the feature of the first pressure profile by determining a difference between a pressure peak height and a predefined value.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining the feature of the first pressure profile by using a classification algorithm, a clustering algorithm, or a combination thereof.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when a difference between the feature of the first pressure profile and the feature of the previously obtained pressure profile is not within a predefined threshold or range, denying authorization and/or authentication of the user.

11 . The method of claim 1 further comprising obtaining the first pressure profile with a pressure sensor that includes a substantially transparent ZnO film disposed on a substantially transparent substrate, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to output an electrical signal based on a pressure applied thereon.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the pressure sensor further comprises a transparent conductive layer and an electrically insulating layer sandwiched between the ZnO film and the substrate.

13 . The method of claim 1 further comprising obtaining the first pressure profile with an array that includes plurality of pressure sensors, each of the pressure sensors including a substantially transparent ZnO film disposed on a substantially transparent substrate, wherein the pressure sensors are configured to output an electrical signal based on a pressure applied thereon.

14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the array further comprises one or more temperature sensors.

15 . The method of claim 13 wherein the pressure sensors are individually addressable.

16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining a value representing a temperature of the user while obtaining the pressure profile.

17 . An electronic device, comprising:
a processor; a display or touchpad that includes an array having a plurality of pressure sensors, wherein the pressure sensors are configured to output an electrical signal to the processor based on a pressure applied thereon; a computer-readable storage medium having instructions recorded thereon, the instructions when executed by the processor implementing a method comprising:
obtaining a first pressure profile of a user, the first pressure profile including at least a temporal pressure profile component;
comparing at least one feature of the first pressure profile to at least one feature of a previously obtained pressure profile of the user, the previously obtained pressure profile including at least a temporal pressure profile component; and
authorizing and/or authenticating the user if the at least one feature of the first pressure profile and the at least one feature of the previously obtained pressure profile match within a predefined threshold.

18 . The electronic device of claim 17 wherein each of the pressure sensors includes a substantially transparent ZnO film disposed on a substantially transparent substrate.

19 . The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the electronic device is selected from a group consisting of a cell phone, a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, an automatic teller machine, a safe, a home/office/bank security system or entry, a gaming device, a PDA, a pocket PC, a medical device and a smart house detection/receiving system.

Assignees

• Univ California
• Neem Scient Inc

Inventors

• Wang Deli
• Vishniakou Siarhei
• Hou Hongtao

Classifications

• G06F21/31 Primary

  User authentication · CPC title

• G01L5/0038

  applying a pushing force · CPC title

• G06F21/62

  Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules · CPC title

• G06F21/32 Primary

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