Electronic device and method for acquiring biometric information thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017265079-A1
Application number	US-201715442831-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 27, 2017
Priority date	Mar 9, 2016
Publication date	Sep 14, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for acquiring and using biometric information of a user in an electronic device are provided. According to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include executing a call function using a communication module included in the electronic device, outputting a voice signal depending on the execution of the call function through a sound output device included in the electronic device, and acquiring, by a sensor included in the electronic device, biometric information of the user of the electronic device while the call function is executed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device, comprising:
a communication module comprising communication circuitry; a sound output device comprising sound output circuitry; a sensor; a processor electrically connected to the communication module, the sound output device, and the sensor; and a memory electrically connected to the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions which the processor is configured to execute to perform a call function using the communication circuitry of the communication module, to output a voice signal based on the execution of the call function through the sound output circuitry of the sound output device, and to acquire, using the sensor, biometric information of a user of the electronic device while the call function is executed.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions which the processor is configured to execute to acquire a body temperature or a heart rate as at least a part of the biometric information.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions which the processor is configured to execute to control an action of the electronic device associated with the call function based on the biometric information.

4 . The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the action of the electronic device includes adjusting a transmitter power level using the communication module or changing sound attributes on the voice signal.

5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions which the processor is configured to execute to perform an action of the electronic device associated with the call function at a first level if the biometric information includes a first biometric signal and to perform the action of the electronic device associated with the call function at a second level if the biometric information includes a second biometric signal.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions which the processor is configured to execute to control a first function of the electronic device if the biometric information includes a first biometric signal and to control a second function of the electronic device if the biometric information includes a second biometric signal.

7 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the memory stores instructions which the processor is configured to execute to control at least some functions of a first application based on the first function and at least some functions of a second application based on the second function.

8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device further includes a display, and
the memory stores instructions which the processor is configured to execute to display a first content on the display if the biometric information includes a first biometric signal and display a second content on the display if the biometric information includes a second biometric signal.

9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device further includes a sensor disposed on a first surface of the electronic device and a display disposed on a second surface of the electronic device, and
the memory stores instructions which the processor is configured to execute to control the display based on the execution of the call function.

10 . The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the electronic device further includes another display disposed on the first surface thereof, and
the memory stores instructions which the processor is configured to execute to selectively display information corresponding to the biometric information or information corresponding to the executed call function on the display or the another display.

11 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device further includes the sensor disposed on a first surface of the electronic device and another sensor disposed on a second surface of the electronic device, and
the memory stores instructions which the processor is configured to execute to control the action of the electronic device or the another electronic device based on the information acquired through another sensor.

12 . A method for acquiring biometric information, comprising:
executing a call function using a communication module included in an electronic device; outputting a voice signal based on the execution of the call function through a sound output device included in the electronic device; and acquiring, using a sensor included in the electronic device, biometric information of a user of the electronic device while the call function is executed.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
controlling the action of the electronic device associated with the call function based on the biometric information.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the controlling includes adjusting a transmitter power level using the communication module or changing sound attributes of the voice signal.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
executing the action of the electronic device associated with the call function at a first level if the biometric information includes a first biometric signal, and executing the action of the electronic device associated with the call function at a second level if the biometric information includes a second biometric signal.

16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
controlling a first function of the electronic device if the biometric information includes the first biometric signal; and controlling a second function of the electronic device if the biometric information includes a second biometric signal.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the controlling the function corresponding to the first function or the second function includes controlling at least some functions of a first application based on the first function and at least some functions of a second application based on the second function.

18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
displaying a first content on a display included in the electronic device if the biometric information includes a first biometric signal; and an action of displaying a second content on the display included in the electronic device if the biometric information includes a second biometric signal.

19 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising: controlling the display depending on the execution of the call function,
wherein the electronic device includes a sensor disposed on a first surface of the electronic device and a display disposed on a second surface of the electronic device.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the electronic device further comprises another display formed on the first surface of the electronic device, and
the controlling selectively displays information corresponding to the biometric information or information corresponding to the executed call function on the display or the another display.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Sunghoon
• Song Changjin
• LEE Myungcheol
• Yeom Donghyun
• Lee Jiwoo

Classifications

• G06F1/1686

  the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera · CPC title

• G06F21/32

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

• H04M2203/6054

  Biometric subscriber identification · CPC title

• G06F1/165

  the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information · CPC title

• H04L63/0861

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