Embedded authentication systems in an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9250795-B2
Application number	US-201314142661-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2013
Priority date	Sep 24, 2007
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

This invention is directed to an electronic device with an embedded authentication system for restricting access to device resources. The authentication system may include one or more sensors operative to detect biometric information of a user. The sensors may be positioned in the device such that the sensors may detect appropriate biometric information as the user operates the device, without requiring the user to perform a step for providing the biometric information (e.g., embedding a fingerprint sensor in an input mechanism instead of providing a fingerprint sensor in a separate part of the device housing). In some embodiments, the authentication system may be operative to detect a visual or temporal pattern of inputs to authenticate a user. In response to authenticating, a user may access restricted files, applications (e.g., applications purchased by the user), or settings (e.g., application settings such as contacts or saved game profile).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a display;
a fingerprint sensor; one or more processors; memory; and
one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for
displaying, on the display, a respective user interface that includes an obscured version of first information;
while displaying the obscured version of the first information on the display, detecting a finger input on the fingerprint sensor; and
in response to detecting the finger input on the fingerprint sensor:
in accordance with a determination that the finger input includes a fingerprint that matches a fingerprint of an authorized user, replacing display of the obscured version of the first information with an unobscured version of the first information; and
in accordance with a determination that the finger input does not include a fingerprint that matches a fingerprint of an authorized user, maintaining display of the obscured version of the first information on the display.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:
prior to displaying the respective user interface, receiving a request to display the respective user interface; and
in response to receiving the request, displaying the respective user interface.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions for, while displaying the obscured version of the first information, displaying unobscured text in the respective user interface.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the obscured version of the first information includes a plurality of separate information items that include obscured text.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the obscured version of the first information includes a blurred version of corresponding unobscured information.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the respective user interface is a user interface for displaying information about personal contacts of a user of the device; and
replacing display of the obscured version of the first information with the unobscured version of the first information includes providing access to the information about the personal contacts.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs include instructions for, prior to detecting the finger input, displaying a notice instructing the user to authenticate before accessing the unobscured version of the first information.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the notice includes displayed instructions for the user to place a fingerprint on the fingerprint sensor.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
prior to detecting the finger input on the fingerprint sensor, one or more respective objects in the respective user interface are not selectable; and
the one or more programs include instructions for, in response to detecting the finger input on the fingerprint sensor:
in accordance with the determination that the finger input includes a fingerprint that matches a fingerprint of the authorized user, enabling selection of the one or more respective objects; and
in accordance with the determination that the finger input does not include a fingerprint that matches a fingerprint of an authorized user, forgoing enabling selection of the one or more respective objects.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint sensor is integrated into a button on the device.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint sensor is integrated into the display.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the obscured version of the first information is a blurred version of the first information.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the obscured version of the first information is a hidden version of the first information.

14. A method, comprising:
at an electronic device with a fingerprint sensor and a display:
displaying, on the display, a respective user interface that includes an obscured version of first information;
while displaying the obscured version of the first information on the display, detecting a finger input on the fingerprint sensor; and
in response to detecting the finger input on the fingerprint sensor:
in accordance with a determination that the finger input includes a fingerprint that matches a fingerprint of an authorized user, replacing display of the obscured version of the first information with an unobscured version of the first information; and
in accordance with a determination that the finger input does not include a fingerprint that matches a fingerprint of an authorized user, maintaining display of the obscured version of the first information on the display.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
prior to displaying the respective user interface, receiving a request to display the respective user interface; and
in response to receiving the request, displaying the respective user interface.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
while displaying the obscured version of the first information, displaying unobscured text in the respective user interface.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the obscured version of the first information includes a plurality of separate information items that include obscured text.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the obscured version of the first information includes a blurred version of corresponding unobscured information.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein:
the respective user interface is a user interface for displaying information about personal contacts of a user of the device; and
replacing display of the obscured version of the first information with the unobscured version of the first information includes providing access to the information about the personal contacts.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
prior to detecting the finger input, displaying a notice instructing the user to authenticate before accessing the unobscured version of the first information.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the notice includes displayed instructions for the user to place a fingerprint on the fingerprint sensor.

22. The method of claim 14 , wherein:
prior to detecting the finger input on the fingerprint sensor, one or more respective objects in the respective user interface are not selectable; and the method further comprises:
in response to detecting the finger input on the fingerprint sensor:
in accordance with the determination that the finger input includes a fingerprint that matches a fingerprint of the authorized user, enabling selection of the one or more respective objects; and
in accordance with the determination that the finger input does not include a fingerprint that matches a fingerprint of an authorized user, forgoing enabling selection of the one or more respective objects.

23. The method of claim 14 , wherein the fingerprint sensor is integrated into a button on the device.

24. The method of claim 14 , wherein the fingerprint sensor is integrated into the display.

25. The method of claim 14 , wherein the obscured version of the first information is a blurred version of the first information.

26. The method of claim 14 , wherein the obscured version of the first information is a hidden version of the first information.

27. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one o

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Fadell Anthony
• Hodge Andrew
• Schell Stephan
• Caballero Ruben
• Dorogusker Jesse Lee
• Zadesky Stephen
• Sanford Emery

Classifications

• G06F21/32 Primary

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

• H04L9/3231

  Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina (network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861) · CPC title

• G06F21/36

  by graphic or iconic representation · CPC title

• H04W88/02

  Terminal devices · CPC title

• G06F3/0412

  Digitisers structurally integrated in a display · CPC title