Embedded authentication systems in an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9329771-B2
Application number	US-201414311214-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2014
Priority date	Sep 24, 2007
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

An electronic device with a display and a fingerprint sensor may authenticate a user for a respective function. While a respective function of the device is in a locked state, the device displays a graphical element on the display, the graphical element indicating a first direction of finger movement that enables unlocking of the respective function. While displaying the graphical element, the device detects an input that includes movement of a finger in the first direction over the fingerprint sensor and determines whether the input meets unlock criteria based at least in part on fingerprint information of the finger detected by the fingerprint sensor during the input. In accordance with a determination that the input meets the unlock criteria, the device unlocks the respective function; and in accordance with a determination that the input does not meet the unlock criteria, the device maintains the respective function in the locked state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
at an electronic device with a display and a biometric fingerprint sensor:
while a respective function of the device is in a locked state:
displaying a graphical element on the display, the graphical element indicating a first direction of finger movement that enables unlocking of the respective function; and
while displaying the graphical element, detecting an input that includes movement of a finger in the first direction over the biometric fingerprint sensor, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is located on the device at a location such that the finger moving from the graphical element in the first direction indicated by the graphical element will move over the biometric fingerprint sensor;
determining whether the input meets unlock criteria based at least in part on fingerprint information of the finger detected by the biometric fingerprint sensor during the input; and
in response to detecting the input:
 in accordance with a determination that the input meets the unlock criteria, unlocking the respective function; and
 in accordance with a determination that the input does not meet the unlock criteria, maintaining the respective function in the locked state.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor detects the fingerprint information as the finger is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor in the first direction.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor detects the fingerprint information as the finger is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor at a predetermined speed range.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is a one-dimensional sensor that detects the fingerprint information of the finger as the finger is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor along a first axis.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is embedded in the electronic device such that the biometric fingerprint sensor is not visible to a user of the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the input meets unlock criteria includes comparing the fingerprint information of the finger detected by the biometric fingerprint sensor with a library of fingerprint information that is pre-registered in the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the fingerprint information is an image of a user's skin pattern in a portion of the finger that is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input includes an initial finger contact with the display on the graphical element and continuous movement of the finger contact, without breaking the contact with the device, in the first direction over the biometric fingerprint sensor.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one visual characteristic of the graphical element is changed in accordance with the movement of the finger contact.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphical element comprises a text.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is embedded in an input mechanism of the electronic device.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions for an electronic device with a display and a biometric fingerprint sensor, which when executed by the electronic device, cause the device to:
while a respective function of the device is in a locked state:
display a graphical element on the display, the graphical element indicating a first direction of finger movement that enables unlocking of the respective function; and
while displaying the graphical element, detect an input that includes movement of a finger in the first direction over the biometric fingerprint sensor, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is located on the device at a location such that the finger moving from the graphical element in the first direction indicated by the graphical element will move over the biometric fingerprint sensor;
determine whether the input meets unlock criteria based at least in part on fingerprint information of the finger detected by the biometric fingerprint sensor during the input; and

in response to detecting the input:
in accordance with a determination that the input meets the unlock criteria, unlock the respective function; and
in accordance with a determination that the input does not meet the unlock criteria, maintain the respective function in the locked state.

13. The medium of claim 12 , wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor detects the fingerprint information as the finger is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor in the first direction.

14. The medium of claim 12 , wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor detects the fingerprint information as the finger is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor at a predetermined speed range.

15. The medium of claim 12 , wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is a one-dimensional sensor operative to detect the fingerprint information of the finger as the finger is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor along a first axis.

16. The medium of claim 12 , wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is embedded in the electronic device such that the biometric fingerprint sensor is not visible to a user of the electronic device.

17. The medium of claim 12 , wherein determining whether the input meets unlock criteria includes comparing the fingerprint information of the finger detected by the biometric fingerprint sensor with a library of fingerprint information that is pre-registered in the electronic device.

18. The medium of claim 17 , wherein the fingerprint information is an image of a user's skin pattern in a portion of the finger that is moved over the biometric fingerprint sensor.

19. The medium of claim 12 , wherein the input includes an initial finger contact with the display on the graphical element and continuous movement of the finger contact, without breaking the contact with the device, in the first direction over the biometric fingerprint sensor.

20. The medium of claim 12 , wherein at least one visual characteristic of the graphical element is changed in accordance with the movement of the finger contact.

21. The medium of claim 12 , wherein the graphical element comprises a text.

22. The medium of claim 12 , wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is embedded in an input mechanism of the electronic device.

23. An electronic device, comprising:
a display;
a biometric 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:
while a respective function of the device is in a locked state:
displaying a graphical element on the display, the graphical element indicating a first direction of finger movement that enables unlocking of the respective function; and
while displaying the graphical element, detecting an input that includes movement of a finger in the first direction over the biometric fingerprint sensor, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is located on the device at a location such that the finger moving from the graphical element in the first direction indicated by the graphical element will move over the biometric fingerprint sensor;
determining whether the input meets unlock criteria b

Assignees

• Apple Inc
• Apple Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G06F3/0488 Primary

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• H04L63/08

  for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32) · CPC title

• G06F21/36

  by graphic or iconic representation · CPC title

• G06F21/32 Primary

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