Man-machine interface for controlling access to electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9342674-B2
Application number	US-201514640020-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2015
Priority date	May 30, 2003
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

This application relates to devices, methods and computer readable media that allow users using a first device to be easily authenticated. For example, while the first device is proximate to a second device, the first device requests user authentication using the one or more biometric sensors. After requesting the user authentication, the first device detects biometric information associated with the user with the one or more biometric sensors. In response to detecting the biometric information associated with the user, in accordance with a determination that the detected biometric information associated with the user meets authentication criteria, the first device provides credentials associated with the user to the second device. In accordance with a determination that the detected biometric information associated with the user does not meet the authentication criteria, the first device forgoes providing the credentials associated with the user to the second device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a first electronic device with a display and one or more biometric sensors, cause the first device to:
while the first device is proximate to a second device, request user authentication using the one or more biometric sensors;
after requesting the user authentication, detect biometric information associated with the user with the one or more biometric sensors;
in response to detecting the biometric information associated with the user:
in accordance with a determination that the detected biometric information associated with the user meets authentication criteria, provide credentials associated with the user to the second device; and
in accordance with a determination that the detected biometric information associated with the user does not meet the authentication criteria, forgo providing the credentials associated with the user to the second device.

2. The medium of claim 1 , wherein requesting the user authentication comprises displaying an authentication user interface on the display in response to detecting that the first device is within range of the second device.

3. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the credentials associated with the user are encrypted prior to being transmitted to the second device.

4. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the credentials associated with the user are distinct from the biometric information of the user.

5. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the second device is in communication with a remote server that is physically remote from the first device and the second device, and the second device communicates with the remote server to verify the credentials associated with the user in order to complete an authentication transaction associated with the credentials transmitted to the second device.

6. The medium of claim 5 , wherein the authentication transaction is not completed until the credentials associated with the user are verified by the remote server.

7. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the first device to:
after providing the credentials associated with the user to the second device, in accordance with the determination that the detected biometric information associated with the user meets the authentication criteria:
receive a reply from the second device:
in response to receiving the reply:
in accordance with a determination that the reply indicates that the credentials associated with the user are verified, complete an authentication transaction, and
in accordance with a determination that the reply indicates that the credentials associated with the user are not verified, halt the authentication transaction.

8. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the one or more biometric sensors comprise a fingerprint sensor, and the biometric information associated with the user comprises a fingerprint of the user.

9. The medium of claim 8 , wherein determining whether the biometric information associated with the user meets authentication criteria comprises:
comparing the fingerprint of the user to a database of fingerprints associated with an authentication transaction requested by the user; and
determining that the biometric information associated with the user meets the authentication criteria if a match is found in the database, and
determining that the biometric information associated with the user does not meet the authentication criteria, if a match is not found in the database.

10. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the first device communicates with the second device through a wireless communication medium.

11. A method, comprising:
at a first electronic device with a display and one or more biometric sensors:
while the first electronic device is proximate to a second electronic device, requesting user authentication using the one or more biometric sensors;
after requesting the user authentication, detecting biometric information associated with the user with the one or more biometric sensors;
in response to detecting the biometric information associated with the user:
in accordance with a determination that the detected biometric information associated with the user meets authentication criteria, providing credentials associated with the user to the second device; and
in accordance with a determination that the detected biometric information associated with the user does not meet the authentication criteria, forgoing providing the credentials associated with the user to the second device.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein requesting the user authentication comprises displaying an authentication user interface on the display in response to detecting that the first device is within range of the second device.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the credentials associated with the user are encrypted prior to being transmitted to the second device.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the credentials associated with the user are distinct from the biometric information of the user.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second device is in communication with a remote server that is physically remote from the first device and the second device, and the second device communicates with the remote server to verify the credentials associated with the user in order to complete an authentication transaction associated with the credentials transmitted to the second device.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the authentication transaction is not completed until the credentials associated with the user are verified by the remote server.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
after providing the credentials associated with the user to the second device, in accordance with the determination that the detected biometric information associated with the user meets the authentication criteria:
receiving a reply from the second device:
in response to receiving the reply:
in accordance with a determination that the reply indicates that the credentials associated with the user are verified, completing an authentication transaction, and
in accordance with a determination that the reply indicates that the credentials associated with the user are not verified, halting the authentication transaction.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more biometric sensors comprise a fingerprint sensor, and the biometric information associated with the user comprises a fingerprint of the user.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein determining whether the biometric information associated with the user meets authentication criteria comprises:
comparing the fingerprint of the user to a database of fingerprints associated with an authentication transaction requested by the user; and
determining that the biometric information associated with the user meets the authentication criteria if a match is found in the database, and
determining that the biometric information associated with the user does not meet the authentication criteria, if a match is not found in the database.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first device communicates with the second device through a wireless communication medium.

21. A first electronic device, comprising:
a display;
one or more biometric sensors;
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 execute

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Abdallah David S
• Johnson Barry W

Classifications

• G06F18/22

  Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures · CPC title

• G06V40/13

  Sensors therefor · 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

• H04L63/0823

  using certificates (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263) · CPC title

• G06K9/6201

  Physics · mapped topic