Multi-finger sliding detection using fingerprints to generate different events

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9626099-B2
Application number	US-89534410-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2010
Priority date	Aug 20, 2010
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

Fingerprint portions of two or more different fingers are detected on a detection surface, such as an optical surface, a touch pad, a touchscreen, or the like, and then a further detection made that the person has moved their finger(s), for example, apart, together or relative to one another. The movement can be detected based on identifying the fingerprint portion sliding across the screen. The combination of fingerprint information associated with a corresponding motion is correlatable to one or more actions or triggering events that are used to control one or more electronic devices. Further aspects are directed toward utilizing one or more of the techniques herein for a security application. For example, two users, each placing one or more fingers on a touch screen or touch pad, with the fingerprints thereafter being recognized, perform a certain movement with this triggering the unlocking, or locking, of an object.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
detecting, by a microprocessor, a first touch and a simultaneous second touch on an electronic device;
determining, by the microprocessor, a first finger with which the first touch is associated and a second finger with which the second touch is associated;
detecting, by the microprocessor, a pattern of motion of the first touch and the second touch;
determining, by the microprocessor and based on the detected pattern of motion, whether the detected pattern of motion corresponding to the first touch and the second touch is not physically achievable with fingers of a same hand; and
allowing or denying, by the microprocessor, a function of the electronic device based on the determining whether the detected pattern of motion corresponding to the first touch and the second touch is not physically achievable with fingers of the same hand.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detected pattern of motion corresponding to the first touch and the second touch is determined to be not physically achievable with fingers of the same hand, and further comprising detecting, by the microprocessor, a plurality of fingerprints associated with a plurality of users based on the determining that the detected pattern of motion is not physically achievable with fingers of the same hand.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising tracking, by the microprocessor, an additional motion of the first touch and correlating a first action of the additional motion to a first user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first touch is a portion of a first identified fingerprint and the second touch is a portion of a second identified fingerprint.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first and second identified fingerprints have an identified orientation, and the determining whether the detected pattern of motion is not physically achievable is further based on the identified orientation.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing, by the microprocessor, instructions to a user to assist with recording the motion of the first touch and the second touch to trigger the action.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the function is an action of the electronic device that is correlated with the detected pattern of motion.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising tracking, by the microprocessor, a motion of at least one of the first touch and the second touch, wherein the tracking includes an introduction or removal of the first touch or the second touch from a touchpad or touchscreen within a certain time period from the detecting the first touch.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting, by the microprocessor, a plurality of fingerprints associated with a plurality of users based on the determining whether the detected pattern of motion is not physically achievable, wherein the determining whether the detected pattern of motion is not physically achievable is further based on human anatomy and determines that the first finger and the second finger belong to the same hand.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting, by the microprocessor, a plurality of fingerprints associated with a plurality of users based on the determining whether the detected pattern of motion is not physically achievable, wherein the determining whether the detected pattern of motion is not physically achievable is further based on human anatomy and determines that the first finger and the second finger are on different hands.

11. An electronic device, comprising:
a sensing device; and
a microprocessor coupled to the sensing device, said microprocessor programmed to:
detect a first touch from the sensing device;
determine a first finger with which the first touch is associated;
detect a second touch from the sensing device;
determine a second finger with which the second touch is associated;
detect a pattern of motion of the first touch and the second touch;
correlate the detected pattern of motion to an action for controlling the electronic device; and
determine, based on the detected pattern of motion, whether the detected pattern of motion corresponding to the first touch and the second touch is not physically achievable with fingers of a same hand.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to detect and identify a plurality of fingerprints associated with a plurality of users.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein a first action is correlated to a first user and a second action is correlated to a second user based on detecting and identifying fingerprints of the first and second user, respectively.

14. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the first touch is a portion of a first identified fingerprint and the second touch is a portion of a second identified fingerprint.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the first and second identified fingerprints have an identified orientation, and the determining whether the detected pattern of motion is not physically achievable is further based on the identified orientation.

16. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to provide instructions to a user to assist with recording the motion of the first touch and the second touch to trigger the action.

17. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the action is used to allow or deny a function of the electronic device.

18. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to provide access to an object based on the action.

19. A method, comprising:
detecting, by a microprocessor, a first touch placed on an input device of an electronic device and a second touch placed on the input device;
determining, by the microprocessor, a first finger with which the first touch is associated and a second finger with which the second touch is associated;
detecting, by the microprocessor, a pattern of motion of the first touch and the second touch;
determining, by the microprocessor and based on the detected pattern of motion, whether the detected pattern of motion corresponding to the first touch and the second touch is not physically achievable with fingers of a common hand;
triggering, by the microprocessor, an action using the finger determination and based on the determination of whether the detected pattern of motion is not physically achievable; and
triggering a different action if the detected pattern of motion is physically achievable.

Assignees

• Michaelis Paul Roller
• Grover Douglas M
• Mohler David
• Robinson Richard
• Avaya Inc

Inventors

• Michaelis Paul Roller
• Grover Douglas M
• Mohler David
• Robinson Richard

Classifications

• G06F3/04883 Primary

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title

• G06F2203/04808

  Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen · CPC title

• G06F2203/0338

  Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image · CPC title

• G06F3/03547

  Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface · CPC title