TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to user authentication for a computing device. More specifically, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and a method that provides user authentication for a computing device, such as a mobile device.

BACKGROUND

Traditional user authentication techniques for unlocking a mobile device have many technological and fraudulent-type challenges. For example, one security technique that provides a relatively low level of user intrusiveness is based on a three-dimensional (3D) depth sensor that is used to identify a user intending to gain access to a mobile device. Such a 3D-depth sensor when used in a mobile device may be a relatively expensive and physically large module. Additionally, a 3D-depth sensor does not check for liveness, i.e., the state of a user intending to gain access to a mobile device as being alive.

An in-display fingerprint sensor, which may also be used as part of an authentication technique and that generally involves a relative low-level of user intrusiveness, also has a generally low authentication success rate. Fingerprint sensors use a dedicated contact surface area and respond to physical contact by a user. Performance may suffer if the contact surface is not clean. An iris sensor, which may also be used as part of an authentication technique, may be prone to fraudulent authentication attacks, as are two-dimensional (2D) sensors.

SUMMARY

An example embodiment provides a method to authenticate a user of a computing device that may include: obtaining from a first sensor coupled to the computing device a first representation of a physical characteristic of the user; comparing by an authentication processor of the computing device the first representation of the physical characteristic of the user to a second representation of the physical characteristic of the user in which the second representation of the physical characteristic of the user may be obtained prior to the first representation of the physical characteristic of the user; enabling by the authentication processor a first level of access to the computing device based on the first representation of the physical characteristic of the user matching the second representation of the physical characteristic of the user; obtaining from a second sensor coupled to the computing device a first representation of a liveness characteristic of the user, the liveness characteristic indicating that the user is alive; comparing by the authentication processor the first representation of the liveness characteristic of the user to a second representation of the liveness characteristic of the user in which the second representation of the liveness characteristic of the user may be obtained prior to the first representation of the liveness characteristic of the user; and enabling by the authentication processor a second level of access to the computing device based on the first representation of the liveness characteristic of the user matching the second representation of the liveness characteristic of the user in which the second level of access to the computing device may be greater than the first level of access to the computing device.

In one example embodiment, the method may further include: obtaining from a third sensor coupled to the computing device a third representation of a liveness characteristic of the user; and comparing by the authentication processor the third representation of the liveness characteristic of the user to a fourth representation of the liveness characteristic of the user in which the fourth representation of the liveness characteristic of the user may be obtained prior to the third representation of the liveness characteristic of the user; and wherein enabling by the authentication processor the second level of access to the computing device may be further based on the third representation of the liveness characteristic of the user matching the fourth representation of the liveness characteristic of the user.

In another example embodiment, the method may further include: obtaining from a third sensor coupled to the computing device a third representation of a liveness characteristic of the user; and comparing by the authentication processor the third representation of the liveness characteristic of the user to a fourth representation of the liveness characteristic of the user in which the fourth representation of the liveness characteristic of the user may be obtained prior to the third representation of the liveness characteristic of the user, and wherein enabling by the authentication processor the second level of access to the computing device may be further based on the third representation of the liveness characteristic of the user matching the fourth representation of the liveness characteristic of the user.

In still another example embodiment, the method may further include: obtaining from a third sensor coupled to the computing device a third representation of a liveness characteristic of the user; and comparing by the authentication processor the third representation of the liveness characteristic of the user to a fourth representation of the liveness characteristic of the user in which the fourth representation of the liveness characteristic of the user may be obtained prior to the third representation of the liveness characteristic of the user, and wherein enabling by the authentication processor the second level of access to the computing device may be further based on the third representation of the liveness characteristic of the user matching the fourth representation of the liveness characteristic of the user.

