BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to electronic devices with embedded authentication systems.

Electronic devices, and in particular portable electronic devices, are used to store personal information. For example, users may use cellular telephones, PDAs, smart phones, or other electronic devices to store contacts, e-mail, calendar information, documents, and other information used by the user. While this information may not necessarily be confidential, users may desire that at least some of that information be unavailable to other people. One approach for preventing unauthorized people from accessing and viewing the user's personal information may be to require users of the electronic device to provide a password or pass code prior to enabling device functions or accessing device resources. For example, the electronic device may require a user to enter a four number or four letter pin prior to displaying the device home screen (e.g., a spring board) or menus. As another example, an accessory device for detecting a user's fingerprint or for scanning a user's retina may be coupled to the device such that the user must first show an authorized fingerprint or retina before receiving access to the device.

While both of these approaches may be useful, restricting access based on a password or pass code is effective only so long as no other user knows the password or pass code. Once the password or pass code is known, the restriction mechanism may become ineffective. Also, a password or pass code may be forgotten, thus locking an authorized user out of the device. In addition, requiring a user to provide a fingerprint or submit to a retina scan may be time consuming and bothersome for the user, requiring an additional step before the user can access the device. While this approach is more secure than entering a password or pass code, it comes at a cost in hardware (e.g., the necessary scanner, detector, or reader) and time. It would be desirable therefore, to provide an electronic device by which biometric and other authentication mechanisms are implemented in the device such that the device authenticates the user quickly and seamlessly, for example as the user turns on, unlocks or wakes the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Methods, electronic devices and computer readable media for authenticating a user of an electronic device are provided. In some embodiments, an electronic device may seamlessly authenticate a user. The electronic device may receive an input from a user, the input provided by an input mechanism of the electronic device. The electronic device may detect identification information as the user provides the input from one or more sensors embedded in or adjacent to the input mechanism. The electronic device may authenticate the user by comparing the detected identification information with identification information stored in a library of the device. For example, the sensor may include a sensor for detecting features of a user's skin, or features underneath a user's skin. The sensor may be embedded in at least one of a touch screen, a button (e.g., of a keyboard or mouse), device housing near an input mechanism (e.g., laptop housing near keyboard), or any other suitable location.

In some embodiments, the electronic device may determine that a user is aligned with a sensing component of the device without directing the user to align with the sensing component. For example, the sensing component may be positioned such that the sensing region of the sensor includes expected positions of the user while the user operates the electronic device. The sensor may detect one or more biometric attributes of the user (e.g., facial or eye features) using the sensing component. For example the sensor may include a camera or optical sensor located adjacent to a display of the device. The user may then be authenticated by comparing the detected biometric attributes with a library of biometric attributes stored by or accessible to the electronic device.

In some embodiments, the electronic device may authenticate a user based on common attributes of options selected by a user. The electronic device may display several selectable options for selection by the user, and may receive a user selection of a subset of options. The electronic device may then identify one or more attributes common to some or all of the selected option. The attributes may include, for example at least one of, size, color, contour, fill pattern, shape, alignment with other options, the position of an option relative to other options, the source of the option, or any other suitable attribute. The electronic device may then authenticate the user based on the identified attribute. For example, if the user has selected all of the shapes sharing an attribute associated with a particular user, the electronic device may authenticate the user.

In some embodiments, the electronic device may authenticate a user based on a pattern of inputs received by the device. The electronic device may include a sensor operative to detect several inputs provided by a user. For example, the sensor may include an input mechanism operative to receive inputs provided by a user. As another example, the sensor may include an accelerometer or gyroscope operative to detect motion of or contacts with the electronic device. The electronic device may be operative to identify a pattern of the detected inputs, and to compare the identified pattern with patterns stored in memory to authenticate the user. The patterns may include temporal patterns (e.g., related to the delays between consecutive inputs), visual patterns (e.g., related to attributes of several options selected by the user or inputs provided by the user), or combinations of these. Upon authenticating the user, the electronic device may provide the user with access to restricted electronic device resources.

