IP Library Granted Patent US 8,625,847
Granted Patent B2
US 8,625,847 · App. 13/052,226 · Granted Jan 7, 2014

Login method based on direction of gaze

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,625,847
App. No.
13/052,226
Granted
Jan 7, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of authenticating a user of a computing device is proposed, together with computing device on which the method is implemented. A plurality of objects is displayed on a display screen. The plurality of objects includes at least objects that make up a sequence of objects pre-selected as the user's passcode. In response to a trigger signal an image of the user's face is captured while looking at one of the objects on the display screen. A determination of which object is in the direction of the user's gaze is made from the photograph and whether or not the gaze is on the correct object in the sequence of the passcode. This is repeated for each object in the sequence of the passcode.

Claims (41)

1. One or more non-transitory computer readable media having computer readable instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor implement a method of user authentication at a computing device, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of objects on a display screen, the plurality of objects comprising objects that are part of a passcode, the passcode comprising a sequence of objects;

for each object in the sequence of the passcode,

receiving a trigger signal;

in response to the trigger signal, causing an image sensor to capture an image;

analysing the image to determine a direction of gaze;

determining the object on the display screen that corresponds to the direction of gaze;

determining whether the object that corresponds to the direction of the gaze matches the object in the sequence; and

after the images have been analysed for all objects of the sequence, determining if a threshold for matches has been exceeded and if the threshold has been exceeded indicating positive authentication.

2. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises comparing a face of at least one of the images to images of faces of pre-authorized users and only indicating positive authentication if the face matches the face of an authorized user.

3. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1 wherein the method comprises displaying the plurality of objects in a different order after each determination of whether the object that corresponds to the direction of the gaze matches the object in the sequence.

4. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1 wherein the method comprises displaying the plurality of objects in a random order.

5. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises tracking relative position of the computing device after the image sensor captures the image and collecting position related data.

6. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 5 wherein the method further comprises using the position related data to determine change in position of the computing device from the image to a subsequent image.

7. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1 wherein determining if the threshold is exceeded comprises determining if a minimum number of matches has been exceeded.

8. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1 wherein determining if the threshold is exceeded comprises determining if a minimum probability of matches for the sequence has been exceeded.

9. A method of user authentication at a computing device, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of objects on a display screen, the plurality of objects comprising objects that are part of a passcode, the passcode comprising a sequence of objects;

for each object in the sequence of the passcode,

receiving a trigger signal;

in response to the trigger signal, causing an image sensor to capture an image;

analysing the image to determine a direction of gaze;

determining the object on the display screen that corresponds to the direction of gaze;

determining whether the object that corresponds to the direction of the gaze matches the object in the sequence; and

after the images have been analysed for all objects of the sequence, determining if a threshold for matches has been exceeded and if the threshold has been exceeded indicating positive authentication.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising comparing a face of at least one of the images to images of faces of pre-authorized users and only indicating positive authentication if the face matches the face of an authorized user.

11. The method of claim 9 , comprising displaying the plurality of objects in a different order after each determination of whether the object that corresponds to the direction of the gaze matches the object in the sequence.

12. The method of claim 9 comprising displaying the plurality of objects in a random order.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising tracking relative position of the computing device after the image sensor captures the image and collecting position related data.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising using the position related data to determine change in position of the computing device from the image to a subsequent image.

15. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a display;

an image sensor;

input interface for receiving a trigger signal causing the image sensor to capture an image; and

one or more computer readable media having computer readable instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor implement a method of user authentication at the computing device, the method comprising: displaying a plurality of objects on a display screen, the plurality of objects comprising objects that are part of a passcode, the passcode comprising a sequence of objects; for each object in the sequence of the passcode, receiving the trigger signal; in response to the trigger signal, causing the image sensor to capture an image; analysing the image to a direction of gaze; determining which object on the display screen corresponds to the direction of gaze; determining whether the object that corresponds to the direction of the gaze matches the object in the sequence; and after the images have been analysed for all objects of the sequence, determining if a threshold for matches has been exceeded and if the threshold has been exceeded indicating positive authentication.

16. The computing device of claim 15 , further comprising a motion detecting device to track relative position of the computing device after the image sensor captures the image and to collect position related data.

17. The computing device of claim 16 wherein the motion detecting device comprises an accelerometer.

18. The computing device of claim 15 comprising a tablet device.

19. The computing device of claim 15 wherein the input interface is a touch sensitive interface.

20. The computing device of claim 15 wherein the input interface is a mechanical button.

Assignments (4)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 19, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064271/0199 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064104/0103 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 10, 2013
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 031200/0809 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2011
From: PASQUERO, JEROME
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 025987/0972 →