Utilizing a touch screen as a biometric device

1. A method of authenticating a fingerprint by aggregating samples on a digital touch screen comprising:

capturing multiple data samples of a finger swipe across the touch screen, wherein the touch screen is used both for fingerprint recognition and manipulation of a user interface;

utilizing a processor to aggregate the multiple data samples to form a combined sample fingerprint of the finger; and

responsive to detecting the combined sample fingerprint matching a predetermined allowed fingerprint, providing a signal indicating the fingerprint is authentic;

wherein at least one of the multiple data samples is not aggregated based on a detected improper finger wipe.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the touch screen contains capacitive sensors.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a user interface (UI) to guide a movement of the finger swipe on the touch screen; and

providing feedback to the user as to progress of authentication.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein guiding movement of the finger swipe is selected from the group of guiding movement at a desired velocity, at a constant velocity, in a desired direction, or with a desired pressure.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein aggregating the multiple data samples includes interpolating the multiple data samples using a coordinate system that has a higher resolution than each of the multiple data samples; wherein the detected improper finger swipe is detected from the group of at an improper velocity, at a variable velocity, in an improper direction, or with an improper pressure; and further comprising responsive to detecting the combined sample fingerprint not matching a predetermined allowed fingerprint, providing a signal indicating the fingerprint is not authentic; wherein at least one of the multiple data samples is not aggregated based on a detected improper finger swipe; wherein the detected improper finger swipe is detected from the group of at an improper velocity, at a variable velocity, in an improper direction, or with an improper pressure; wherein the combined sample fingerprint includes multiple samples based on finger swipe direction; and wherein the touch screen contains capacitive sensors.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein aggregating the multiple data samples includes interpolating the multiple data samples using a coordinate system that has a higher resolution than each of the multiple data samples.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the detected improper finger swipe is detected from the group of at an improper velocity, at a variable velocity, in an improper direction, or with an improper pressure.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising responsive to detecting the combined sample fingerprint not matching a predetermined allowed fingerprint, providing a signal indicating the fingerprint is not authentic.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the combined sample fingerprint includes multiple samples based on finger swipe direction.

10. A computer usable program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable storage medium including computer usable code for use in authenticating a fingerprint by aggregating samples on a digital touch screen, the computer usable program product comprising code for performing the steps of:

capturing multiple data samples of a finger swipe across the touch screen, wherein the touch screen is used both for fingerprint recognition and manipulation of a user interface;

utilizing a processor to aggregate the multiple data samples to form a combined sample fingerprint of the finger; and

responsive to detecting the combined sample fingerprint matching a predetermined allowed fingerprint, providing a signal indicating the fingerprint is authentic;

wherein at least one of the multiple data samples is not aggregated based on a detected improper finger wipe.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

providing a user interface (UI) to guide a movement of the finger on the touch screen; and

providing feedback to the user as to progress of authentication.

12. The computer usable program product of claim 11 wherein guiding movement of the finger swipe is selected from the group of guiding movement at a desired velocity, at a constant velocity, in a desired direction, or with a desired pressure.

13. The computer usable program product of claim 11 wherein the detected improper finger swipe is detected from the group of at an improper velocity, at a variable velocity, in an improper direction, or with an improper pressure.

14. The computer usable program product of claim 11 further comprising responsive to detecting the combined sample fingerprint not matching a predetermined allowed fingerprint, providing a signal indicating the fingerprint is not authentic.

15. The computer usable program product of claim 11 wherein the combined sample fingerprint includes multiple samples based on finger swipe direction.

16. A data processing system for authenticating a fingerprint by aggregating samples on a digital touch screen, the data processing system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing program instructions which when executed by the processor execute the steps of:

capturing multiple data samples of a finger swipe across the touch screen, wherein the touch screen is used both for fingerprint recognition and manipulation of a user interface;

filtering the multiple data samples;

utilizing a processor to aggregate the multiple data samples to form a combined sample fingerprint of the finger; and

responsive to detecting the combined sample fingerprint matching a predetermined allowed fingerprint, providing a signal indicating the fingerprint is authentic;

wherein at least one of the multiple data samples is not aggregated based on a detected improper finger wipe.

17. The data processing system of claim 16 further comprising:

providing a user interface (UI) to guide a movement of the finger on the touch screen; and

providing feedback to the user as to progress of authentication.

18. The data processing system of claim 17 wherein guiding movement of the finger swipe is selected from the group of guiding movement at a desired velocity, at a constant velocity, in a desired direction, or with a desired pressure.

19. The data processing system of claim 17 wherein the detected improper finger swipe is detected from the group of at an improper velocity, at a variable velocity, in an improper direction, or with an improper pressure.

20. The data processing system of claim 17 further comprising responsive to detecting the combined sample fingerprint not matching a predetermined allowed fingerprint, providing a signal indicating the fingerprint is not authentic.