IP Library Granted Patent US 9,245,102
Granted Patent B2
US 9,245,102 · App. 14/463,944 · Granted Jan 26, 2016

Combining navigation and fingerprint sensing

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,245,102
App. No.
14/463,944
Granted
Jan 26, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, device and machine readable medium are provided. The method comprises: activating a fingerprint sensor while performing a function other than authentication; and performing a security action when fingerprint data matching stored fingerprint data is not captured by the fingerprint sensor after a threshold duration from activation.

Claims (39)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a fingerprint sensor; and

a processor coupled to the fingerprint sensor, the processor being configured to:

activate the fingerprint sensor while performing a function other than authentication; and

perform a security action when fingerprint data matching stored fingerprint data is not captured by the fingerprint sensor after a threshold duration from activation.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the function comprises navigating onscreen content displayed on a display of the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the function comprises navigating within an application displayed on a display of the electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the security action comprises denying access to at least a portion of the electronic device.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the security action comprises initiating an authentication process.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the security action comprises locking the electronic device.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the security action comprises powering off the electronic device.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint sensor is activated after a successful authentication.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint sensor is periodically activated to capture fingerprint data.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to transmit captured fingerprint data to an authentication server to determine if the captured fingerprint data matches the stored fingerprint data.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a memory which stores the stored fingerprint data.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a touch sensitive input device.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the touch sensitive input device comprises the fingerprint sensor and a touch input module.

14. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the touch sensitive input device is a touch screen display, a touch pad or a touch sensitive navigation tool.

15. A method, comprising:

activating a fingerprint sensor of an electronic device while performing a function other than authentication; and

performing a security action when fingerprint data matching stored fingerprint data is not captured by the fingerprint sensor after a threshold duration from activation.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the function comprises navigating onscreen content displayed on a display of the electronic device.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the function comprises navigating within an application displayed on a display of the electronic device.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the security action comprises denying access to at least a portion of the electronic device.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the security action comprises initiating an authentication process.

20. A non-transitory machine readable medium having tangibly stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform operations, comprising:

activating a fingerprint sensor while performing a function other than authentication; and

performing a security action when fingerprint data matching stored fingerprint data is not captured by the fingerprint sensor after a threshold duration from activation.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the security action comprises locking the electronic device.

22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the security action comprises powering off the electronic device.

23. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

transmitting captured fingerprint data to an authentication server to determine if the captured fingerprint data matches the stored fingerprint data.

24. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the function comprises navigating onscreen content displayed on a display of the electronic device.

25. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the function comprises navigating within an application displayed on a display of the electronic device.

26. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the security action comprises denying access to at least a portion of the electronic device.

27. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the security action comprises initiating an authentication process.

28. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the security action comprises locking the electronic device.

29. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the security action comprises powering off the electronic device.

30. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the operations further comprise transmitting captured fingerprint data to an authentication server to determine if the captured fingerprint data matches the stored fingerprint data.

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 Nov 3, 2015
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 037033/0643 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2015
From: FYKE, STEVEN HENRY; GRIFFIN, JASON TYLER
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 036872/0116 →