System and method for utilizing fingerprints as user inputs

1. A method comprising:

detecting a first fingerprint on a touch sensor of an information handling system, wherein the touch sensor is divided into a plurality of non-overlapping zones;

determining a first input function associated with the first fingerprint based on the first fingerprint being located within a first zone of the non-overlapping zones; and

executing, by the information handling system, the first input function.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a multiple touch event on the touch sensor; and

setting different non-overlapping zones in the touch sensor based on a location of the multiple touch event on the touch sensor.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

performing a training mode, wherein the training mode includes:

detecting a second fingerprint on the touch sensor;

determining that the second fingerprint is within a second zone of the non-overlapping zones;

determining whether the second fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint associated with the second zone of the non-overlapping zones;

in response to the second fingerprint not matching a stored fingerprint associated with the second zone of the non-overlapping zones, prompting the user to select a second input function for the second fingerprint; and

storing the second input function for the second fingerprint in the second zone.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information handling system includes a tablet computer and a dock.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the touch sensor is located on a rear surface of the tablet computer.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the touch sensor is located on a rear surface of the dock.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first input function is selected from a group consisting of an alphanumeric character of a keyboard and an action in a video game application.

8. An information handling system comprising:

a tablet computer, the tablet computer including:

a touch sensor divided into a plurality of non-overlapping zones;

a sensor detector configured to communicate with the touch sensor, the sensor detector configured to detect a first fingerprint on the touch sensor; and

a processor configured to communicate with the sensor detector, the processor configured to determine that the first fingerprint is within a first zone of non-overlapping zones, to determine a first input function associated with the first fingerprint based on the first fingerprint being located in the first zone of the non-overlapping zones, and to execute the first input function.

9. The information handling system of claim 8 , wherein sensor detector is further configured to detect a multiple touch event on the touch sensor, and the processor is further configured to set different non-overlapping zones in the touch sensor based on a location of the multiple touch event on the touch sensor.

10. The information handling system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured execute a training mode, during the training mode the sensor detector is configured to detect a second fingerprint on the touch sensor, and the processor is configured to determine that the second fingerprint is within a second zone of the non-overlapping zones, to determine whether the second fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint associated with the second zone of the non-overlapping zones, in response to the second fingerprint not matching a stored fingerprint associated with the second zone of the non-overlapping zones, to prompt the user to select a second input function for the second fingerprint, and to store the second input function for the second fingerprint in the second zone.

11. The information handling system of claim 8 , wherein the touch sensor is located on a rear surface of the tablet computer.

12. The information handling system of claim 11 , wherein the touch sensor is an optical sensor to detect fingerprints.

13. The information handling system of claim 8 , wherein the first input function is selected from a group consisting of an alphanumeric character of a keyboard and an action in a video game application.

14. An information handling system comprising:

a dock including:

a cradle configured to hold a tablet computer within the dock;

first and second handles in physical communication with the cradle; and

a first touch sensor in physical communication with a first surface of the first handle, the first touch sensor including a plurality of non-overlapping zones, the first touch sensor configured to receive a first fingerprint and to provide the first fingerprint and a location of the first fingerprint on the non-overlapping zones of the first touch sensor to the tablet computer, wherein the first fingerprint is associated with a first input function for the tablet computer based on the first fingerprint being located at a first location of the non-overlapping zones.

15. The information handling system of claim 14 , wherein the dock further includes:

a second touch sensor in physical communication with a second surface of the first handle.

16. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the first and second surfaces are opposing surfaces of the first handle.

17. The information handling system of claim 14 , further comprising:

the tablet computer configured to communicate with the dock, the tablet computer including:

a sensor detector configured to communicate with the first touch sensor, the sensor detector configured to detect the first fingerprint on the first touch sensor; and

a processor configured to communicate with the sensor detector, the processor configured to determine that the first fingerprint is within the first location of the non-overlapping zones, to match the first fingerprint to a stored fingerprint for the first location, to determine the first input function associated with the first fingerprint based on the first fingerprint matching the stored fingerprint for the first location, and to execute the first input function.

18. The information handling system of claim 14 , wherein sensor detector is further configured to detect a multiple touch event on the first touch sensor, and the processor is further configured to set different non-overlapping zones in the first touch sensor based on a location of the multiple touch event on the first touch sensor.

19. The information handling system of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured execute a training mode, during the training mode the sensor detector is configured to detect a second fingerprint on the first touch sensor, and the processor is configured to determine that the second fingerprint is within the second location of the non-overlapping zones, to determine whether the second fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint associated with the second location of the non-overlapping zones, in response to the second fingerprint not matching a stored fingerprint associated with the second location of the non-overlapping zones, to prompt the user to select the second input function for the second fingerprint, and to store the second input function for the second fingerprint in the second location.

20. The information handling system of claim 14 , wherein the first input function is selected from a group consisting of an alphanumeric character of a keyboard and an action in a video game application.