Authentication using an interactive cord

1. A system comprising:

an interactive cord coupling a first computing device to a second computing device, the interactive cord comprising a fabric cover covering a cable configured to transfer digital content, the fabric cover comprising one or more conductive threads woven into the fabric cover to form capacitive touchpoints on the fabric cover of the interactive cord, the fabric cover having a weaving pattern that surfaces the capacitive touchpoints at intervals along the interactive cord; and

a controller coupled to the interactive cord and configured to control data transfer between the first computing device and the second computing device via the interactive cord, the controller configured to:

detect a touch input pattern to one or more of the capacitive touchpoints on the fabric cover, the touch input pattern being based on a pattern of changes in capacitance to the one or more of the capacitive touchpoints;

compare the touch input pattern to a stored touch authentication pattern;

authenticate a user to access the digital content at the first computing device based on the touch input pattern matching the stored touch authentication pattern; and

enable the transfer of the digital content through the cable of the interactive cord based on the touch input pattern matching the stored touch authentication pattern.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the touch input pattern comprises tapping the one or more capacitive touchpoints with a particular rhythm.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the touch input pattern comprises touching absolute positions of the one or more capacitive touchpoints on the fabric cover.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the touch input pattern comprises touching relative positions of the one or more capacitive touchpoints on the fabric cover.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the touch input pattern comprises applying a particular amount of pressure to the one or more capacitive touchpoints on the fabric cover.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the touch input pattern comprises sliding from one capacitive touchpoint to another capacitive touchpoint.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the touch input pattern comprises touching multiple capacitive touchpoints at substantially the same time.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more of the capacitive touchpoints includes first and second capacitive touchpoints, and the touch input pattern comprises causing the first capacitive touchpoint to touch the second capacitive touchpoint.

9. An appliance comprising:

an interactive cord having:

a cable configured to transfer power and communication signals to the appliance; and

a fabric cover that covers the cable, the fabric cover comprising one or more conductive threads woven into the fabric cover to form capacitive touchpoints on the fabric cover of the interactive cord, the fabric cover having a weaving pattern that surfaces the capacitive touchpoints at intervals along the fabric cover of the interactive cord, the capacitive touchpoints configured to enable reception of a touch input pattern from a user based on a pattern of changes in capacitance to one or more of the capacitive touchpoints; and

a controller configured to:

detect the touch input pattern to the one or more of the capacitive touchpoints;

compare the touch input pattern to a stored touch pattern;

authenticate the user responsive to the touch input pattern matching the stored touch pattern; and

trigger a function of the appliance responsive to authenticating the user using the touch input pattern.

10. The interactive cord of claim 9 , wherein:

the appliance comprises a lamp; and

the function comprises adjusting a brightness of the lamp.

11. The interactive cord of claim 9 , wherein:

the appliance comprises a fan; and

the function comprises adjusting a speed of the fan.

12. The interactive cord of claim 9 , wherein:

the appliance comprises a headset; and

the function comprises adjusting a volume of audio content being played back via the headset.

13. The interactive cord of claim 9 , wherein:

the appliance comprises an alarm clock; and

the function comprises initiating a snooze button on the alarm clock.

14. The interactive cord of claim 9 , wherein the touch input pattern comprises:

tapping the one or more capacitive touchpoints with a particular rhythm;

applying a particular amount of pressure to the one or more capacitive touchpoints on the fabric cover; or

sliding from one capacitive touchpoint to another capacitive touchpoint.

15. A method comprising:

detecting a touch input pattern to one or more capacitive touchpoints of a fabric cover of an interactive cord coupled to an appliance, the fabric cover covering a cable of the interactive cord that is configured to transfer power and communication signals to the appliance, the touch input pattern being based on a pattern of changes in capacitance to the one or more capacitive touchpoints, the fabric cover comprising one or more conductive threads woven into the fabric cover to form a weaving pattern that surfaces a plurality of capacitive touchpoints at intervals along the fabric cover of the interactive cord, the plurality of capacitive touchpoints including the one or more capacitive touchpoints;

comparing the touch input pattern to a stored touch pattern;

authenticating a user based on the touch input pattern matching the stored touch pattern; and

triggering a function of the appliance responsive to authenticating the user using the touch input pattern.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein:

the appliance comprises a lamp; and

the function comprises adjusting a brightness of the lamp.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein:

the appliance comprises a fan; and

the function comprises adjusting a speed of the fan.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein:

the appliance comprises a headset; and

the function comprises adjusting a volume of audio content being played back via the headset.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the touch input pattern comprises one or more of:

touching the one or more capacitive touchpoints with a particular rhythm;

applying a particular amount of pressure to the one or more capacitive touchpoints on the fabric cover; or

sliding from one capacitive touchpoint to another capacitive touchpoint.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the touch input pattern comprises one or more of:

touching absolute positions of the one or more capacitive touchpoints on the fabric cover;

touching relative positions of the one or more capacitive touchpoints on the fabric cover;

touching multiple capacitive touchpoints at substantially the same time; or

causing one capacitive touchpoint to touch one or more other capacitive touchpoints.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the intervals of the surfaced capacitive touchpoints comprise regular intervals along the interactive cord such that the one or more conductive threads are covered and hidden from view at areas of the fabric cover corresponding to the intervals.

22. The interactive cord of claim 9 , wherein:

the intervals of the surfaced capacitive touchpoints are regular and similar in size to one another; and

the one or more conductive threads are covered and hidden from view at areas of the fabric cover corresponding to the intervals between the surfaced capacitive touchpoints.

23. The method of claim 15 , wherein:

the one or more conductive threads comprises a plurality of sets of conductive threads;

each set of conductive threads corresponds to a subset of capacitive touchpoints of the plurality of touchpoints;

each subset of capacitive touchpoints is surfaced by the weaving pattern at regular intervals along the fabric cover of the interactive cord.