Employing pressure signatures for personal identification

1. A computer-implemented method for authenticating a user based on pressure measurement data, the method being executed by one or more processors and comprising:

capturing pressure measurement data as a sequence of pressure maps as the user applies pressure to a pressure sensing device;

determining a dynamic pressure signature for the user based on the pressure measurement data, the dynamic pressure signature including a temporal sequence of the pressure maps; and

authenticating the user based on a comparison of the dynamic pressure signature to an initial dynamic pressure signature.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising:

generating a similarity score based on the comparison of the dynamic pressure signature to the initial dynamic pressure signature; and

authenticating the user based on the similarity score.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the similarity score is based on Euclidean distance of the dynamic pressure signature and the initial dynamic pressure signature.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the similarity score in included in multimodal-biometric score; and wherein the user is authenticated based on the multimodal-biometric score.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure maps includes a collection of time signals derived from each pressure pixel observed by the pressure sensing device as the user applies pressure.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the dynamic pressure signature includes at least one of which of the user's feet predominantly touches the ground as the user walks, a first point of impact on each of the users feet as the user walks, a progression of pressure points as the user walks, and gait patterns for the user.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the captured pressure measurement data includes the user's foot/show contour, an angle between the user's feet, curvature of the user's feet, gait, balance, sway, posture, weight distribution, the user's dominant foot, or ballistocardiograms.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the initial dynamic pressure signature was captured as the user entered into an area.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the initial dynamic pressure signature was captured during an enrollment process.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , comprising:

capturing, with a camera, an image of the user, wherein a distance of the user from the camera is determined based on a position of the pressure sensing device, wherein authenticating the user is further based on a comparison of the image of the user to an initial image of the user captured during the enrollment process.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , comprising:

determining a static pressure signature for the user based on the pressure measurement data; wherein authenticating the user is further based on a comparison of the static pressure signature for the user to an initial static pressure signature captured during the enrollment process.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the static pressure signature includes an approximate size and shape of the user's foot or shoes.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the user applies pressure to the pressure sensing device by standing on the pressure sensing device or by walking across the pressure sensing device.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensing device is embedded in flooring.

15. A system, comprising:

a pressure sensor device;

a one or more processors; and

a computer-readable storage device coupled to the one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

capturing pressure measurement data as a sequence of pressure maps as a user applies pressure to the pressure sensing device;

determining a dynamic pressure signature for the user based on the pressure measurement data, the dynamic pressure signature including a temporal sequence of the pressure maps; and

authenticating the user based on a comparison of the dynamic pressure signature to an initial dynamic pressure signature.

16. The system of claim 15 , comprising:

a display,

wherein the operations comprise:

displaying, on the display, information to the user based on authenticating the user.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the pressure sensing device comprises a communication interface; and wherein the pressure measurement data is received through the communication interface.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the pressure sensing device comprises an array of pressure sensing elements.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein each of the pressure sensing elements comprises at least one force sensitive resistor (FSR).

20. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media coupled to one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

capturing pressure measurement data as a sequence of pressure maps as a user applies pressure to the pressure sensing device;

determining a dynamic pressure signature for the user based on the pressure measurement data, the dynamic pressure signature including a temporal sequence of the pressure maps; and

authenticating the user based on a comparison of the dynamic pressure signature to an initial dynamic pressure signature.