IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,118,068
Granted Patent B2
US 12,118,068 · App. 17/421,143 · Granted Oct 15, 2024

Electronic device and method of performing authentication operation by electronic device

Inventors: Soyoung Kim (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Hyeonjeong Kim (Gyeonggi-do, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
G06F21/32G06F9/453
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,118,068
App. No.
17/421,143
Granted
Oct 15, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to various embodiments, an electronic device comprising a memory; a communication module; and a processor, operatively connected to the memory and the communication module, and configured to, if a locked state of the electronic device and a first state of the electronic device are identified, when a first user utterance is acquired that requests a task executable in an unlocked state of the electronic device, change an unlocking type of the electronic device to an unlocking type of an external device, based on first information of the external device, the external device being communicatively connected to the electronic device through the communication module, unlock the electronic device, which is configured with the unlocking type of the external device, based on user authentication information acquired from the external device, and execute the task corresponding to the first user utterance. Various other embodiments may be provided. Meanwhile, a method of performing an authentication operation by the electronic device may be performed using an artificial intelligence model.

Claims (42)

1. An electronic device comprising:

communication circuitry;

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to:

if a locked state of the electronic device and a first state of the electronic device in which a user is not holding the electronic device are identified, when a first user utterance is acquired that requests a task executable in an unlocked state of the electronic device, change an unlocking type of the electronic device to an unlocking type of an external device, based on information of the external device, the external device being communicatively connected to the electronic device through the communication circuitry,

unlock the electronic device, which is configured with the unlocking type of the external device, based on user authentication information acquired from the external device, and

execute the task corresponding to the first user utterance.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to:

identify whether the first user utterance includes a wake-up utterance that can call a virtual assistant.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor module,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to:

identify the first state of the electronic device, based on sensor information collected through the sensor module.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to:

identify the user authentication information, which can be generated in the external device, and the unlocking type of the external device, based on the information of the external device.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to:

if the locked state of the electronic device and the first state of the electronic device are identified when the first user utterance is acquired from a first external device among a plurality of external devices while the plurality of external devices are communicatively connected to the electronic device, identify a second external device for unlocking the electronic device among the plurality of external devices, based on information acquired from each of the plurality of external devices, and change a first unlocking type configured in the electronic device to a second unlocking type of the second external device, based on information of the second external device, and

unlock the electronic device configured in the second unlocking type, based on user authentication information acquired from the second external device, and then execute the task corresponding to the first user utterance.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to:

when it is identified that the first external device cannot be used for unlocking the electronic device, based on the first information of external device, make a request for information of neighboring external devices that are currently not communicatively connected to the electronic device,

when the second external device among the neighboring external devices is identified for unlocking the electronic device, based on information acquired at least part from the neighboring external devices, perform an operation for a connection with the second external device,

change the first unlocking type configured in the electronic device to the second unlocking type, based on the information of the second external device, and

unlock the electronic device configured in the second unlocking type, based on user authentication information acquired from the second external device communicatively connected to the electronic device, and then execute the task corresponding to the first user utterance.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to:

identify the user authentication information, which can be generated in the second external device, and the second unlocking type, in which the electronic device can be unlocked using the user authentication information, based on the information of the second external device.

8. A method of performing an authentication operation by an electronic device, the method comprising:

acquiring a first user utterance that requests a task executable in an unlocked state of the electronic device;

when a locked state of the electronic device and a first state of the electronic device in which a user is not holding the electronic device are identified, changing an unlocking type configured in the electronic device to an unlocking type of an external device, based on information of the external device, the external device being communicatively connected to the electronic device;

unlocking the electronic device, which is configured with the unlocking type of the external device, based on user authentication information acquired from the external device; and

executing the task corresponding to the first user utterance.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein identifying the first state of the electronic device comprises identifying the first state of the electronic device based on sensor information collected through a sensor module of the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising identifying the user authentication information, which can be generated in the external device, and the unlocking type of the external device, based on the information of the external device.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

acquiring the first user utterance from a first external device among a plurality of external devices while the plurality of external devices are communicatively connected to the electronic device;

when the locked state of the electronic device and the first state of the electronic device are identified, identifying a second external device for unlocking the electronic device among the plurality of external devices, based on information acquired from each of the plurality of external devices;

changing a first unlocking type configured in the electronic device to a second unlocking type of the second external device, based on first information of the second external device; and

unlocking the electronic device configured in the second unlocking type, based on user authentication information acquired from the second external device and then executing the task corresponding to the first user utterance.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

when it is identified that the first external device cannot be used for unlocking the electronic device, based on information of the first external device, making a request for information of neighboring external devices which are currently not communicatively connected to the electronic device;

when the second external device among the neighboring external devices is identified for unlocking the electronic device, based on information acquired at least part from the neighboring external devices, performing an operation for a connection with the second external device;

changing the first unlocking type configured in the electronic device to the second unlocking type, based on the information of the second external device; and

unlocking the electronic device configured in the second unlocking type, based on the user authentication information acquired from the second external device communicatively connected to the electronic device and then executing the task corresponding to the first user utterance.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising identifying the user authentication information, which can be generated in the second external device, and the second unlocking type, based on the information of the second external device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2021
From: KIM, SOYOUNG; KIM, HYEONJEONG
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056851/0902 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2020-0083202 · Jul 7, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230146095A1 · May 11, 2023