Motion-based authentication for a gesture-based device

摘要

A motion-based authentication method is operative in a mobile computing device having a display interface and that includes an accelerometer. Normally, the device software includes a locking mechanism that automatically locks the display interface after a configurable timeout. The authentication method operates to un-lock the display interface (and thus allow the user access to the device) by movement of the device in a predetermined series of physical movements and without display-based entry of a password or other access code on the display itself. In this manner, the user can un-lock the device without display-based entry of a password (on the display itself) by simply holding the device and performing the necessary movement(s) to generate the unique code.

主权项

1. A method, operative in a mobile computing device having an accelerometer, and a display interface, comprising:
displaying a graphic element as the mobile computing device is at a fixed position with respect to a user's hand, the graphic element being a representation of a directional arrow indicating a direction of movement; after receipt of data indicating a first movement of the mobile computing device in a first predetermined manner according to the directional arrow, providing a visual indication on the graphic element; generating, as an authentication key, a first value associated with the visual indication; and authenticating the user based on the authentication key; wherein the displaying, providing and generating steps are carried out in program code executing in a hardware element in the mobile computing device.