Apparatus and method for enabling fingerprint-based secure access to a user-authenticated operational state of an information handling system

摘要

A computer-implemented method provides power to a fingerprint reader while the remaining components of the information handling system are held in a low power, non-operating state. Placement of a finger across the fingerprint reader is detected with the information handling system in the non-operating state. A fingerprint is read and a corresponding fingerprint image is generated. The fingerprint image is buffered and an embedded controller is triggered to start an authentication device having a secure storage. The fingerprint image is compared to a fingerprint template contained in the secure storage. In response to the fingerprint image matching the fingerprint template, the authentication device signals the embedded controller to activate a user authenticated wake-up cycle to provide power to the other components of the information handling system such that the information handling system activates an operating system and enters a fully powered and user authenticated, operational state.

主权项

1. A computer implemented method to activate an information handling system having a fingerprint reader, an embedded controller, and a secure storage for enabling fingerprint-based secure access to a user-authenticated operational state of the information handling system, the method comprising:
providing power to the fingerprint reader while remaining components of the information handling system are held in a low power, non-operating state in which the information handling system is not functional; in response to detecting placement of a finger across a surface of the fingerprint reader while the information handling system is in the low power, non-operating state:
reading a fingerprint from the finger and generating a corresponding fingerprint image;comparing the fingerprint image to a previously-established fingerprint template contained in a secure storage;in response to the fingerprint image matching the fingerprint template, the authentication device signaling the embedded controller to activate a user authenticated wake-up cycle to provide power to processing and other components of the information handling system such that the information handling system activates an operating system and enters a fully powered-on and user authenticated, operational state; andthe embedded controller triggering a basic input output system to load a power on authentication application and launch the operating system in response to the embedded controller activating a user authenticated wake-up cycle rather than a regular wake up cycle.