Portable wireless device unlocked by activating a pattern of sensors

摘要

A portable wireless device 100 enables transmission of stored data. The portable wireless device receives an interrogation signal from an external device (290) requesting that it transmit stored data. The device detects, in response to receiving the interrogation signal, a pattern of activated touch sensors 130 on the device activated at approximately a same time. The device compares (240) the detected pattern of activated touch sensors to a required pattern of activated touch sensors. The device transmits the stored data (250) in response to the detected pattern of activated touch sensors matching the required pattern of activated touch sensors. The portable wireless device could be a smart card, smart phone or PDA. The portable wireless device could be an RFID device. The detected pattern might correspond to a finger pattern, and the pattern might allow some degree of tolerance in the positions of the fingertips.