User Identification via Button Pressure Signatures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing user input devices, such as remote controls and keyboards, rely on digital keyboard switches that cannot distinguish between users based on their pressing behavior, necessitating manual login or biometric identification methods.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of pressure-sensitive buttons and detector circuits in user input devices generates a button pressure signature, allowing for user identification based on unique pressure metrics, enabling differentiation between users without requiring manual login or behavioral changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If digital keyboard switches are used in user input devices, then the device structure remains simple and manufacturing cost is low, but the device cannot distinguish between different users based on pressing behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter being measured from simple binary key press detection to continuous pressure magnitude measurement. By measuring the analog pressure value rather than just detecting key press presence, the system gains additional information dimension (pressure signature) that enables user identification while maintaining the basic keyboard switch structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces pressure-sensitive detector circuits as intermediary components between the physical button press and the digital signal processing. These detectors convert mechanical pressure into electrical signals that can be analyzed for user identification, serving as a bridge between simple mechanical input and complex user recognition functionality
2Measurement precision
If biometric identification methods are implemented, then user identification accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the user input device to identify users automatically through their natural pressing behavior without requiring additional biometric sensors or user actions. The system uses the inherent physical characteristics of each user's button pressing (pressure patterns, force distribution) as self-identifying features, eliminating the need for separate biometric identification systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex biometric mechanical systems (fingerprint sensors, facial recognition cameras) with a simplified pressure sensing approach. By substituting sophisticated biometric hardware with pressure-sensitive detector circuits that analyze force distribution patterns, the system achieves user identification with significantly reduced complexity while maintaining accuracy
3Reliability
If manual login procedures are required, then user identification security is maintained, but the user operation time and convenience are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs user identification in advance during the natural interaction with the device, before any login procedure would be needed. By continuously monitoring pressure signatures during normal button pressing, the system pre-identifies users and can automatically authenticate them, eliminating the need for separate manual login steps
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically performs user identification and authentication without requiring user intervention for login. The pressure-sensitive detectors continuously monitor and analyze pressing patterns, enabling the device to self-identify users and maintain secure access state transitions without manual login procedures
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for automatic user identification through button pressure signatures, enabling precise monitoring and targeted content delivery without altering user behavior, and can identify users from a single button press, even in shared device scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pressure-sensitive detector circuit for measuring a pressure of the buttonpad
Data Source
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AI summary
In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, by a user identifier circuit, a button pressure signature specifying a sequence of button pressure values sampled while a corresponding identified button of a user input device is pressed by a user; the user identifier circuit identifying the user of the user input device based on the button pressure signature; and the user identifier circuit outputting a message identifying the identified button and the identified user.