Ear Recognition Mobile Device Unlocking via Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile device unlocking methods, such as pattern or password inputs and biometric authentication, face issues with user convenience and security, especially when accessories like sunglasses or masks are worn, leading to reduced authentication success rates.
Innovation Solution
A method for unlocking a mobile device using ear recognition, which involves an imaging unit, display unit, and processor to sense an unlock attempt, extract ear features from an image, and determine if they match a registered user's ear features, changing the lock state accordingly, even when the face is covered.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If facial recognition or iris recognition is used for unlocking, then authentication can be performed without direct user contact, but authentication success rate decreases when accessories like sunglasses or masks are worn
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication function from the face and iris regions to the ear region. By detecting and recognizing the ear portion separately from the face, the system removes the constraint imposed by facial accessories like masks and sunglasses, maintaining authentication success rate while preserving contactless convenience
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional facial/iris recognition to three-dimensional ear structure recognition. By utilizing the unique spatial geometry and contour features of the ear in multiple dimensions, the system achieves reliable authentication that is not obscured by flat facial accessories
2Reliability
If pattern or password input is used for unlocking, then authentication security can be maintained, but user convenience decreases due to direct input exposure and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical input system (pattern/password typing on screen) with an optical recognition system (ear detection via imaging unit). This substitution eliminates the need for direct user contact and time-consuming input operations while maintaining security through unique biometric identification
Solution Approach 2:
The ear recognition system performs authentication automatically without requiring active user participation. The system detects the ear portion and completes verification autonomously, allowing the device to unlock itself based on the presence of registered ear features, thereby maximizing convenience while maintaining security
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments relate to a method for unlocking a mobile device using authentication based on ear recognition including obtaining an image of a target showing at least part of the target's body in a lock state, extracting a set of ear features of the target from the image of the target, when the image of the target includes at least part of the target's ear, and determining if the extracted set of ear features of the target satisfies a preset condition, and a mobile device performing the same.