Intent-Based Device Unlocking via Facial Feature Binding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inefficiency when unlocking electronic devices as they often need to navigate away from the displayed content after unlocking to access different desired applications, leading to distraction and reduced operational efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The system binds specific facial features to particular applications, allowing these applications to be directly surfaced upon detection during the unlocking process, enabling users to quickly access desired content without intermediate navigation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional authentication processes are used to unlock devices, then device security is improved, but user efficiency deteriorates due to required navigation to desired applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice securityVSAvoiduser efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by detecting specific facial features during the authentication process itself, before the device is fully unlocked. This allows the system to pre-determine which application should be launched, eliminating the need for post-unlock navigation and thereby maintaining security while improving user efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If users navigate to desired applications after unlocking, then access to specific content is achieved, but time is lost due to intermediate navigation steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to contentVSAvoidtime for navigation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies the skipping principle by eliminating the intermediate navigation steps between unlocking and accessing the desired application. By detecting intent facial features during authentication, the system directly launches the target application, allowing users to skip the traditional sequence of unlocking then navigating, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Adaptability or versatility

If generic unlock screens are displayed after authentication, then device functionality is restored, but user distraction increases due to irrelevant content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoiduser distraction

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by customizing the post-unlock experience based on detected facial features. Instead of displaying a generic unlock screen for all users, the system identifies specific facial characteristics and launches applications tailored to each user's intent, thereby restoring device functionality while eliminating distraction from irrelevant content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20230244768A1Systems and methods for intent-based device unlocking

Publication Date: 2023.08.03 HEALEY MATTHEW EDWARD NATIVIDAD

AI summary

A system for facilitating intent-based device unlocking is configurable to detect a set of facial features using one or more sensors of a user device and bind the set of facial features with a particular application of a plurality of applications of the user device. Binding the set of facial features with the particular application causes the particular application to be surfaced for display on the user device upon unlocking of the user device when the set of facial features is detected during an unlock signal detection process of the user device.