Pointing Device Gesture Authentication for Computing Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inconvenience in accessing computing devices and user accounts due to the need for keyboard input for authentication, especially when the keyboard is in use, forgotten, or not preferred.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using a pointing device to receive input data corresponding to user gestures, comparing them with authorized gestures to grant or deny access to computing devices and user accounts, allowing authentication through gesture recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If keyboard input is used for authentication, then authentication security is maintained, but user convenience deteriorates when keyboard is in use or forgotten
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pointing device as an intermediary input method between the user and the authentication system. Instead of directly using the keyboard, the user interacts with a pointing device to select authentication options, providing an alternative pathway when the keyboard is unavailable or inconvenient to use.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication system is designed to accept multiple types of input devices (keyboard and pointing device) for the same authentication function. This multi-functionality ensures that authentication can proceed regardless of which input method is available, improving both convenience and reliability.
2Ease of operation
If pointing device gesture recognition is implemented, then authentication convenience is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures the trace pattern of the pointing device gesture as a digital representation (copy) of the user's physical movement. This copied trace data is then stored and compared during authentication, allowing the system to recognize gestures without requiring complex real-time analysis of physical movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical gesture analysis with a simplified data comparison process. Instead of analyzing the physical mechanics of gestures in real-time, the system substitutes this with comparing stored trace pattern data, reducing computational complexity while maintaining gesture recognition capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple authentication methods are supported, then user accessibility is improved, but authentication process time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a staged authentication approach where basic pointing device interaction (movement and key clicks) is captured and processed. This partial action approach allows the system to authenticate users using essential gesture elements without requiring complete or overly complex gesture sequences, reducing authentication time while maintaining versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for performing user authentication using pointing device gestures are disclosed. An example method includes receiving, by a computing device, input data from a pointing device that is operatively coupled with the computing device, where the received input data corresponds with a user gesture, and comparing the received user gesture with one or more authorized user gestures to determine if the received user gesture matches one of the authorized user gestures, where each of the one or more authorized user gestures corresponds with at least one of a respective username and a respective password. If the received user gesture matches one of the authorized user gestures, the example method include granting access to the computing device and/or a user account. If the received user gesture does not match any of the authorized user gestures, the example method includes denying access to the computing device and/or the user account.