U.S. patent application number 11/645637 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-23 for fingerprint recognizing display system and operating method thereof.
Invention is credited to Young Hun Choi, Jong Hwa Shin.
Application Number | 20070196002 11/645637 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19619036 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070196002 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Choi; Young Hun ; et
al. |
August 23, 2007 |
Fingerprint recognizing display system and operating method
thereof
Abstract
An information device recognizing a fingerprint, the information
device having a fingerprint data base storing registered
fingerprint data; a fingerprint verifying unit comparing
fingerprint data transmitted from an external device to the
fingerprint verifying unit; and a kernel of an operating system of
the information device permitting access to a program stored in the
information device when the fingerprint verifying unit determines
that transmitted fingerprint data match the registered fingerprint
data, wherein the kernel determines whether the fingerprint data
base has been established in the information device, recognizes
that the external device and the information device have been
activated and performs a fingerprint registration routine when it
is determined that the fingerprint data base has not been
established.
Inventors: |
Choi; Young Hun;
(Suwon-city, KR) ; Shin; Jong Hwa; (Yongin-city,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Robert E. Bushnell
Suite 300
1522 K Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
19619036 |
Appl. No.: |
11/645637 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09671671 |
Sep 28, 2000 |
7239728 |
|
|
11645637 |
Dec 27, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
382/124 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 2200/1611 20130101;
G06F 2200/1612 20130101; G06F 21/32 20130101; G06F 1/1601
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
382/124 |
International
Class: |
G06K 9/00 20060101
G06K009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 8, 1999 |
KR |
P1999-49230 |
Claims
1. An information device recognizing a fingerprint, the information
device comprising: a fingerprint data base storing registered
fingerprint data; a fingerprint verifying unit comparing
fingerprint data transmitted from an external device to the
fingerprint verifying unit; and a kernel of an operating system of
the information device permitting access to a program stored in the
information device when the fingerprint verifying unit determines
that transmitted fingerprint data match the registered fingerprint
data, wherein the kernel determines whether the fingerprint data
base has been established in the information device, recognizes
that the external device and the information device have been
activated and performs a fingerprint registration routine when it
is determined that the fingerprint data base has not been
established.
2. The information device according to claim 1, wherein the kernel
determines whether the external device is a fingerprint recognizing
device when it is determined that the fingerprint data base has
been established.
3. The information device according to claim 2, wherein the
external device comprises a monitor including a fingerprint
recognizing module including a fingerprint image recognizing unit
and transmitting the fingerprint data recognized by the fingerprint
image recognizing unit to the information device.
4. An information device recognizing a fingerprint, the information
device comprising: a fingerprint data base storing registered
fingerprint data; a kernel of an operating system of the
information device; and a fingerprint verifying unit comparing
fingerprint data transmitted from an external device to the
fingerprint verifying unit and controlling the kernel to execute a
program stored in the information device when the fingerprint
verifying unit determines that the transmitted fingerprint data
match the registered fingerprint data, wherein the kernel
determines whether the fingerprint data base has been established
in the information device, recognizes that the external device and
the information device have been activated and performs a
fingerprint registration routine when it is determined that the
fingerprint data base has not been established.
5. The information device according to claim 4, wherein the kernel
determines whether the external device is a fingerprint recognizing
device when it is determined that the fingerprint data base has
been established.
6. The information device according to claim 5, wherein the
external device comprises a monitor including a fingerprint
recognizing module including a fingerprint image recognizing unit
and transmitting the fingerprint data recognized by the fingerprint
image recognizing unit to the information device.
7. An information device recognizing a fingerprint, the information
device comprising: a fingerprint data base storing registered
fingerprint data; a fingerprint verifying unit comparing
fingerprint data transmitted from an external device to the
fingerprint verifying unit; and a kernel of an operating system of
the information device permitting access to electronic commerce
through the information device when the fingerprint verifying
device determines that the transmitted fingerprint data match the
registered fingerprint data, wherein the kernel determines whether
the fingerprint data base has been established in the information
device, recognizes that the external device and the information
device have been activated and performs a fingerprint registration
routine when it is determined that the fingerprint data base has
not been established.
8. The information device according to claim 7, wherein the kernel
determines whether the external device is a fingerprint recognizing
device when it is determined that the fingerprint data base has
been established.
9. The information device according to claim 8, wherein the
external device comprises a monitor including a fingerprint
recognizing module including a fingerprint image recognizing unit
and transmitting the fingerprint data recognized by the fingerprint
image recognizing unit to the information device.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/671,671, filed 28 Sep. 2000.
[0002] This application makes reference to, incorporates the same
herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C .sctn.119
from an application entitled Fingerprint Recognizing Display And
Operating Method Thereof earlier filed in the Korean Industrial
Property Office on 8 Nov. 1999, and there duly assigned Serial No.
99-49230 by that Office.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the invention
[0004] The present invention relates to a display system, more
particularly, to a fingerprint recognizing display system including
fingerprint recognizing means in a panel of a display apparatus and
an operating method thereof, wherein a fingerprint of an user is
read and a program supported by a computer is allowed to be
operated only if the read fingerprint is registered in a
fingerprint data base of the computer.
[0005] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0006] As the environment related to the Internet and the personal
computer (PC) rapidly changes, there is an increasing problem that
a hacker, i.e., an unauthorized user, can gain access to files,
personal or company information on the computer which in turn can
be damaged, downloaded or deleted. Additionally all the information
in a computer can disappear because of a virus. Accordingly, it
becomes necessary to be able to increase the security of the
computer or other hosts, such as a terminal unit, network or
network-based system to prevent the above problems.
[0007] To resolve the above problems, a computer connected to a
network includes features such as required password access in order
to protect the information therein. However, sometimes a password
is chosen as a word easily guessed or a common word easily searched
by a search program using dictionary data base. Therefore, an
unauthorized user can discover the password and gain access to the
data on the computer.
[0008] To resolve the problem regarding password protection, a
fingerprint recognizing module has been applied to a computer
system, wherein a fingerprint data base is established after
obtaining the fingerprint of authorized users. Thus, when one
desires to gain access to the data on the computer system, or
operate a program therein, their fingerprint is compared to the
data in the fingerprint data base before they are permitted to use
the computer.
[0009] For example, such systems were disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,838,306 to Clint O'Conner et al. and entitled Mouse With Security
Feature and U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,936 to Greg P. Fitzpatrick et al.
and entitled Method And Apparatus For Accessing Touch Screen
Desktop Objects Via Fingerprint Recognition.
[0010] The invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,936 provides
touch-sensitive fields on a computer display for user selection.
Upon selecting one of the fields with a fingertip, a fingerprint
therefrom is analyzed and compared to a list of authorized
fingerprints. Once the fingerprint passes inspection, the user is
granted access to the underlying program. It is difficult, however,
to apply this invention to a general monitor since a touch screen
is required.
[0011] The invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,838,306 utilizes
a computer mouse as an input peripheral device which includes a
window area integrally constructed within the mouse and positioned
at an area on the mouse upon which a user normally places a finger
in operating the mouse. The mouse further includes an illuminating
device and a light sensitive detection device for providing a user
signature signal representative of the characteristics of the ridge
and valley pattern of the fingerprint of a finger placed upon the
window area. The signature signal is transmitted to a BIOS within
the computer system in which the mouse is operating and compared
with one or more stored patterns which have previously been
authorized for access to the computer system. When the user's
signature signal is compared with and matches one of the stored and
approved signature signals, the system is enabled and the user is
granted access. However, if a fingerprint recognizing module is
included into a mouse, it is inconvenient to use the mouse because
the weight and size of the mouse are increased.
[0012] Also, users often pick up the mouse to move it and in so
doing they may drop the it. Thus, a fingerprint recognizing module
or a fingerprint recognizing unit within the mouse may be damaged
due to the shock caused by its being dropped, and a user's
fingerprint may not be correctly recognized. In addition, some
computer systems may not need a mouse, but in order to incorporate
the fingerprint recognition disclosed in the 5,838,306 patent, one
must buy the mouse having the features disclosed therein. Also, a
fingerprint recognizing module is automatically changed at the time
of changing a mouse according to the prior art, and the user is
charged an unreasonable cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
a fingerprint recognizing display system including fingerprint
recognizing module into a panel of a display apparatus and an
operating method thereof, wherein an user's fingerprint data is
read, the read fingerprint data is transmitted to a computer main
body by using a communication unit included in a fingerprint
recognizing module of a display apparatus, and a program supported
by the computer main body will be operated only if the fingerprint
data transmitted from the display apparatus is included in the
fingerprint data registered into the computer main body.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
fingerprint recognizing display system and an operating method
thereof, wherein a panel of a display apparatus includes
fingerprint recognizing module, the fingerprint recognizing module
reads fingerprint data of the user, the read fingerprint data is
transmitted to a computer main body by using its own communication
protocol of the display apparatus, and a program supported from the
computer can be operated only if the transmitted fingerprint data
is registered in the computer main body.
[0015] To achieve the above objects, there is provided, an
information device recognizing a fingerprint, the information
device having a fingerprint data base storing registered
fingerprint data; a fingerprint verifying unit comparing
fingerprint data transmitted from an external device to the
fingerprint verifying unit; and a kernel of an operating system of
the information device permitting access to a program stored in the
information device when the fingerprint verifying unit determines
that transmitted fingerprint data match the registered fingerprint
data, wherein the kernel determines whether the fingerprint data
base has been established in the information device, recognizes
that the external device and the information device have been
activated and performs a fingerprint registration routine when it
is determined that the fingerprint data base has not been
established.
[0016] Additionally, there is provided an information device
recognizing a fingerprint, the information device having a
fingerprint data base storing registered fingerprint data; a kernel
of an operating system of the information device; and a fingerprint
verifying unit comparing fingerprint data transmitted from an
external device to the fingerprint verifying unit and controlling
the kernel to execute a program stored in the information device
when the fingerprint verifying unit determines that the transmitted
fingerprint data match the registered fingerprint data, wherein the
kernel determines whether the fingerprint data base has been
established in the information device, recognizes that the external
device and the information device have been activated and performs
a fingerprint registration routine when it is determined that the
fingerprint data base has not been established.
[0017] Further, there is provided an information device recognizing
a fingerprint, the information device having a fingerprint data
base storing registered fingerprint data; a fingerprint verifying
unit comparing fingerprint data transmitted from an external device
to the fingerprint verifying unit; and a kernel of an operating
system of the information device permitting access to electronic
commerce through the information device when the fingerprint
verifying device determines that the transmitted fingerprint data
match the registered fingerprint data, wherein the kernel
determines whether the fingerprint data base has been established
in the information device, recognizes that the external device and
the information device have been activated and performs a
fingerprint registration routine when it is determined that the
fingerprint data base has not been established.
[0018] The information device kernel determines whether the
external device is a fingerprint recognizing device when it is
determined that the fingerprint data base has been established.
[0019] The external device comprises a monitor including a
fingerprint recognizing module including a fingerprint image
recognizing unit and transmitting the fingerprint data recognized
by the fingerprint image recognizing unit to the information
device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] A more complete appreciation of the present invention, and
many of the attendant advantages thereof, will become readily
apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the
following detailed description when considered in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate
the same or similar components, wherein:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a general
monitor.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an embodiment according to the
present invention.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating another embodiment according
to the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a cathode ray tube
(CRT) display unit to which a fingerprint recognizing part shown in
FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 is applied.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a display
apparatus for a liquid crystal display (LCD) to which a fingerprint
recognizing part shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 is applied.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating steps according to the
present invention applied to an operating system's (O/S) kernel
mode.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a management and a
registration of fingerprint data applied to the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating steps according to the
present invention applied to a screen protecting mode.
[0029] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a routine
encoding/decoding a file by using the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0030] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention
will be described in details with reference to the accompanying
drawings. The term "display system" used in the present invention
means a total system including a display apparatus 100 and a
computer main body 200.
[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a general monitor
M. FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 2, a display system comprises a display
apparatus 100 including a fingerprint recognizing module 110,
recognizing an user's fingerprint through the fingerprint
recognizing module 110 and outputting the recognized fingerprint
data through a first communication unit 113 included in fingerprint
recognizing module 110, and a computer main body 200 including a
fingerprint data base 210 and fingerprint verifying unit 220,
receiving fingerprint data output from display apparatus 100
through a second communication unit 240, deciding whether the input
fingerprint data is an approved fingerprint data through
fingerprint data base 210 and fingerprint verifying unit 220, and
driving a program only if the input fingerprint data is
approved.
[0032] Fingerprint recognizing module 110 in display apparatus 100
comprises a fingerprint image recognizing unit 111 providing a
fingerprint sign of an user representing the user's fingerprint, a
converter 112 converting analog fingerprint data input from the
fingerprint image recognizing unit 111 to digital fingerprint data,
and communication unit 113 outputting the digital fingerprint data
to communication unit 240 in computer main body 200.
[0033] Fingerprint image recognizing unit 111 can be embodied by an
optical sensing method using a prism or hologram sensing method and
a non-optical sensing method using a sensor array, ultrasonic or
magnetic sensing method.
[0034] The display apparatus 100 also comprises a memory 130, an
image signal processing unit 140 and a microprocessor 120.
[0035] Fingerprint verifying unit 220 in computer main body 200
comprises a distinctive feature detecting unit 221 detecting a
distinctive feature of the fingerprint data input by communication
unit 240, a fingerprint matching/recording unit 222 decoding the
encoded fingerprint data stored in the fingerprint data base 210
through a decoding unit 224, comparing the decoded fingerprint data
with the fingerprint data input from distinctive feature detecting
unit 221 and storing new fingerprint data into fingerprint data
base 210 after encoding the same through an encoding unit 225 if
any new fingerprint data is input through communication unit 240,
and a recognizing unit 223 outputting a "pass" signal or a "fail"
signal by using the result input from fingerprint
matching/recording unit 222.
[0036] Computer main body 200 further comprises a video card 230, a
central processing unit (CPU) 250, a memory 260, and a ROM 270.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a view showing another embodiment according to the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, a display system comprises a
display apparatus 100a which includes a fingerprint recognizing
module 110a, recognizing the user's fingerprint through the
fingerprint recognizing module 110a, receiving the recognized
fingerprint data into microprocessor 120 and outputting the same to
a computer main body 200 through its own communication protocol,
wherein the computer main body 200, including fingerprint data base
210 and fingerprint verifying unit 220, receives the fingerprint
data input from display apparatus 100 through a communication
protocol input to video card 230 and drives a program only if the
received fingerprint is approved by fingerprint data base 210 and
fingerprint verifying unit 220.
[0038] Fingerprint recognizing module 110a comprises fingerprint
image recognizing unit 111 providing a fingerprint sign of the user
representing the user's fingerprint and converter 112 converting
analog fingerprint data input from the fingerprint image
recognizing unit 111 to digital fingerprint data and outputting the
latter to microprocessor 120 included in display apparatus 100.
[0039] The fingerprint image recognizing unit 111 shown in FIGS. 2
and 3 can be applied to a CRT display apparatus or a display
apparatus for a LCD as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In other words, the
fingerprint image recognizing unit 111 reading the user's
fingerprint is installed in a front cover 300 of a LCD or CRT
display apparatus and a front or side panel of the front cover
300.
[0040] Additionally, the fingerprint image recognizing unit 111 is
formed integrally at a power switch 11a and a power on/off signal
of a display unit is output if the power switch 111a is deeply
pressed. Generally, the power switch 111a is used as the
fingerprint image recognizing unit 111 and reads the user's
fingerprint if the user touches the power switch.
[0041] The other compositions of the display apparatus 100 and the
computer main body 200 are not different from the above embodiment
and will not be described in details.
[0042] An operation of the display system recognizing a fingerprint
according to the present invention will be described with reference
to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6-9.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating steps according to the
present invention applied to an O/S kernel mode. When the user
turns on the power of a display apparatus 100 and a computer main
body 200, the computer main body 200 decides whether a fingerprint
data base 210 is established (S500).
[0044] If the fingerprint data base 210 is not established, the
computer main body 200 recognizes a display system as being
activated, controls the total system to maintain the display system
in an active state (S505). Thereafter, a fingerprint registration
step (S510) is enabled and fingerprint data is registered (stored)
in fingerprint data base 210.
[0045] When it is determined in step S500 that fingerprint data
base 210 is established in the computer main body 200, the computer
main body 200 decides whether a monitor, i. e., CRT or LCD,
connected to the computer main body 200 is a fingerprint
recognizing monitor (S515).
[0046] When it is determined in step S515 that the monitor is not a
fingerprint recognizing monitor 100, the computer main body 200
recognizes (S520) the monitor as having an abnormal status and the
total system is not operated (S520).
[0047] When it is determined in step S515 that the monitor is a
fingerprint recognizing monitor, the fingerprint recognizing unit
111 reads a fingerprint of a user and decides whether the
fingerprint image is normally received (S530). When it is
determined that a fingerprint image is normally received, the
normally received fingerprint image is converted to digital
fingerprint data and transmitted to the computer main body 200
(S535). At this time, when the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is used,
the fingerprint data is transmitted to communication unit 240 in
the computer main body 200 through communication unit 113 included
in a fingerprint recognizing module 110. On the other hand, when
the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is used, the fingerprint data is
output to microprocessor 120 in display unit 100 by using I.sup.2C
((IIC) Inter-IC bus), DDC (Display Data Channel) or USB (Universal
Serial Bus) communication protocol. Then, microprocessor 120
outputs the fingerprint data to video card 230 by using its own
communication protocol and communication unit 240 in the computer
main body 200 receives the fingerprint data from a communication
line of video card 230. When it is determined that a fingerprint
image is not normally received, the process returns to step S525,
and the user's fingerprint is again received.
[0048] The fingerprint data received by communication unit 240 is
input to a distinctive feature detecting unit 221 and its
distinctive feature is detected (S540). The quality of the detected
fingerprint data (namely, rate of recognition) is measured (S545).
If the quality is so poor that the detected fingerprint data can
not be compared with the registered fingerprint data in the
fingerprint data base 210, an error massage is output (S550), the
process returns to the step S525, and the user's fingerprint is
again received.
[0049] If the quality of the detected fingerprint data is good, the
detected fingerprint data is compared with the registered
fingerprint data in the fingerprint data base 210, and it is
decided whether there is the identical fingerprint in the data base
(S555 and S560).
[0050] If there is no identical fingerprint data in the registered
fingerprint data base, the display system is recognized as having
an impossible to use status and the system cannot be operated
(S565). If there is an identical fingerprint data in the registered
fingerprint data base, the available value of the recognized
fingerprint is measured (S570).
[0051] It is then decided whether the measured available value of
the fingerprint is included in a predetermined range (S575). If the
measured available value of fingerprint is included in the
predetermined range, the system is recognized as having an enabled
for use status (S580) and the system can be operated by the user.
If the measured available value of fingerprint is not included in
the predetermined range, it is decided whether the user has
attempted to input a fingerprint a number of times which exceeds a
predetermined number of times (S585). That is, the user can attempt
to input the fingerprint a predetermined number of times, and if
the number of times of inputting a fingerprint exceeds a
predetermined number of times, the system is recognized as having
an impossible to use status and the system cannot be operated
(S590). If it is determined that the number of times of inputting a
fingerprint is not in excess of a predetermined number of times, a
fingerprint re-input message is output (S595) and the process is
returned to the step S515.
[0052] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating management and
registration of fingerprint data applied to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 7, steps S615 to S655 are the same steps as steps
S515 to S555 shown in FIG. 5, and will not be described in
detail.
[0053] In the step S655, the read fingerprint data of an user is
compared with the registered fingerprint data in the fingerprint
data base 210 and it is decided whether the read fingerprint is a
fingerprint of an authorized manager (S660). If it is a fingerprint
of an authorized manager, the authorized manager is passed (S670)
and the total system is controlled to operate a fingerprint
managing and registering program (S675). If it is not a fingerprint
of an authorized manager, the total system is controlled not to be
operated since the system recognizes it as a non-authorized manager
(S665).
[0054] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a case applying the
present invention to a screen protecting mode (known in the art)
during which a screen is blank or a screen saver program is
running. As shown in FIG. 8, it is decided whether a keyboard or a
mouse is moved (S700). If the keyboard or the mouse is not moved, a
screen protecting mode continues to operate (S705). If the keyboard
or the mouse is moved, the routine proceeds with the step S710 to
the step S750 which are the same steps as step S515 to step S555 of
FIG. 5 and thus will not be described in detail.
[0055] Once the user's fingerprint data is read and compared with
the registered fingerprint data in the fingerprint data base 210 in
the steps S720-S750, it is decided whether it is a fingerprint of a
registered user (S755). If the read fingerprint is a fingerprint of
a registered user, the user is passed (S765) and the screen
protecting mode is dissolved and the total system is controlled to
be operated (S770). If it is not a fingerprint of a registered
user, the total system is controlled not to be operated (S760).
[0056] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a routine
encoding/decoding a file according to the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 9, it is decided whether a file desired to executed
is a file enabled to be encoded/decoded (S800). If the file can not
be encoded/decoded, a impossible message is output and a file
relevant to a system is executed (S805).
[0057] If the file can be encoded/decoded, steps S810 to S865 are
performed. Steps S810 to S865 are the same as steps S710 to S765
shown in FIG. 8 and will not be described in detail.
[0058] When a user's fingerprint is recognized and passed, an
encoding/decoding operation of the file is performed (S870) and the
total system is normally operated.
[0059] As stated above, the present invention provides an effect of
using easily and safely a fingerprint recognizing function by
including a fingerprint recognizing function into a display
apparatus which is the most important interface equipment for an
user in a computer environment.
[0060] In addition, the present invention has an effect resolving a
problem caused by a conventional mouse including a fingerprint
recognizing function since a fingerprint recognizing function is
included into a display apparatus.
[0061] In addition, the present invention allows only an authorized
user to enter a computer system by including a fingerprint
recognizing function into a display apparatus so that a terminal
securing function and an encoding/decoding function of important
files are provided. Also, a securing function can be more
intensified by providing a function dissolving a screen protection
through an input of fingerprint and a function approving an
transaction through a fingerprint in an electronic commerce system
later.
[0062] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention
has been described, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that the present invention should not be limited to the
described preferred embodiment, but various changes and
modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *