Patent ID: 7130454
Filing Date: 2006-10-31
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
1. In a portable consumer apparatus having a processor capable of generating a representation corresponding to a facial image in a face space defined as a set of features that together characterize a variation between face images within a reference set of facial images, a method for authenticating a user of the portable consumer apparatus so that an authenticated user can access the portable consumer apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: capturing an image of the user attempting to use the portable consumer apparatus with an imaging means associated with the portable consumer apparatus; generating a representation of the captured image in the face space, wherein generating a representation of the captured image in the face space comprises the steps of: comparing the representation of the captured image with representations of facial images stored in a portable memory device accessible to the portable consumer device; determining if the user whose facial image was captured is an authorized user of the portable consumer device by determining if the comparison of the captured image and a selected stored image is within one or more selected values; and granting or denying access to the portable consumer apparatus based on the determination of whether the user is an authorized user.