Office Action 1: Notice of Allowance (2024-09-05)

CLAIMS:
AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS

This listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listing, of claims in the application:

1\. (Original) An electronic device, comprising:one or more biometric sensors;
a display;
one or more processors; and
memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
receiving a request to perform an operation that requires authentication; and
in response to receiving the request to perform the operation that requires authentication, attempting to authenticate a user;
in accordance with a determination that authentication is successful, performing the operation; and
in accordance with a determination that authentication is not successful and that a set of error condition criteria is met:
displaying, via the display, an indication of a location of the one or more biometric sensors on the electronic device, wherein the indication is a graphical indicator that is displayed at a respective location on the display that is a first distance from a first edge of the electronic device, wherein the first edge of the electronic device corresponds to the location of the one or more biometric sensors on the electronic device, and wherein the respective location on display is a second distance from a second edge of the electronic device, wherein the second edge is opposite from the first edge, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; and forgoing performing the operation.
2\. (Original) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the request to perform the operation that requires authentication is received while the electronic device is in an unlocked state.

3\. (Original) The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more programs further including instructions for:in accordance with a determination that authentication is not successful and that the set of error condition criteria is not met:
forgoing displaying, on the display, the indication of the location of the one or more biometric sensors on the electronic device; and
forgoing performing the operation.
4\. (Original) The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more programs further including instructions for:
subsequent to displaying the indication of the location of the one or more biometric sensors on the electronic device, in accordance with a determination that the set of error condition criteria is no longer met, retrying authentication.

5\. (Original) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the set of error condition criteria includes a criterion that is met when the one or more biometric sensors are occluded.

6\. (Original) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein attempting to authenticate the user includes:obtaining data via the one or more biometric sensors; and
determining that at least a portion of a biometric feature, determined based on the data obtained from the one or more biometric sensors that corresponds to the biometric feature, satisfies authentication criteria.

7\. (Original) The electronic device of claim 6, wherein:the one or more biometric sensors includes a camera; and
the data obtained by the one or more biometric sensors that corresponds to the biometric feature includes data obtained using the camera.

8\. (Original) The electronic device of claim 6, wherein:
the biometric feature corresponds to a face;
the data obtained from the one or more biometric sensors that corresponds to the biometric feature includes data associated with a portion of the face; and
the authentication criteria includes a requirement that the data associated with the face match biometric data associated with an authorized face in order for the authentication criteria to be met.
9\. (Original) The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more programs further including instructions for:
prior to receiving the request to perform the operation that requires authentication,
displaying, via the display, an application user interface corresponding to an application, wherein the application user interface includes a first affordance for performing an operation that requires authentication.

10\. (Original) The electronic device of claim 9, the one or more programs further including instructions for:while attempting to authenticate the user and while displaying the application user interface, displaying a biometric authentication interface.

11\. (Original) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the biometric authentication interface is at least partially translucent.

12\. (Original) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the biometric authentication interface is displayed over a portion of the application user interface.

13\. (Original) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein performing the operation includes transitioning the electronic device from a locked state to an unlocked state.

14\. (Original) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein performing the operation includes autofilling fillable fields with credential information.

15\. (Original) The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the credential information includes information associated with log-in information.

16\. (Original) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the indication of the location of the one or more biometric sensors includes a graphical indicator.

17\. (Original) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with one or more biometric sensors and a display, the one or more programs including instructions for:receiving a request to perform an operation that requires authentication; and
in response to receiving the request to perform the operation that requires authentication, attempting to authenticate a user;
in accordance with a determination that authentication is successful, performing the operation; and
in accordance with a determination that authentication is not successful and that a set of error condition criteria is met:
displaying, via the display, an indication of a location of the one or more biometric sensors on the electronic device, wherein the indication is a graphical indicator that is displayed at a respective location on the display that is a first distance from a first edge of the electronic device, wherein the first edge of the electronic device corresponds to the location of the one or more biometric sensors on the electronic device, and wherein the respective location on display is a second distance from a second edge of the electronic device, wherein the second edge is opposite from the first edge, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; and forgoing performing the operation.

18\. (Original) A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with one or more biometric sensors and a display:
receiving a request to perform an operation that requires authentication; and
in response to receiving the request to perform the operation that requires authentication, attempting to authenticate a user;
in accordance with a determination that authentication is successful, performing the operation; and
in accordance with a determination that authentication is not successful and that a set of error condition criteria is met:
displaying, via the display, an indication of a location of the one or more biometric sensors on the electronic device, wherein the indication is a graphical indicator that is displayed at a respective location on the display that is a first distance from a first edge of the electronic device, wherein the first edge of the electronic device corresponds to the location of the one or more biometric sensors on the electronic device, and wherein the respective location on display is a second distance from a second edge of the electronic device, wherein the second edge is opposite from the first edge, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; and forgoing performing the operation.

19\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the request to perform the operation that requires authentication is received while the electronic device is in an unlocked state.

20\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, the one or more programs further including instructions for:in accordance with a determination that authentication is not successful and that the set of error condition criteria is not met:
forgoing displaying, on the display, the indication of the location of the one or more biometric sensors on the electronic device; and
forgoing performing the operation.

21\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, the one or more programs further including instructions for:subsequent to displaying the indication of the location of the one or more biometric sensors on the electronic device, in accordance with a determination that the set of error condition criteria is no longer met, retrying authentication.

22\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the set of error condition criteria includes a criterion that is met when the one or more biometric sensors are occluded.

23\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein attempting to authenticate the user includes:obtaining data via the one or more biometric sensors; and
determining that at least a portion of a biometric feature, determined based on the data obtained from the one or more biometric sensors that corresponds to the biometric feature, satisfies authentication criteria.

24\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein:the one or more biometric sensors includes a camera; and
the data obtained by the one or more biometric sensors that corresponds to the biometric feature includes data obtained using the camera.

25\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein:the biometric feature corresponds to a face;
the data obtained from the one or more biometric sensors that corresponds to the biometric feature includes data associated with a portion of the face; and
the authentication criteria includes a requirement that the data associated with the face match biometric data associated with an authorized face in order for the authentication criteria to be met.

26\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, the one or more programs further including instructions for:prior to receiving the request to perform the operation that requires authentication,
displaying, via the display, an application user interface corresponding to an application, wherein the application user interface includes a first affordance for performing an operation that requires authentication.

27\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, the one or more programs further including instructions for:while attempting to authenticate the user and while displaying the application user interface, displaying a biometric authentication interface.

28\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the biometric authentication interface is at least partially translucent.

29\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the biometric authentication interface is displayed over a portion of the application user interface.

30\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein performing the operation includes transitioning the electronic device from a locked state to an unlocked state.

31\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein performing the operation includes autofilling fillable fields with credential information.

32\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the credential information includes information associated with log-in information.

33\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the indication of the location of the one or more biometric sensors includes a graphical indicator.

34\. (New) The method of claim 18, wherein the request to perform the operation that requires authentication is received while the electronic device is in an unlocked state.

35\. (New) The method of claim 18, further comprising:in accordance with a determination that authentication is not successful and that the set of error condition criteria is not met:
forgoing displaying, on the display, the indication of the location of the one or more biometric sensors on the electronic device; and
forgoing performing the operation.

36\. (New) The method of claim 18, further comprising:subsequent to displaying the indication of the location of the one or more biometric sensors on the electronic device, in accordance with a determination that the set of error condition criteria is no longer met, retrying authentication.

37\. (New) The method of claim 18, wherein the set of error condition criteria includes a criterion that is met when the one or more biometric sensors are occluded.

38\. (New) The method of claim 18, wherein attempting to authenticate the user includes:obtaining data via the one or more biometric sensors; and
determining that at least a portion of a biometric feature, determined based on the data obtained from the one or more biometric sensors that corresponds to the biometric feature, satisfies authentication criteria.

39\. (New) The method of claim 38, wherein:the one or more biometric sensors includes a camera; and

the data obtained by the one or more biometric sensors that corresponds to the biometric feature includes data obtained using the camera.

40\. (New) The method of claim 38, wherein:the biometric feature corresponds to a face;
the data obtained from the one or more biometric sensors that corresponds to the biometric feature includes data associated with a portion of the face; and
the authentication criteria includes a requirement that the data associated with the face match biometric data associated with an authorized face in order for the authentication criteria to be met.

41\. (New) The method of claim 18, further comprising:prior to receiving the request to perform the operation that requires authentication,
displaying, via the display, an application user interface corresponding to an application, wherein the application user interface includes a first affordance for performing an operation that requires authentication.

42\. (New) The method of claim 41, further comprising:while attempting to authenticate the user and while displaying the application user interface, displaying a biometric authentication interface.

43\. (New) The method of claim 42, wherein the biometric authentication interface is at least partially translucent.

44\. (New) The method of claim 42, wherein the biometric authentication interface is displayed over a portion of the application user interface.

45\. (New) The method of claim 18, wherein performing the operation includes transitioning the electronic device from a locked state to an unlocked state.

46\. (New) The method of claim 18, wherein performing the operation includes autofilling filable fields with credential information.

47\. (New) The method of claim 46, wherein the credential information includes information associated with log-in information.

48\. (New) The method of claim 18, wherein the indication of the location of the one or more biometric sensors includes a graphical indicator.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Reasons for Allowance
Claims 1-48 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
A Terminal Disclaimer was filed on 8/26/24 against commonly owned US Patent 11,928,200 to overcome Non-Statutory Double Patenting.
The primary reason for allowance is that the prior art of record fails to teach or render obvious the following subject matter in combination with other elements of the independent:  “in accordance with a determination that authentication is not successful and that a set of error condition criteria is met: displaying, via the display, an indication of a location of the one or more biometric sensors on the electronic device, wherein the indication is a graphical indicator that is displayed at a respective location on the display that is a first distance from a first edge of the electronic device, wherein the first edge of the electronic device corresponds to the location of the one or more biometric sensors on the electronic device, and wherein the respective location on display is a second distance from a second edge of the electronic device, wherein the second edge is opposite from the first edge, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; and forgoing performing the operation.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion



CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US11928200: Claims:
1. An electronic device, comprising:
a biometric sensor;
a touch-sensitive display;
one or more processors; and
memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
detecting occurrence of an error condition for detecting biometric information at the biometric sensor;
in response to detecting the occurrence of the error condition, displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, an indication of a location of the biometric sensor on the electronic device, wherein the indication is a graphical indicator that is displayed at a respective location on the touch-sensitive display that is a first distance from a first edge of the electronic device, wherein the first edge of the electronic device corresponds to the location of the biometric sensor on the electronic device, and wherein the respective location on the touch-sensitive display is a second distance from a second edge of the electronic device, wherein the second edge is opposite from the first edge, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance;
while displaying the indication of the location of the biometric sensor on the electronic device, detecting a request to unlock the electronic device using the biometric sensor; and
in response to detecting the request to unlock the electronic device using the biometric sensor:
in accordance with a determination that the error condition is still occurring at a respective time that occurs after detecting the request to unlock the electronic device:
ceasing to display the indication of the location of the biometric sensor; and
displaying a touch-based user interface for entering touch-based authentication information; and

in accordance with a determination that the error condition is no longer occurring, attempting to unlock the electronic device using the biometric sensor.
2. The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more programs including instructions for:
while displaying the touch-based user interface for entering touch-based authentication information, detecting a touch input sequence on the touch-sensitive display;
in response to detecting the touch input sequence:
in accordance with a determination that the touch input sequence matches authorized credentials, transitioning the electronic device from a locked state to an unlocked state; and
in accordance with a determination that the touch input sequence does not match authorized credentials, maintaining the electronic device in a locked state.
3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the respective time is a time that occurs after a predetermined delay time period from when the request to unlock the electronic device using the biometric sensor was detected.
4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein attempting to unlock the electronic device includes:
in accordance with a determination that biometric authentication is successful, unlocking the electronic device; and
in accordance with a determination that biometric authentication is not successful, displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, an alternative authentication user interface.
5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the occurrence of the error condition includes a requirement that the biometric sensor is covered in order for the error condition to occur.
6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the occurrence of the error condition includes a requirement that the touch-sensitive display is on for the error condition to occur.
7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the occurrence of the error condition includes a requirement that an input corresponding to a request to attempt biometric authentication has been met in order for the error condition to occur.
8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the occurrence of the error condition includes a requirement that a maximum number of failed authentication attempts has not yet been reached in order for the error condition to occur.
9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the occurrence of the error condition includes a requirement that the electronic device is oriented so that the biometric sensor is not directed to a portion of a biometric feature that can be used for biometric authentication in order for the error condition to occur.
10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the indication includes an instruction to change a pose of a biometric feature toward the biometric sensor.
11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the indication includes a text description of where the biometric sensor is located.
12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the indication includes a pictorial illustration of a location of the biometric sensor.
13. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the indication includes an animation that illustrates a location of the biometric sensor.
14. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the occurrence of the error condition is detected when the error condition is of a first type, the one or more programs including instructions for:
in response to detecting occurrence of a second type of error condition, displaying an indication of the occurrence of the second type of error condition without displaying an indication of the location of the biometric sensor.
15. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the determination that the error condition is no longer occurring is made subsequent to detecting the request to unlock the electronic device using the biometric sensor and while displaying the indication of the location of the biometric sensor.
16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a biometric sensor and a touch-sensitive display, the one or more programs including instructions for:
detecting occurrence of an error condition for detecting biometric information at the biometric sensor;
in response to detecting the occurrence of the error condition, displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, an indication of a location of the biometric sensor on the electronic device, wherein the indication is a graphical indicator that is displayed at a respective location on the touch-sensitive display that is a first distance from a first edge of the electronic device, wherein the first edge of the electronic device corresponds to the location of the biometric sensor on the electronic device, and wherein the respective location on the touch-sensitive display is a second distance from a second edge of the electronic device, wherein the second edge is opposite from the first edge, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance;
while displaying the indication of the location of the biometric sensor on the electronic device, detecting a request to unlock the electronic device using the biometric sensor; and
in response to detecting the request to unlock the electronic device using the biometric sensor:
in accordance with a determination that the error condition is still occurring at a respective time that occurs after detecting the request to unlock the electronic device:
ceasing to display the indication of the location of the biometric sensor; and
displaying a touch-based user interface for entering touch-based authentication information; and

in accordance with a determination that the error condition is no longer occurring, attempting to unlock the electronic device using the biometric sensor.
17. A method, comprising:
at an electronic device with a biometric sensor and a touch-sensitive display:
detecting occurrence of an error condition for detecting biometric information at the biometric sensor;
in response to detecting the occurrence of the error condition, displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, an indication of a location of the biometric sensor on the electronic device, wherein the indication is a graphical indicator that is displayed at a respective location on the touch-sensitive display that is a first distance from a first edge of the electronic device, wherein the first edge of the electronic device corresponds to the location of the biometric sensor on the electronic device, and wherein the respective location on the touch-sensitive display is a second distance from a second edge of the electronic device, wherein the second edge is opposite from the first edge, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance;
while displaying the indication of the location of the biometric sensor on the electronic device, detecting a request to unlock the electronic device using the biometric sensor; and
in response to detecting the request to unlock the electronic device using the biometric sensor:
in accordance with a determination that the error condition is still occurring at a respective time that occurs after detecting the request to unlock the electronic device:
ceasing to display the indication of the location of the biometric sensor; and
displaying a touch-based user interface for entering touch-based authentication information; and

in accordance with a determination that the error condition is no longer occurring, attempting to unlock the electronic device using the biometric sensor.
18. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the request to unlock the electronic device using the biometric sensor is detected via the touch-sensitive display.
19. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein using the biometric sensor includes obtaining data that corresponds to facial features.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, the one or more programs including instructions for:
while displaying the touch-based user interface for entering touch-based authentication information, detecting a touch input sequence on the touch-sensitive display;
in response to detecting the touch input sequence:
in accordance with a determination that the touch input sequence matches authorized credentials, transitioning the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium from a locked state to an unlocked state; and
in accordance with a determination that the touch input sequence does not match authorized credentials, maintaining the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in a locked state.
21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the respective time is a time that occurs after a predetermined delay time period from when the request to unlock the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium using the biometric sensor was detected.
22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein attempting to unlock the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium includes:
in accordance with a determination that biometric authentication is successful, unlocking the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and
in accordance with a determination that biometric authentication is not successful, displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, an alternative authentication user interface.
23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the occurrence of the error condition includes a requirement that the biometric sensor is covered in order for the error condition to occur.
24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the occurrence of the error condition includes a requirement that the touch-sensitive display is on for the error condition to occur.
25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the occurrence of the error condition includes a requirement that an input corresponding to a request to attempt biometric authentication has been met in order for the error condition to occur.
26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the occurrence of the error condition includes a requirement that a maximum number of failed authentication attempts has not yet been reached in order for the error condition to occur.
27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the occurrence of the error condition includes a requirement that the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is oriented so that the biometric sensor is not directed to a portion of a biometric feature that can be used for biometric authentication in order for the error condition to occur.
28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the indication includes an instruction to change a pose of a biometric feature toward the biometric sensor.
29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the indication includes a text description of where the biometric sensor is located.
30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the indication includes a pictorial illustration of a location of the biometric sensor.
31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the indication includes an animation that illustrates a location of the biometric sensor.
32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the occurrence of the error condition is detected when the error condition is of a first type, the one or more programs including instructions for:
in response to detecting occurrence of a second type of error condition, displaying an indication of the occurrence of the second type of error condition without displaying an indication of the location of the biometric sensor.
33. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the determination that the error condition is no longer occurring is made subsequent to detecting the request to unlock the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium using the biometric sensor and while displaying the indication of the location of the biometric sensor.
34. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the request to unlock the electronic device using the biometric sensor is detected via the touch-sensitive display.
35. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein using the biometric sensor includes obtaining data that corresponds to facial features.
36. The method of claim 17, further comprising:
while displaying the touch-based user interface for entering touch-based authentication information, detecting a touch input sequence on the touch-sensitive display;
in response to detecting the touch input sequence:
in accordance with a determination that the touch input sequence matches authorized credentials, transitioning the method from a locked state to an unlocked state; and
in accordance with a determination that the touch input sequence does not match authorized credentials, maintaining the method in a locked state.
37. The method of claim 17, wherein the respective time is a time that occurs after a predetermined delay time period from when the request to unlock the method using the biometric sensor was detected.
38. The method of claim 17, wherein attempting to unlock the method includes:
in accordance with a determination that biometric authentication is successful, unlocking the method; and
in accordance with a determination that biometric authentication is not successful, displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, an alternative authentication user interface.
39. The method of claim 17, wherein the occurrence of the error condition includes a requirement that the biometric sensor is covered in order for the error condition to occur.
40. The method of claim 17, wherein the occurrence of the error condition includes a requirement that the touch-sensitive display is on for the error condition to occur.
41. The method of claim 17, wherein the occurrence of the error condition includes a requirement that an input corresponding to a request to attempt biometric authentication has been met in order for the error condition to occur.
42. The method of claim 17, wherein the occurrence of the error condition includes a requirement that a maximum number of failed authentication attempts has not yet been reached in order for the error condition to occur.
43. The method of claim 17, wherein the occurrence of the error condition includes a requirement that the method is oriented so that the biometric sensor is not directed to a portion of a biometric feature that can be used for biometric authentication in order for the error condition to occur.
44. The method of claim 17, wherein the indication includes an instruction to change a pose of a biometric feature toward the biometric sensor.
45. The method of claim 17, wherein the indication includes a text description of where the biometric sensor is located.
46. The method of claim 17, wherein the indication includes a pictorial illustration of a location of the biometric sensor.
47. The method of claim 17, wherein the indication includes an animation that illustrates a location of the biometric sensor.
48. The method of claim 17, wherein the occurrence of the error condition is detected when the error condition is of a first type, further comprising:
in response to detecting occurrence of a second type of error condition, displaying an indication of the occurrence of the second type of error condition without displaying an indication of the location of the biometric sensor.
49. The method of claim 17, wherein the determination that the error condition is no longer occurring is made subsequent to detecting the request to unlock the method using the biometric sensor and while displaying the indication of the location of the biometric sensor.
50. The method of claim 17, wherein the request to unlock the electronic device using the biometric sensor is detected via the touch-sensitive display.
51. The method of claim 17, wherein using the biometric sensor includes obtaining data that corresponds to facial features.