Method of providing content access permission to a user and a device thereof

The method and device of present disclosure relates providing content access permission to a user of the device. The device comprises an image capturing unit to scan eyeballs of the user trying to access the device. The scanning results in generation of a current scanned eyeball image. The device further matches the current scanned eyeball image with a previously scanned eyeball image of an authorized user and plurality of scanned eyeball images of plurality of other users. Based on the matching, the device determines the user as the authorized user of the device or a guest. In case of authorized user, the device provides a complete access of the device to the authorized user. However, in case of guest user, the device determines the age of the guest user and then provides the access of contents and functionalities of the device based on the age of the guest user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present subject matter is related, in general to data analytics and more particularly, to a method and device for providing the content access permission to a user of the device.

BACKGROUND

The smartphones come with lot of useful functionalities which helps a user to perform various day-to-day activities. For example, the user may use the smartphones for online shopping, payments, reading news, playing online games, accessing emails, listening to music and the like. However, in spite of having such useful functionalities, there are chances of the smartphone getting misused by a third person. The portable nature of the smartphones makes them easily accessible to the third person. The third or other person can be any unrelated person or a person from our own family or relatives of different age groups.

Children are also attracted towards the smartphones, since they get a chance to play games or access other entertainment content. While playing the games, the children may come across inappropriate content through popup links. The inappropriate content may make the children uncomfortable or may also allow the children to perform unauthorized payment. In today's busy schedule, it is not always possible to keep the children under supervision when they are accessing the smartphones or other devices. Thus, providing an age-wise content access in the field of the devices like smartphones is a challenge.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a method of providing content access permission to a user of a device. The method includes scanning at least one of eyeballs of the user trying to access the device. The scanning results in generation of a current scanned eyeball image. The method further includes matching the current scanned eyeball image with a previously scanned eyeball image of an authorized user of the device and plurality of scanned eyeball images of plurality of other users. Further, the method includes identifying the user, based on the matching, as the authorized user of the device when the current scanned eyeball image matches with the previously scanned eyeball image. Further, the method includes identifying the user, based on the matching, as a guest user when the current scanned eyeball image is matched with at least one of the plurality of scanned eyeball images. Further, the method includes providing, based on the identifying, a pre-defined content access permission to the authorized user. The method further includes determining an age of the guest user based on processing of the current scanned eyeball image relative to the at least one of the plurality of scanned eyeball images. The method further includes providing a restricted content access permission to the guest user based on the age determined for the guest user and permission policy associated with the age of the guest user.

Further, the present disclosure relates to a device for providing content access permission to a user of the device. The device comprises an image capturing unit to scan at least one of eyeballs of the user trying to access the device. The scanning results in generation of a current scanned eyeball image. The device further comprises a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor. The memory stores processor-executable instructions, which, on execution, causes the processor to match the current scanned eyeball image with a previously scanned eyeball image of an authorized user of the device and plurality of scanned eyeball images of plurality of other users. The processor further identifies the user, based on the matching, as the authorized user of the device when the current scanned eyeball image matches with the previously scanned eyeball image. Further, the processor identifies the user, based on the matching, as a guest user when the current scanned eyeball image is matched with at least one of the plurality of scanned eyeball images. Further, the processor provides, based on the identification, a pre-defined content access permission to the authorized user. The processor further determines age of the guest user based on processing of the current scanned eyeball relative to the at least one of the plurality of scanned eyeball images. Further, the processor provides a restricted content access permission to the guest user based on the age determined for the guest user and permission policy associated with the age of the guest user.

Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions stored thereon that when processed by at least one processor cause a device to perform the acts of scanning at least one of eyeballs of the user trying to access the device. The scanning results in generation of a current scanned eyeball image. The instructions further cause the at least one processor to match the current scanned eyeball image with a previously scanned eyeball image of an authorized user of the device and plurality of scanned eyeball images of plurality of other users. Further, the instructions cause the at least one processor to identify the user, based on the matching, as the authorized user of the device when the current scanned eyeball image matches with the previously scanned eyeball image. The instructions further cause the at least one processor to identify the user, based on the matching, as a guest user when the current scanned eyeball image is matched with at least one of the plurality of scanned eyeball images. The instructions further cause the at least one processor to provide, based on the identification, a pre-defined content access permission to the authorized user. Further, the instructions further cause the at least one processor to determine an age of the guest user based on processing of the current scanned eyeball image relative to the at least one of the plurality of scanned eyeball images. The instructions further cause the at least one processor to provide a restricted content access permission to the guest user based on the age determined for the guest user and permission policy associated with the age of the guest user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a device and a method for providing content access permission to a user of the device. The use of the devices like smartphones, laptops, notepads and like is increasing day by day. The device, for example smartphones, comes with various functionalities and also stores useful contents accessible by the user. The contents may include different applications for performing different activities. The contents may also include other features of the smartphones like messaging for sending text messages, gallery for storing multimedia data, and the like. Some of the contents may be accessed by using internet, for example, online gaming applications, shopping applications, browsers, and the like. While accessing such online contents, various popup links or icons appear on a screen of the device. The users may inadvertently click on such popup links or icons which may cause a display of unwanted contents or even a financial loss for the user.

The chances of inadvertently clicking on such popup links or icons increases when kids or children access the device without any supervision of their parents or authorized owner of the device. To prevent such unwanted access, the present disclosure discloses the device for providing content access, privileges based on age of an individual trying to access the device. The individual may be any person, a kid or any other person from family, relatives or friends. For determining the age, the device scans at least one of the eyeballs of the individual which results in generation of scanned eyeball image. The scanned eyeball image is further compared with pre-stored eye ball images to identify the individual. The individual may be the authorized user of the device or may be any third person.

If the individual is identified as the authorized user, he/she is provided with pre-defined access of the contents and functionalities of the device. However, if the individual is the third person, the device determines the age of the third person (also referred as a guest user) by computing an axial length and back scattering using the scanned eyeball image. The computed axial length and the back scattering is compared against a pre-stored age comparison index for determining the age of the guest user. Now, based on the age determined, the devices provide a restricted access of the contents to the guest user.

FIG. 1is an exemplary environment for providing content access permission to a user of the device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

The environment100includes a device102, an authorized user108, and a guest user110. The authorized user108may be an owner of the device102, whereas the guest user110may be a third person like family member, kids, relatives, friends and the like. The device102shown inFIG. 1is a smartphone. However, it should be understood to a person skilled in art that the device102may include, but is not limited to, other electronic devices like desktop, laptop, notepad, and the like. The device102may comprise various contents104including applications and other features, for example messaging and gallery, accessible by the authorized user108. Some examples of the applications may include, but are not limited to, a game application, a payment application, a shopping application, an email application, a music application, photo, news application, and browser application. Further, the device102may also include various functionalities106, for example global positing system (GPS), mobile data, settings, calling, and the like.

When any individual or user tries to access the device102, at first, the device102scans at least one of the eyeballs of the user. The scanning results in generation of a scanned eyeball image. Based on the scanned eyeball image, authenticity and age of the user is determined. If the user is identified as the authorized user108(shown at left-hand side of theFIG. 1), the device102provides a complete or pre-defined access of the contents104and the functionalities106to the authorized user108. In other words, the applications, features, and the functionalities106stored in the device102can be completely accessible by the authorized user108.

However, if the user is identified as the guest user110(shown at right-hand side of theFIG. 1), the device102may not provide the complete access of the contents104and the functionalities106to the guest user110. In this case, the age of the guest user110is determined first, which is explained in detail in subsequent paragraphs of the specification. Once the age is determined, the device102decides the accessibility of the contents104and the functionalities106based on the age. For example, if the guest user110is determined to be a kid of age group 4-9 years, then the applications indicated by solid or non-dotted lines may not be accessible. That is, the applications, for example game application, payment application, shopping application, an email application, photo may not be accessible to the guest user110. The reason for such restricted access is privacy concerns of the authorized user108as well as to prevent any access of sensitive contents104.

However, the other applications, which are shown as dotted-lines, may be accessible by the guest user110. For example, the applications like music application, news application, browser application, short message service (SMS), and gallery may be accessible by the guest user110. Also, the functionalities106like mobile data and settings may not be accessible by the guest user110. Thus, the guest user110with limited access to the device102may not be able to access any unwanted content which may not be appropriate as per his/her age. This way, the device102may be used by people of different age groups with restricted access.

FIG. 2is a detailed block diagram illustrating a device for providing content access permission to a user in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

The device102may include an image capturing unit202, a processor204, a memory206, data208, and modules210. The memory206may be communicatively coupled to the processor204. The processor204may be configured to perform one or more functions of the device102for providing content access permission to a user. In one implementation, the device102may include the data208and the modules210for performing various operations in accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the data208may be stored within the memory206and may include, without limiting to, current scanned eyeball image212, an image database214, an axial length216, hack scattering218, pre-stored age comparison index220, age222, permission policy224, and other data226.

In some embodiments, the data208may be stored within the memory205in the form of various data structures. Additionally, the data208may be organized using data models, such as relational or hierarchical data models. The other data226may store data, including temporary data and temporary files, generated by the modules210for performing the various functions of the device102.

In an embodiment, the current scanned eyeball image212may be an image of at least one of eyeballs of the user trying to access the device102, scanned by the image capturing unit202. In an embodiment, the image database214may store a previously scanned eyeball image of the authorized user108and a plurality of scanned eyeball images of a plurality of other users. As discussed earlier, the other users may be any third person from family, relatives, and friends.

In an embodiment, the axial length216and the back scattering218may be computed from the current scanned eyeball image212of user's eye identified as the guest user110. In an embodiment, the pre-stored age comparison index220includes mapping between age222and corresponding axial length216and the back scattering218.

In an embodiment, the age222indicates the age of the guest user110which may be determined by comparing the axial length216and the back scattering218with the pre-stored age comparison index220. In an embodiment, the permission policy224may include different access privileges set by the authorized user108of the device102. According to embodiments, the permission policy224may include disabling of one or more contents104, enabling of the one or more contents104, disabling one or more functionalities106of the device102, enabling the one or more functionalities106of the device102, access time of the one or more contents104, and access location of the one or more contents104.

In some embodiments, the data208may be processed by one or more modules210of the device102. In one implementation, the one or more modules210may be stored as a part of the processor204. In another implementation, the one or more modules210may be communicatively coupled to the processor204for performing one or more functions of the device102. The modules210may include, without limiting to, a matching module228, an identifying module230, a performing module232, and other modules234.

As used herein, the term ‘module’ refers to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. In an embodiment, the other modules234may be used to perform various miscellaneous functionalities106of the device102. It will be appreciated that such modules210may be represented as a single module or a combination of different modules.

In an embodiment, the image capturing unit202of the device102may scan at least one of eyeballs of the user trying to access the device102. The scanning may result in generation of the current scanned eyeball image212. In this process, image of eyes of the user is captured by the image capturing unit202. From that eye image, an inner and outer boundary of iris (i.e., pupil and limbus) is localized to detect the at least one eyeballs and exclude eyelids, eyelashes, and specular reflections that often occlude parts of the iris. Once the at least one eyeballs are scanned, the matching module228of the device102may match the current scanned eyeball image212with the previously scanned eyeball image of the authorized user108of the device102and the plurality of scanned eyeball images of plurality of other users. The other users may include family members, relatives, kids or any other third-party individuals.

In an embodiment, the identifying module230of the device102may identify the user, based on the matching, as the authorized user108of the device102when the current scanned eyeball image212matches with the previously scanned eyeball image. Further, the identifying module230of the device102may identify the user, based on the matching, as the guest user110when the current scanned eyeball image212is matched with at least one of the plurality of scanned eyeball images stored in the image database214. However, it may happen that the current scanned eyeball image212of the user may not match with the plurality of scanned eyeball images stored in the image database214. In this scenario, the authorized user108may first unlock the device102by providing valid credentials, for example password, fingerprint or by scanning his/her eyeballs. Once the device102is unlocked, the authorized user108may handover the device102to the user whose current scanned eyeball image212has not matched with the plurality of scanned eyeball images stored in the image database214. According to embodiments of present disclosure, such user may be identified as the guest110user. Now, when that guest user110start accessing the device102, the device102may automatically activate the image capturing unit202to scan eyeballs of the guest user110to generate the current scanned eyeball image212which is further used for age determination. According to an alternative embodiment, the authorized user108may provide his/her instructions to the device102for scanning the eyeballs of the guest user110while handing over the device102to the guest user110. This way, the device102may identify any new user, as the guest user110, whose eyeball image is not stored in the image database214.

Now, once the identity of the user is determined, the performing module232of the device102may provide a pre-defined content access permission to the authorized user108. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the pre-defined content access permission indicates that the authorized user108is provided with complete access of one or more contents104stored in the device102and one or more functionalities106associated with the device102. As explained with respect toFIG. 1, the authorized user108may be able to access all the applications, features and functionalities106of the device102.

However, for the guest user110, the device102may not provide the complete access of the contents104and the functionalities106. In case of the guest user110, the performing module232may provide a restricted content access permission based on the age222determined for the guest user110and the permission policy224associated with the age222of the guest user110. Thus, the age222of the guest user110has to be determined before providing any access.

For determining the age222of the guest user110, the device102may, at first, computes an axial length216and back scattering218from the current scanned eyeball image212of the guest user's110eye. According to embodiments, the axial length216of the guest user's110eye may be computed using a calibration technique of autorefractors. Whereas, the back scattering218may be computed using a tomographic retinal imaging technique. According to embodiments of present disclosure, the calibration technique of autorefractors and tomographic retinal imaging technique may be implemented by the device102, for example smartphones. Equipped with high resolution cameras, the smartphones may leverage their infra-red (IR) scanning feature for various diagnostic purposes. An example of the computed axial length216and back scattering218for different age groups is shown in below table 1 and table 2 respectively.

TABLE 1Axial length of different age group of usersAge GroupAxial LengthBirth16.5mm2 years21mm3 years22.5-23mm13 years24.2mmFurtherVery minimal growth with age

TABLE 2Back Scattering of different age group of usersAge GroupStraylight parameter (k)<45ranged from 4.9 to 8.1>45 < 6010.7 to 19.7>60Significantly high

From the above tables, it may be observed that the axial length216of a newborn's eye may measure about 16.5 mm. During infancy, the eyeball grows just 1 millimeter, to a length of about 0.74 inches and continues to grow gradually throughout childhood until it reaches a length of about one inch in adulthood. Further, it may be also observed that for users below age of 45, the straylight parameter computed may be in a range from 4.9 to 8.1. The axial length216is used to determine the age group till adolescent stage and back scattering218is used to determine the old age group.

Once the axial length216and the back scattering218is computed, the device102may compare the axial length216and the back scattering218with pre-stored age comparison index220. The pre-stored age comparison index220may comprise mapping between different age groups and corresponding axial length216and the back scattering218, as shown in the above tables 1 and 2. Based on the comparison, the device102determines the age222of the guest user110. Thus, based on the age222of the guest user110and the permission policy224, the device102provides the restricted content access permission to the guest user110. As described earlier, the permission policy224may include disabling of one or more contents104, enabling of the one or more contents104, disabling one or more functionalities106of the device102, enabling the one or more functionalities106of the device102, access time of the one or more contents104, and access location of the one or more contents104.

In one example, if the guest user110(Guest User 1) is a three to six-year old kid, the restricted content access may be imposed such that the kid may be allowed to play only offline games and listen to music. However, if the guest user110(Guest User 2) is a teenage between the age group thirteen to sixteen, the restricted content access may be imposed such that the teenager may access the browser application along with the of games and the music application. An example of such access based on different age groups is shown in below table 3.

From the above table 3, it may be observed that “Guest User 3” which is in the age group of 21-30, the restricted content access may be imposed such that the news applications and browsers are accessible by the “Guest User 3”. This way, the present disclosure prevents the guest user110to access any unwanted contents104which may not be appropriate for their age.

FIG. 3is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing content access permission to a user of a device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the method300includes one or more blocks illustrating a method of providing content access permission to a user using a device102. The method300may be described in the general context of computer executable instructions. Generally, computer executable instructions can include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, procedures, modules, and functions, which perform specific functions or implement specific abstract data types.

At block302, the method300includes scanning, by an image capturing unit202of the device102, at least one of eyeballs of a user trying to access the device102. The scanning results in generation of a current scanned eyeball image212(as explained above inFIG. 2).

At block304, the method300includes matching, by the device102, the current scanned eyeball image212with a previously scanned eyeball image of an authorized user108of the device102and plurality of scanned eyeball images of plurality of other users.

At block306, the method300includes identifying, by the device102, the user, based on the matching, as the authorized user108of the device102when the current scanned eyeball image212matches with the previously scanned eyeball image.

At block308, the method300includes identifying, by the device102, the user, based on the matching, as a guest user110when the current scanned eyeball image212is matched with at least one of the plurality of scanned eyeball images.

At block310, the method300includes providing, by the device102, a pre-defined content access permission to the authorized user108. The pre-defined content access permission indicates complete access of the contents104and the functionalities106of the device102.

At block312, the method300includes determining, by the device102, age of the guest user110based on processing of the current scanned eyeball image212relative to the at least one of the plurality of scanned eyeball images. The determination of the age is explained above inFIG. 2.

At block314, the method300includes providing, by the device102, a restricted content access permission (as explained above inFIG. 2) to the guest user110based on the age determined for the guest user110and permission policy associated with the age of the guest user110.

Advantages of the Embodiment of the Present Disclosure are Illustrated Herein.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for providing a content access of the device based on the age and authenticity of the user.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of securely using the device without displaying any unwanted contents.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure is easy to implement using existing hardware capabilities in a device and uses eyeball size to determine age of the user for providing content access of the device.

The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise.

REFERRAL NUMERALS