Patent Publication Number: US-2009224874-A1

Title: Apparatus, system, and method for providing authentication and activation functions to a computing device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to securing and accessing information and more particularly relates to biometric authentication and touch-screen access for information on a computing device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Much information acquires value by having restricted access. For certain kinds of information, unauthorized access can destroy its value, lead to its abuse, harm the interests of individuals, and/or infringe on the privacy of individuals. Therefore, information security is an important issue. 
     To protect the security of digital information, passwords are commonly employed. However, passwords are discoverable. Furthermore, individuals may have difficulty remembering a particular password, and the proliferation of multiple passwords can add a demanding layer of complexity to the access of information. 
     To provide greater security and ease, sensors of biometric information are also used to protect digital information. Biometric information is unique to an individual&#39;s biological makeup and, therefore, requires the presence of an authorized individual, making the information practically undiscoverable and unforgettable. One example of a biometric sensor is a fingerprint reader. 
     A fingerprint reader authenticates an individual to access information by reading and determining whether the unique locations of the ridges and/or valleys of skin on the individual&#39;s finger correlate to those of an individual authorized to access the information. As used herein the terms “correlate to,” “correlates to,” “correlation” and other similar expressions of the action to correlate shall mean that sufficient relationship is identified between a first set of finger print information and a reference set of finger print information. In certain embodiment, the relationship represents an exact match, in other embodiments, the correlation represents a substantial similarity, in yet other embodiments, the correlation represents such a similarity as is accepted in the art to constitute a positive identification of an individuals&#39;s finger. The fingerprint reader must be able to take readings at multiple points to determine the presence of either a ridge or a valley in the individual&#39;s skin. Touch screens powered by a capacitive system have an increased sensitivity useful in making the readings at the multiple points required to read a fingerprint. 
     Touch screens, powered by a capacitive system or otherwise, allow a user to alter digital information stored in a computing device coupled to a touch screen with a simple touch or set of touches. These touches may be accidental, alter the information in unintended ways, and require the computing device to consume power. To prevent the alteration of information and the consumption of power, certain devices include a power button that overrides any activity on the touch screen. However, turning off the power is a drastic solution that requires a user to wait for the device to boot. 
     Better solutions place a device in a state of suspension, which requires less power, pending the detection of a predefined motion on the touch screen. The predefined motion is a motion that is not likely to occur accidentally, thereby protecting information on the device from accidental alteration and preventing unnecessary power consumption. One particular device requires a predefined sliding motion to activate the device from its suspended state. However, such predefined motions do not provide security to prevent access by unauthorized individuals. To provide such security an additional layer of protection is required, such as a password. 
     Multiple layers of protection require multiple layers of effort by a user, reduce efficiency, and may require additional burdens, such as remembering a password. Advantages achieved by the most efficient way to provide authentication may not be combined with advantages achieved by the most efficient way to protect against accidental activation, when multiple layers are combined. Users of computing devices are highly conscious of efficiency and appreciate the combination of multiple functions in a single interaction. Additionally, users desire to increase the efficiency with which information is accessed with navigational aids. 
     Therefore, from the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an apparatus, system, and method that can provide both authentication and activation security with a single interaction. The single interaction should be tailored for touch screens. Preferably, such an apparatus, system, and method would, in certain embodiments, include the capability within the single interaction of navigating through the information stored on the computing device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an apparatus, system, and method that combines the functionalities of authentication and activation in a single interaction. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would be tailored for a touch screen and would include in the single interaction a way to navigate towards desired information stored on a computing device. 
     The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available, distinct, solutions to the problems of authentication and activation protection for information systems. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an apparatus, system, and method for authentication and activation protection combined in a single interaction that overcomes many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art. 
     The computer program product to authenticate and activate is provided with a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps of capturing fingerprint information, detecting a predefined user action, comparing the captured fingerprint information to a repository of fingerprint information sets, and unlocking an interface. These modules, in the described embodiments, include a capture module that captures fingerprint information from a user finger and a detection module that senses motion from the user finger that corresponds to a predefined user finger action. These modules also include a fingerprint analysis module that compares captured fingerprint information to fingerprint information in a repository to determining that the captured fingerprint information correlates to the stored fingerprint information. Additionally, the modules include an unlock module that activates an interface on a computing device when the predefined user finger action is detected and the captured fingerprint satisfies a correlation. 
     The computer program product, in one embodiment, includes an application selection module that is configured to determine a particular application on the computing device for the unlock module to activate depending on a particular predefined user finger action. In certain embodiments, the application selection module also provides particular input parameters to a particular application activated by the unlock module based on the particular predefined finger action. 
     A method is also presented for authenticating and activating access to information. The method includes capturing fingerprint information from a user finger, comparing the fingerprint information to at least one set of fingerprint information, and determining that the captured fingerprint information correlates to a set of fingerprint information. The method also includes sensing motion of the user finger, detecting user finger motion corresponding to at least one detectable predefined user finger action, and activating an interface providing access to a set of applications in response to detecting the predefined user finger action. In certain embodiments, the last step involves directly activating an application from the set of applications without an intervening interface. 
     A system of the present invention is also presented to authenticate and activate access to digital information. The system includes a computing device, with memory and a processor, a multi-point touch-sensitive screen, an authentication module, and an activation module. The authentication module allows access to a set of applications on the computing device based on fingerprint information that the authentication module captures from a user finger placed on the multi-point touch-sensitive screen. The activation module activates an application menu for the set of applications upon detecting a predefined user finger action made by the user finger on the multi-point touch-sensitive screen. In certain embodiments, the particular application menu activated depends on the particular correlation found by the authentication module for the captured fingerprint information. In further embodiments, the activation module activates a particular application from the set of applications based on a particular predefined user finger action, without activating an application menu. 
     Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. 
     Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention. 
     These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an authentication and activation system in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an authentication and activation computer program product in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a computer program product that determines an application to activate based on a single predefined user finger action; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a set of predefined user finger actions comprising a continuous movement used by one embodiment of an authentication and activation in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  5 C depict a set of predefined user finger actions comprising distinct movements used by one embodiment of an authentication and activation system in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  depict different predefined user finger actions defined by the location of the action as used by one embodiment of an authentication and activation system in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a module that determines differing application menus for activation in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method for authenticating and activating access to a computing device in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Many of the functional units described in this specification have been labeled as modules, in order to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices or the like. 
     Modules may also be implemented in software for execution by various types of processors. An identified module of executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module need not be physically located together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module. 
     Indeed, a module of executable code may be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within modules, and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices. Where a module or portions of a module are implemented in software, the software portions are stored on one or more computer readable storage media. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
     Reference to a computer readable storage medium may take any form capable of storing machine-readable instructions on a digital processing apparatus. A computer readable storage medium may be embodied by a transmission line, a compact disk, digital-video disk, a magnetic tape, a Bernoulli drive, a magnetic disk, a punch card, flash memory, integrated circuits, or other digital processing apparatus memory device. 
     Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of programming, software modules, user selections, network transactions, database queries, database structures, hardware modules, hardware circuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  depicts one embodiment of an authentication and activation system  100  in accordance with the present invention. In one embodiment, the system  100  includes a computing device  102 , a multi-point touch-sensitive screen  108 , an authentication module  114 , and an activation module  120 . As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, numerous configurations of the system  100  are possible, which, in various embodiments, may include additional modules and/or hardware. The various components of the system  100  cooperate to authenticate and activate access to an application menu  126 . 
     The computing device  102  comprises a memory (not shown) and a processor (not shown). Depending on the embodiment, the computing device may comprise a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a global positioning system, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, an audio/video remote control, a kiosk, a tabletop computer, or a financial transaction terminal. Other embodiments will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of this disclosure. 
     In certain embodiments, the memory and the processor store and execute the authentication module  114 , the activation module  120 , the application menu  126 , and a set of applications  132 . The set of applications  132  includes a plurality of applications  138 . In certain embodiments, the plurality of applications  138   a - 138   f  include a telephone application  138   a , an email application  138   b , a calendar application  138   c , a video/picture application  138   d , a music application  138   e , and an internet application  138   f . Those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will identify additional applications not listed or listed applications that are unnecessary to certain embodiments. 
     The authentication module  114  is coupled to the multi-point touch-sensitive screen  108 . In certain embodiments, the authentication module  114  allows access to the set of applications  132  stored on the computing device  102  based on fingerprint information (not shown). In other embodiments, the set of applications  132  to which the authentication module  114  allows access only comprises certain applications  138   k - 138   n  from the set of applications stored on the computing device  102 , based on the fingerprint information. The application module  114  derives the fingerprint information from a fingerprint pattern  144  on a user finger  150  sensed by the multi-point touch-sensitive screen  108 . 
     The multi-point touch-sensitive screen  108  is coupled to the computing device  102  and is sufficiently sensitive to detect the relative location of the multiple ridges and/or valleys that occur in the fingerprint pattern  144 . The authentication module  114  uses the relative location of ridges and/or valleys to generate the fingerprint information. In certain embodiments, the multi-point touch-sensitive screen  108  comprises a capacitive system. In other embodiments, the multi-point touch-sensitive screen  108  comprises a surface acoustic wave system. In additional embodiments, the multi-point touch-sensitive screen  108  comprises a resistive system. Other multi-point touch-sensitive screen systems will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of this disclosure. 
     The activation module  120  is also coupled to the multi-point touch-sensitive screen  108 . The activation module  120  activates an application menu  126  that may be displayed on the multi-point touch-sensitive screen  108 . The application menu  126  comprises an interface that allows a user (not shown) to select an application  138   n  from the set of applications  132  or from a portion  138  of the set of applications  132 . The activation module  120  activates the application menu  126  in response to detecting a predefined user finger action  156  from the user finger  150  through the multi-point touch-sensitive screen  108 . 
     The predefined user finger action  156  depicted in  FIG. 1  involves a sliding motion from left to right. However, in a variety of different embodiments the predefined user finger action  156  may comprise any number of motions, including a right to left motion, an downward motion, and upward motion, an up-down motion, a zig-zag motion, a swirl motion, a motion tracing a letter, a motion tracing a symbol. The motion comprising the predefined user finger action  156  may be simple or compound. Additional motions comprising the predefined user finger action  156  will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of this disclosure. 
       FIG. 2  depicts one embodiment of an authentication and activation computer program product  200  in accordance with the present invention. The computer program product  200  includes a capture module  210 , a detection module  220 , a fingerprint analysis module  230 , and an unlock module  240 . The components of the computer program product work together to authenticate a user (not shown) and to activate a computing device (not shown) in response to a single user motion. 
     The computer program product  200  includes a capture module  210 . The capture module  210  captures fingerprint information (not shown) from a user finger  150  (See  FIG. 1 ). In certain embodiments, the capture module  210  processes the fingerprint information for analysis by the fingerprint analysis module  230 . In other embodiments, the capture module  210  relays the fingerprint information to the fingerprint analysis module  230  for processing. 
     The computer program product  200  also includes a detection module  220  that senses the motion of the user finger. The detection module  210  is configured to detect motions from the user finger corresponding to a predefined user finger action  156  (See  FIG. 1 ). The detection module  220  is configured to detect a single predefined user finger action  156  or a plurality of different predefined user finger actions  156 . 
     The fingerprint analysis module  230  receives fingerprint information, whether processed or unprocessed, from the capture module  210 . In the event that the fingerprint analysis module  230  receives fingerprint information in unprocessed form, the fingerprint analysis module  230  processes the fingerprint information by formatting the information so as to compare the processed fingerprint information to a set of stored fingerprint information stored in a repository (not shown), such as a hard drive. In certain embodiments, the fingerprint analysis module  230  compares the processed fingerprint information to each member of the set of fingerprint information. In certain embodiments, the fingerprint information comprises the coordinates of a plurality of ridge and/or valley locations from the user finger relative to one another. After comparing the processed fingerprint information, the fingerprint analysis module  230  may determine a correlation between the processed fingerprint information and the stored fingerprint information. Depending on the correlation determined by the fingerprint analysis module  230 , in various embodiments, either the fingerprint analysis module  230  or the unlock module  240 , determines a set of applications (not shown), which may include all available applications or only certain applications from the available applications, that may be accessed by the user associated with the processed fingerprint information. 
     The computer program product  200  includes an unlock module  240 . In response to the detection module  220  detecting a predefined user finger action and the fingerprint analysis module  230  determining a correlation between the captured fingerprint information and a set of fingerprint information, the unlock module  240  activates an interface (not shown) of the computing device  102 . In certain embodiments, the interface is configured to allow the user (not shown) to access certain applications on the computing device  102 . The interface comprises software that allows a user to interact with the computing device  102 . In certain embodiments, the interface comprises an application menu. In other embodiments, the interface comprises a particular application. Additional configurations for the interface will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of this disclosure. 
       FIG. 3  depicts one embodiment of a computer program product  300  that determines a particular application for activation based on the detection of a single predefined user finger action  156  from a plurality of predefined user finger actions (not shown). The computer program product  300  includes a capture module  310 , a detection module  320 , a fingerprint analysis module  330 , an unlock module  340 , and an application selection module  350 . The various components of the computer program product  300  cooperate to authenticate a user to access a selected application  354  from a plurality of applications  352   a - 352   d  on a computing device (not shown). 
     With respect to the computer program product  300 , the capture module  310 , the detection module  320 , the fingerprint analysis module  330 , and the unlock module  340  perform functions substantially similar to those discussed above in relation to the capture module  210 , the detection module  220 , the fingerprint analysis module  230 , and the unlock module  240 , respectively. However, the computer program product  300  also includes the application selection module  350 . In certain embodiments, the application selection module  350  overrides the activation of the interface (described above) to directly activate a particular selected application  354  on the computing device  102  based on the detected user finger action  156 . In other embodiments, the unlock module  340  communicates with the application selection module  350  instead of activating an interface as described above. 
     Before the application selection module  350  activates a selected application  354 , the detection module  320  detects a particular predefined user finger action  324  from a plurality of predefined user finger actions  322   a - 322   d  detectable by the detection module  320 . Each predefined user finger action  322   a ,  322   b ,  322   c ,  322   d  may correspond to a particular application  352   a ,  352   b ,  352   c ,  352   d , as indicated to the emboldened letters “A,” “B,” “C,” and “D,” each appearing next to both a predefined user finger action  322  and an application  352 . In certain embodiments, two or more predefined user finger actions correspond to the same application  352   a . The number of predefined user finger actions  322  and the number of applications  352  may vary widely between embodiments. However, there will be at least one pair of a predefined user finger action  322  and an application  352 . 
     Depending on the embodiment, the detection module  320  informs the application selection module  350  about the detected predefined user finger action  322  or the application selection module  350  makes the requisite inquiry of the detection module  320 . Based on which of the predefined user finger actions  322  corresponds to the detected predefined user finger action  324 , the application selection module  350  selects the corresponding application  354 . 
     In certain embodiments, the application selection module  350  selects the application  354  with the aid of a registry (not show) of the various predefined user finger actions  322 - 322  and the particular applications  352 - 352   d  to which they correspond. Those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will be aware of other techniques by which the application selection module  350  may identify the selected application  354 . In certain embodiments, the application selection module  350  makes an inquiry of the unlock module  340  to ensure the selected applications  354  belongs to the set of accessible applications and that the user has been authenticated for access to the selected application  354 . In other embodiments, the application selection module  350  makes an inquiry of the fingerprint analysis module  330  to ensure the user has been authenticated for access to the selected application  354 . In additional embodiments, either the fingerprint analysis module  330  or the unlock module  340  inform the application selection module  350  that the user is authenticated to access the selected application. 
     In certain embodiments, the application selection module  350  activates the selected application  354 . In other embodiments, the application selection module  350  communicates with the unlock module  340 , which activates the selected application  354 . 
     In various embodiments, the application selection module  350  selects an input parameter  358  from a variety of input parameters  356   a - 356   c . The number of potential input parameters  356   a - 356   c  varies widely depending on the embodiment. The application selection module  350  bases its selection of an input parameter  356  on the detected predefined user finger action  324 . Each input parameter  356  corresponds to one or more particular predefined user finger actions  322 . In certain embodiments, multiple input parameters  356  correspond to the same predefined user finger action  322   n.    
     The application selection module  350  sends the selected input parameter  358  to the selected application  354 . In certain embodiments, the application selection module  350  sends the selected input parameter  358  to the selected application  354  after the selected application  354  has been activated. In other embodiments, the application selection module  350  sends the selected input parameter  356  to the selected application  354  as part of activating the selected application  354 . 
     The various input parameters  356  comprise data sets. These data sets may interact with various applications  322  to configure the various applications  322  in various states and/or to perform various actions. For example, in one embodiment, the selected application  354  comprises a telephone application  138   a . Additionally, the selected input parameter  358  sent to the selected application  354  comprises a speed dial parameter. The speed dial parameter configures the telephone application  138   a  to invite a call to a particular individual set forth in the speed dial parameter. These data sets may also be processed by the various applications  322 . For example, a data set may comprise a Fahrenheit temperature value for conversion to a Centigrade temperature value by a conversion application  322 . 
     The various input parameters  356  may comprise contacts, email addresses, Uniform Resource Locators, names, queries, and any other category representable as data in data set. Many additional forms that input parameters  356  may take will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of this disclosure. 
     The application selection module  350 , in various embodiments, requires a set of predefined user finger actions  156 / 322  to determine the selected application  354 . Various ways in which predefined user finger actions  322  are combined to provide the application selection module  350  with the required set of predefined user finger actions are discussed below with respect to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , comprising a set of predefined user finger actions described by a continuous movement and a set of predefined user finger actions described by distinct movements, respectively. As will be appreciated by those of skill in the relevant art, the activation module  120  discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1  may be configured to perform all of the various functionalities of the application selection module  350  discussed with respect to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts a set of predefined user finger actions  400  comprising a continuous movement used by one embodiment of an authentication and activation system to determine an application for activation in accordance with the present invention. In  FIG. 4 , a user finger  402  performs a continuous movement  404  on a multi-point touch-sensitive screen  406  of a computing device  408 . The continuous movement  404  in  FIG. 4  describes a set of predefined user finger actions used by the activation module  120  of  FIG. 1  or the application selection module  350  of  FIG. 3  to select an application  354  for activation. 
     The continuous movement  404  describes multiple predefined user finger actions  410 ,  412 , and  414  that make up the elements of the set of predefined user finger actions. In  FIG. 4 , the continuous motion  404  describes three predefined user finger actions  410 ,  412 , and  414 . The first predefined user finger action  410  comprises a left to right sliding motion; the second predefined user finger action  412  comprises a zig-zag motion; and, the third predefined user finger action  414  comprises a swirl motion. However, the continuous motion  404  may include any number of predefined user finger actions. Additionally, the predefined user finger actions  410 ,  412 , and  414  may be comprised of any of the motions discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1  or any motion apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art. 
     In  FIG. 4 , the transitions that occur between the multiple predefined user finger actions  410 ,  412 , and  414  that make up the continuous motion  404  are seamless. The user finger  402  does not pause between predefined user finger actions  410 ,  412 , and  414 . Rather the user finger  402  performs each predefined user finger actions  410 ,  412 , and  414  as part of one continuous movement. 
       FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  5 C depict a set of predefined user finger actions  500  comprising distinct movements used by one embodiment of an authentication and activation system to determine an application for activation in accordance with the present invention.  FIG. 5A  depicts a user finger  502  that performs a first distinct motion  504  on a multi-point touch-screen  510  of a computing device  512 . The first distinct motion  504  depicted in  FIG. 5A  is a sliding motion from left to right comprising a predefined user finger action  156 . The first distinct motion  504  may comprise any of the motions discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1 , or any motion apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art. 
       FIG. 5B  depicts the same user finger  502 , multi-point touch-screen  510  and computing device  512  depicted in  FIG. 5A . However,  FIG. 5B  depicts a second distinct motion  506 . In  FIG. 5B , the second distinct motion  506  is a zig-zag motion. However, the second distinct motion  506  may comprise any of the motions discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1 , or any motion apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art. 
     Similarly,  FIG. 5C  depicts the same user finger  502 , multi-point touch-screen  510  and computing device  512  depicted in  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B . However,  FIG. 5C  depicts a third distinct motion  508 . In  FIG. 5C , the third distinct motion  506  is a swirl motion. However, the third distinct motion  508  may comprise any of the motions discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1 , or any motion apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art. 
     The first distinct motion  504 , the second distinct motion  506 , and the third distinct motion  508  comprise the elements of the set of predefined user finger actions required by either the activation module  120  or the application selection module  350  to select an application  352 . The user finger  502  separates each of the first distinct motion  504 , the second distinct motion  506 , and the third distinct motion  508  with either a pause, an intervening user finger action, such as a pressure change, a change of location with respect to the multi-point touch-sensitive screen  510 , and/or a removal of the user finger  502  from the multi-point touch-sensitive screen  510 . The first distinct motion  504 , the second distinct motion  506 , and the third distinct motion  508  in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  5 C, respectively, occur in different locations with respect to the multi-point touch-sensitive screen  510 . In certain embodiments, however, one or more of these distinct motions  504 ,  506 , and  508  may occur in the same location. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the set of predefined user finger actions comprise, in terms of number, more or less than the three distinct motions  504 ,  506 , and  508  depicted in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  5 C. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  depict different predefined user finger actions  600  defined by the location of their performance as used by one embodiment of an authentication and activation system to determine applications for activation in accordance with the present invention.  FIG. 6A  depicts a user finger  602  that performs a distinct motion  604  on a multi-point touch-screen  610  of a computing device  612 . In  FIG. 6A , the user finger  602  performs the distinct motion  604  in a first location  606  defined with respect to the surface area of the multi-point touch-sensitive screen  610 . 
     Either the first location  606  of the distinct movement or a combination of the first location  606  and the path of the distinct motion  604  describe a particular predefined user finger action  156 / 322  used by either the activation module  120  or the application selection module  350  discussed above to select the application  614  corresponding to the predefined user finger action  156 / 322  for activation. In  FIG. 6A , the distinct motion  604  is a sliding motion from left to right. However, the distinct motion  604  may comprise any of the motions discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1 , or any motion apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art.  FIG. 6A  depicts the application  614  pertaining to the particular predefined user finger action  156 / 322  described by the distinct motion  604  and the first location  606  with the application  614  appearing on the same multi-point touch-sensitive screen  610  of the computing device  612 . 
       FIG. 6B  depicts the same user finger  602  performing the distinct movement  604  depicted in  FIG. 6A  on the same multi-point touch-screen  610  of the same computing device  612 . However, in  FIG. 6B , the distinct motion  604  is performed in a second location  608 , defined with respect to the surface area of the multi-point touch-sensitive screen  610 . This different second location  608 , either on its own or in combination with the distinct motion  604 , describes a different predefined user action  156 / 322  from the particular predefined user finger action of  FIG. 6A . Therefore, depending on the embodiment, either the activation module  120  or the application selection module  350 , select a different application  616  corresponding to the different predefined user finger action  156 / 322  for activation.  FIG. 6B  depicts the different application  616  pertaining to the different predefined user finger action  156 / 322  activated on the same multi-point touch-sensitive screen  610  of the computing device  612 . 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a software module  700  that determining different application menus  710  for activation based on a correlation between captured fingerprint information  702  and a particular set of fingerprint information  704  from a plurality of sets of fingerprint information  704  in accordance with the present invention. The software module  700  performs functions substantially similar to the fingerprint analysis module  230  described above with respect to  FIG. 2 . In certain embodiments, the software module  700  processes captured fingerprint information  702  into a format compatible with a plurality of sets of fingerprint information  704   a - 704   n . Each set of fingerprint information  704  of the plurality of sets of fingerprint information  704   a - 704   n  are stored in a repository  706  on a computing device  708 . In other embodiments, the software module  700  receives the captured fingerprint information  702  in a compatible format. 
     The software module  700  compares the captured fingerprint information  702  against the plurality of sets of fingerprint information  704   a - 704   n  until the software module  700  finds a correlation with a particular set of fingerprint information  704 . The software module  700  activates a particular application menu  710  corresponding to the particular set of fingerprint information  704 . In the event that the captured fingerprint information  702  does not correlate to a set of fingerprint information, no application menu  710  is activated. 
     Each application menu  710  is an interface that provides access to a set of applications  132  of a subset of the set of application  132  to which a user (not shown) corresponding to the captured fingerprint information  702  has been authenticated. Each application menu  710  is user specific, with specific settings, layouts, options, menus, and accessible applications  138 . In certain embodiments, an application menu  710  is configurable by a user. 
     In certain embodiments, the software module  700  causes either the activation module  120 , the unlock module  240 , or the application selection module  350  to activate the particular application menu  710  corresponding to the particular set of fingerprint information  704  that correlates to the captured fingerprint information  702 . The activated application menu  710  is displayed by the computing device  708  on a multi-point touch-sensitive screen  712 . 
     In one embodiment each set of fingerprint information  704  corresponds to a family member of the owner of the embodiment. Each family member has a set of applications  132  accessible to that family member through an application menu  710  corresponding to that family member. Each application menu  710  is configured differently by each family member to the particular needs and tastes of the relevant family member and the applications  138  accessible to that family member. 
     The particular application menu  710  is selected for activation by the software module  700  from a plurality of application menus  710   a - 710   n  based on the correlation between the captured fingerprint information  702  and the particular set of fingerprint information  704   n . Each set of fingerprint information  704  of the plurality of sets of fingerprint information  704   a - 704   n  corresponds to a particular application menu  710  of a plurality of application menus  710   a - 710   n . In certain embodiments, multiple sets of fingerprint information  704   k - 704   n  correspond to the same application menu  710 . A set of fingerprint information  704  need not correspond to any application menu  710   n  at all. In certain embodiments, the software module  700  maintains a registry of the plurality of sets of fingerprint information  704   a - 704   n  and their corresponding application menus  710   a - 710   n . Other approaches to linking the plurality of sets of fingerprint information  704   a - 704   n  and their corresponding application menus  710   a - 710   n  will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art in light of this application. 
     The schematic flow chart diagrams included herein are generally set forth as logical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method  800  for authenticating and activating access to a computing device  102  in accordance with the present invention. The method  800  begins  802  and the capture module  210  captures  804  fingerprint information  702  from a user finger  156 . The fingerprint analysis module  230  then compares  806  the captured fingerprint information  702  to at least one set of fingerprint information  704 . The fingerprint analysis module  230  then determines  808  whether the captured fingerprint information  702  correlates to a set of fingerprint information  704  to which it is compared. In the event that the captured fingerprint information  702  does not correlate to a set of fingerprint information  704 , the method  800  returns  810  to the step of capturing  804  fingerprint information. 
     In one embodiment, the detection module  220  senses  812  finger motion  156  from the user finger  150 . The detection module  220  then detects  814  a predefined finger motion  156  in the event that the motion of the user finger  156  describes a predefined user finger action  322 . Depending on the embodiment, the steps of sensing  812  and detecting  814  may directly follow or be combined with the step of capturing  804  fingerprint information. In the event that the user finger motion  156  does not describe a redefined user finger action  322 , a corresponding computing device  102  is not activated and the method  800  returns  816  to the step of capturing  804  fingerprint information. In the event that the user finger motion  156  does describe a predefined user finger action  322 , the unlock module  240  activates  818  an interface, which is certain embodiments is an application menu  126 , and the method  800  ends  820 . 
     In certain embodiments, the step of activating  818  an interface involves the activation of a particular application  614  by the application selection module  350  in the place of the activation of an interface  126  by the unlock module  240 . In such embodiments, the application selection module  350  activates a particular application corresponding to the detected predefined user finger action  156 , detected during the detection  814  step. In certain embodiments, the application selection module  350  activates a particular application corresponding to a set of predefined user finger actions  410 ,  412 ,  414 / 504 ,  506 ,  508  detected during the detection step  814  by the detection module  220 . 
     Depending on the embodiment, the set of predefined user finger actions  410 ,  412 ,  414 / 504 ,  506 ,  508  may comprise a single continuous movement as described above with respect to  FIG. 4  or distinct movements as described above with respect to  FIG. 5 . In additional embodiments, the predefined user finger action  156  detected during the detection step  814 , whether a set of predefined user finger actions or a single predefined user finger action, is defined, in part or in whole, based on the location on a multi-point touch-sensitive screen (not shown) of the user finger motion. 
     In certain embodiments, the method includes an additional step of communicating a set of data by the application selection module  350  to the particular application activated. The set of data may comprise any of the input parameters  356  discussed above with respect to  FIG. 3 . In additional embodiments, the step of activating  818  an interface  126  is performed by the software module  700  of  FIG. 7 , which activates a particular application menu  710  from a plurality of application menus  710  based on a particular set of fingerprint information  704  from a plurality of sets of fingerprint information  704  may correlate to the captured fingerprint information  702 . In certain embodiments, the application menu  710  is configurable by a user. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.