Patent Publication Number: US-2013232570-A1

Title: Portable terminal and gripping-feature learning method

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a portable terminal and a gripping-feature learning method that acquire a gripping feature sample when the portable terminal is gripped and perform authentication. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Recently, various types of financial services, such as electronic money, have become more widespread as portable terminals have gained higher functionality. In addition, as portable terminals have gained higher functionality, the terminals have been used to store many pieces of private information, such as addresses, emails, photos, and website browsing history. Conventionally, security for information handled with portable terminals has been maintained by means of authentication (hereafter called log-in authentication) performed when starting to use the portable terminals. In log-in authentication, however, once authentication has been performed when the terminal starts to be used, whether the user is the person who authenticated is not continuously monitored. Therefore, if the portable terminal is used by another person for some reason after log-in authentication, the other person can operate the portable terminal without performing log-in authentication. Such a security vulnerability with log-in authentication has been a problem. To solve this problem, Patent Literature 1 discloses a portable terminal in which the positions where the user using the terminal grips the terminal when performing authentication are acquired by a plurality of pressure sensors; then if, after authentication, the positions where the user grips the terminal are changed by a specified distance or more, the required data input by the user to use a service is invalidated and the validity of the authentication already performed is cancelled. Therefore, even if the terminal is stolen during the act of inputting data required to use a service after authentication, the authentication and the data input by the user are invalidated when the user&#39;s hand is separated from the terminal. To use a service after the authentication is invalidated, it is necessary to perform authentication again. Therefore, this terminal can effectively prevent unauthorized use by a third party. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         Patent literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2001-142849 
       
    
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     In authentication methods using biometric information (gripping feature), such as that used in Patent Literature 1, information called a template formed of a sequence of gripping pressure values that are characteristic to a person is obtained by learning from an acquired gripping pressure distribution (a sequence of gripping pressure values) and registered in advance, and a sample of a sequence of gripping pressure values (hereafter called a gripping feature sample or simply a sample) acquired by sensors during authentication is compared with the registered template. This comparison is performed by using many pattern recognition technologies. In pattern recognition, how close a sample is to the template is obtained by using the distance between vectors. In biometric authentication, Mahalanobis&#39;s generalized distance and the Hamming distance are often used. When the distance exceeds a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the sample was obtained from another person; and when the distance is within the threshold, it is determined that the sample was obtained from the person in question. However, when the portable terminal is changed to another one, the relative positions of sensors in the portable terminal may change, the external shape of the portable terminal may change, or the arrangement of operating keys may change. Therefore, the template used for authentication (hereafter called authentication template) cannot be reused. Consequently, the authentication template should be learned again every time the portable terminal is changed, impairing the user convenience. In addition, while the authentication template is being learned after the portable terminal is changed, another method, such as a password, needs to be used to maintain the security of the new portable terminal, impairing the user convenience. Taking these situations into consideration, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal capable of reusing the authentication template used in an old portable terminal used before that portable terminal. 
     Means to Solve the Problems 
     A portable terminal of the present invention acquires a gripping feature sample when the user grips the terminal from a sensor array formed of a plurality of sensors and performs authentication by using a former authentication template. The portable terminal includes a former-template storage, a sensor-position storage, a sensor-position correcting section, a gripping-feature sample acquisition section, a template comparison section, and a template storage. The former-template storage stores an old authentication template used for authentication in a portable terminal used in the past, as a former template. The sensor-position storage stores the positions of the sensors in the portable terminal currently being used. The sensor-position correcting section acquires the former template and the positions of the sensors and applies interpolation to the former template according to the positions of the sensors to generate an interpolated template. The gripping-feature sample acquisition section acquires the gripping feature sample from the sensor array. The template comparison section compares the interpolated template with the acquired gripping feature sample and calculates an inter-vector distance therebetween. The template storage stores the interpolated template as the authentication template when the inter-vector distance between the interpolated template and the acquired gripping feature sample is equal to or shorter than a predetermined value. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     According to a portable terminal of the present invention, since the authentication template used in an old portable terminal used before the portable terminal can be reused in the portable terminal, it is not necessary to perform learning of an authentication template every time the portable terminal is changed, increasing the user convenience. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view showing a portable terminal  800   a  provided with pressure sensor arrays; 
         FIG. 2  is a view showing a portable terminal  800   b  provided with pressure sensor arrays; 
         FIG. 3  is a view showing a state in which the portable terminal  800   a  is gripped; 
         FIG. 4  is a view showing a state in which the portable terminal  800   b  is gripped; 
         FIG. 5  is a view showing a state in which the portable terminal  800   b ′ is gripped; 
         FIG. 6  is a view showing a portable terminal  800   c  provided with pressure sensor arrays; 
         FIG. 7  is a view showing a portable terminal  800   d  provided with pressure sensor arrays; 
         FIG. 8  is a view showing a state in which the portable terminal  800   c  is gripped; 
         FIG. 9  is a view showing a state in which the portable terminal  800   d  is gripped; 
         FIG. 10A  is an example view of an authentication template before the portable terminal is changed in a case when the sensor positions are different before and after the portable terminal is changed; 
         FIG. 10B  is an example view of a gripping feature sample acquired after the portable terminal is changed; 
         FIG. 11A  is a view explaining interpolation performed by a sensor position interpolating section; 
         FIG. 11B  is a view showing a template generated by the interpolation; 
         FIG. 12A  is a view of an authentication template before the portable terminal is changed in a case when the gripping state is different before and after the portable terminal is changed; 
         FIG. 12B  is an example view of a gripping feature sample acquired after the portable terminal is changed; 
         FIG. 13A  is a view explaining feature-segment extraction performed by a feature-segment extracting section; 
         FIG. 13B  is a view explaining deformation correction performed by a segment-position correcting section; 
         FIG. 14  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a portable terminal according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 15  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a portable terminal according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 16  is a flowchart of how a former template is reused in the portable terminal according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 17  is a flowchart of how an authentication template is learned in the portable terminal according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 18  is a flowchart of authentication in the portable terminal according to the first embodiment; and 
         FIG. 19  is a flowchart of how a former template is reused in the portable terminal according to the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Now, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. Components having the same functions are assigned the same numbers, and a description thereof will be given just once. 
     Gripping Feature Sample 
     First, gripping feature samples to be acquired by portable terminals  800  and  800 ′ according to all embodiments of the present invention will be described, the functional blocks of the portable terminals  800  and  800 ′ being shown in  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 , respectively. Since human beings are innately different in (1) the lengths of their fingers and (2) the strength of their gripping force, and, as an acquired nature, (3) in the habit of gripping a portable terminal, gripping features are highly suited as biometric information used for authentication. More specifically, gripping feature authentication has almost the same level of precision as general face authentication in terms of the authorized person rejection rate and the unauthorized person acceptance rate. Gripping feature samples can include, for example, a gripping pressure distribution, a gripping shape distribution and a gripping heat distribution. As an example method of acquiring these gripping feature samples, when a plurality of pressure sensors are distributed two dimensionally or in a straight line on a surface of each of the portable terminals  800  and  800 ′, the gripping pressure distribution can be acquired. 
     In the same manner, when CCD (CMOS) sensors are distributed two dimensionally or in a straight line, the gripping shape distribution can be obtained. In the same manner, when infrared sensors are distributed two dimensionally or in a straight line, the gripping heat distribution can be obtained. When a portable terminal has operating keys at the rear surface thereof (touch sensitive panel), gripping features can be acquired even from the pressing states (whether the operating keys or the touch sensitive panel is pressed) of the operating keys (touch sensitive panel) when the terminal is gripped. In the following descriptions of the embodiments, a gripping pressure distribution will be used as a gripping feature sample. Pressure sensor arrays are disposed in a straight line on the outer circumference of each of the terminal apparatuses  800  and  800 ′, and a sequence of pressure values acquired by the pressure sensor arrays at respective positions and arranged in a predetermined order is used as a gripping feature sample. 
     Acquisition Timing of Gripping Feature Samples 
     Gripping feature samples may be acquired at the same time as when a sampling trigger is generated. The sampling trigger indicates the predetermined acquisition timing of a gripping feature sample. For example, to acquire a gripping feature sample when browser software of the portable terminal  800  or  800 ′ is being operated, the sampling trigger can be set to “browser in operation ∩ pressing OK key”. This means that, when the user presses an OK key on the portable terminal  800  or  800 ′ if the browser is in operation, this operation is used as the sampling trigger, and a gripping feature sample is immediately acquired. To acquire a gripping feature sample while a call is being made, in which operating keys such as the OK key are not pressed much, the sampling trigger may be set to “once every three minutes” and generated automatically every three minutes of call time to acquire a gripping feature sample, for example. 
     The following advantages are achieved when the sampling trigger is used in the way described above to acquire a gripping feature sample required for learning an authentication template. When the sampling trigger is used, gripping feature samples are automatically acquired and accumulated at the acquisition timing when the user performs unconscious key operations. By doing so, gripping feature samples can be acquired in a state in which the user uses the terminal unconsciously and most spontaneously, in a relaxed manner. By doing so, the variance of observed values in gripping feature samples can be made small. If the start of acquisition of gripping feature samples is indicated by a message in the operating instructions shown on the portable terminal, the user would be on guard when receiving the message, and may grip the terminal not in a usual way but in a way that the user thinks is correct. The user may forget the usual way of gripping the terminal when receiving the message in advance. This would make the acquisition of precise gripping feature samples difficult. This problem can be solved and the acquisition of precise gripping feature samples is made possible if gripping feature samples can be acquired while the user is unconscious of the acquisition, as described above. 
     Authentication Template 
     An authentication template used for authentication by the portable terminals  800  and  800 ′ according to all the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. The authentication template is a pattern representatively expressing the gripping feature of the user. The authentication template is learned from the average values of the gripping feature samples acquired from the user, described earlier. The learned authentication template is compared with a gripping feature sample acquired newly after learning. According to the magnitude of a value calculated from the comparison (the distance between vectors, for example, Mahalanobis&#39;s generalized distance), it is determined whether the gripping feature sample acquired newly after learning was obtained from the person whose sample was used to generate the authentication template. 
     Some examples of the distance serving as the above-described authentication determination criterion will be explained below. It is assumed here, for example, that a pressure value x i,j  was acquired from the i-th sensor in the j-th measurement performed for learning, where i=1, 2, . . . , n, j=1, 2, . . . , m, n indicates the number of sensors and is an integer equal to 2 or more, and m indicates the number of gripping feature measurements for learning and is an integer equal to 2 or more. The average of the pressure values, the variance, and the vectors of the average and the variance are defined as follows: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
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     The average vector of gripping feature samples is used as an authentication template. The authentication template is indicated with a subscript “le”. Mahalanobis&#39;s generalized distance f 1  is given by the following expression. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
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     These three distances can be used to perform authentication with the same determination expression shown below. Data of the authentication target, acquired for determination, is indicated with a subscript “self”, and data of other people is indicated with a subscript “oth”. When the threshold used to detect other people is defined as x thre , the following expression can be used to detect other people. 
       X thre &lt; oth f  (7)
 
     Portable Terminals  800   a ,  800   b ,  800   b ′,  800   c , and  800   d    
       FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 ,  6 , and  7  show specific example shapes of portable terminals  800   a ,  800   b ,  800   b ′,  800   c , and  800   d  of different models, respectively. The portable terminals  800   a ,  800   b ,  800   b ′,  800   c , and  800   d  all have the functions of either of the portable terminals  800  and  800 ′ according to the embodiments of the present invention. 
     Reference Point Used to Identify Sensor Positions in the Present Specification 
     A reference point used to identify sensor positions in the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  6 , and  7 . It is assumed in the present specification that the portable terminals  800   a  and  800   b  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are different models of smart phones. It is also assumed that the portable terminals  800   c  and  800   d  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  are not smart phones but an older-generation folding-type portable terminal and sliding-type portable terminal. 
     The portable terminal  800   a  shown in  FIG. 1  has a body  101  having almost a rectangular plate shape. On an upper surface of the body  101 , a rectangular display surface  102  functioning as a touch sensitive panel and a key  103  are provided. In addition, the body  101  is provided with a pressure sensor array Ra at the right side face, a pressure sensor array Ua at the upper face, a pressure sensor array La at the left side face, and a pressure sensor array Ba at the bottom face. In the present description, the pressure sensor array Ra includes seven pressure sensors  105   a - 1  to  105   a - 7 , the pressure sensor array Ua includes four pressure sensors  105   a - 8  to  105   a - 11 , the pressure sensor array La includes seven pressure sensors  105   a - 12  to  105   a - 18 , and the pressure sensor array Ba includes four pressure sensors  105   a - 19  to  105   a - 22 . In the following description, when the sensor arrays Ra, Ua, La, and Ba are not specified, the sensor array means all of the sensor arrays. In the present invention, the arrangement and number of sensors can be specified in a desired manner and are not limited to those shown in  FIG. 1 . The arrangement of the sensors in  FIG. 1  is merely an example to make the following description easy to understand. 
     When the portable terminals  800  and  800 ′ of the present invention, the functional blocks thereof being shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , are smart phones, like the portable terminal  800   a  shown in  FIG. 1 , a reference point OX used to identify sensor positions can be set, for example, to the intersection (the position indicated by a cross in  FIG. 1 ) of the diagonal lines of the touch sensitive panel (the display surface  102 ). The position of each pressure sensor can be indicated, for example, by the angle (measured counterclockwise) formed by the straight line passing through the reference point OX and the lower right corner of the body  101  and the straight line passing through the reference point OX and the center of the pressure sensor, with the reference point OX being used as the vertex, as shown in  FIG. 1 . In the present specification, the angle identifying the position of the t-th (t is a natural number) pressure sensor  105   a - t  of the portable terminal  800   a  is indicated by the angle θa t . Therefore, the angle identifying the position of the fifth pressure sensor  105   a - 5  of the pressure sensor array Ra is indicated by the angle θa 5 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The portable terminal  800   b  shown in  FIG. 2  has a body  101  having almost a rectangular plate shape, like the portable terminal  800   a  shown in  FIG. 1 . On an upper surface of the body  101 , a rectangular display surface  102  functioning as a touch sensitive panel, a plurality of keys  104 , and a camera lens  106  are provided. In addition, the body  101  is provided with a pressure sensor array Rb formed of five pressure sensors  105   b - 1  to  105   b - 5  at the right side face, a pressure sensor array Ub formed of three pressure sensors  105   b - 6  to  105   b - 8  at the upper face, a pressure sensor array Lb formed of five pressure sensors  105   b - 9  to  105   b - 13  at the left side face, and a pressure sensor array Bb formed of three pressure sensors  105   b - 14  to  105   b - 16  at the bottom face. 
     A reference point OX used to identify sensor positions can be set, for example, to the intersection (the position indicated by a cross in  FIG. 1 ) of the diagonal lines of the touch sensitive panel (the display surface  102 ). The position of each pressure sensor can be indicated, for example, by the angle (measured counterclockwise) formed by the straight line passing through the reference point OX and the lower right corner of the body  101  and the straight line passing through the reference point OX and the center of the pressure sensor, with the reference point OX being used as the vertex, as shown in  FIG. 2 . For example, the angle identifying the position of the t-th (t is a natural number) pressure sensor  105   b - t  of the portable terminal  800   b  is indicated by the angle θb t . Therefore, the angle identifying the position of the sixth pressure sensor  105   b - 6  of the pressure sensor array Rb is indicated by the angle θb 6 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     It is assumed that the portable terminals  800  and  800 ′ of the present invention, the functional blocks thereof being shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , are older-generation folding-type portable terminals, such as the portable terminal  800   c  shown in  FIG. 6 . The portable terminal  800   c  has a body  101 A having almost a rectangular plate shape and a cover  101 B having a rectangular plate shape mounted to one short side of the body  101 A in a foldable manner. On an inner surface of the cover  101 B, a rectangular display surface  102  is provided. On an upper surface of the body  101 A, an OK key  103   c  is provided at the center in the horizontal direction, close to the cover  101 B, and a ten-key pad and functional keys  107  are provided therebelow. In addition, the body  101 A is provided with a pressure sensor array Rc formed of nine pressure sensors  105   c - 1  to  105   c - 9  at the right side face, a pressure sensor array Lc formed of nine pressure sensors  105   c - 10  to  105   c - 18  at the left side face, and a pressure sensor array Bc formed of five pressure sensors  105   c - 19  to  105   c - 23  at the bottom face. 
     A reference point OX used to identify sensor positions can be set, for example, to the center of the OK key  103   c  (the position indicated by a cross in  FIG. 6 ). In the same manner as shown in  FIG. 1 , the position of each pressure sensor can be indicated, for example, by the angle (measured counterclockwise) formed by the straight line passing through the reference point OX and the lower right corner of the body  101 A and the straight line passing through the reference point OX and the center of the pressure sensor, with the reference point OX being used as the vertex, as shown in  FIG. 6 . The angle identifying the position of the t-th pressure sensor  105   c - t  of the portable terminal  800   c  is indicated by the angle θc t . Therefore, the angle identifying the position of the seventh pressure sensor  105   c - 7  is indicated by the angle θc 7 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     It is assumed that the portable terminals  800  and  800 ′ of the present invention, the functional blocks thereof being shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , are older-generation sliding-type portable terminals, such as the portable terminal  800   d  shown in  FIG. 7 . The portable terminal  800   d  has a body  101 A having almost a rectangular plate shape and a cover  101 B having a rectangular plate shape mounted on the body  101 A in a slidable manner. On an outer surface of the cover  101 B, a rectangular display surface  102  and an OK key  103   d  are provided. On an upper surface of the body  101 A, a ten-key pad and functional keys  107  are provided. In addition, the body  101 A is provided with a pressure sensor array Rd formed of seven pressure sensors  105   d - 1  to  105   d - 7  at the right side face, a pressure sensor array Ld formed of seven pressure sensors  105   d - 8  to  105   d - 14  at the left side face, and a pressure sensor array Bd formed of five pressure sensors  105   d - 15  to  105   d - 19  at the bottom face. 
     A reference point OX used to identify sensor positions can be set, for example, to the center of the OK key  103   d  (the position indicated by a cross in  FIG. 7 ). In the same manner as shown in  FIG. 1 , the position of each pressure sensor can be indicated, for example, by the angle (measured counterclockwise) formed by the straight line passing through the reference point OX and the lower right corner of the body  101 A and the straight line passing through the reference point OX and the center of the pressure sensor, with the reference point OX being used as the vertex, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The angle identifying the position of the t-th pressure sensor  105   d - t  of the portable terminal  800   d  is indicated by the angle θd t . Therefore, the angle identifying the position of the seventh pressure sensor  105   d - 7  is indicated by the angle θd 7 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Changing the Portable Terminal 
     An object of the portable terminals  800  and  800 ′ of the present invention is to reuse the authentication template used in the portable terminal when the portable terminal is changed. The change of the portable terminal includes a case where the portable terminal is changed to a different model while the contract with the same communication company continues; a case where the portable terminal is changed to a different model at the same time as a new contract is made with a different communication company, and a case where the portable terminal is temporarily changed to a replacement rented from the communication company if the portable terminal is left with the communication company because it is out of order or for some other reason. 
     Changing the portable terminal, which the present invention handles, will be concretely described with reference to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  8 , and  9 .  FIG. 3  is a view showing a state in which the portable terminal  800   a  shown in  FIG. 1  is gripped.  FIG. 4  is a view showing a state in which the portable terminal  800   b  shown in  FIG. 2  is gripped.  FIG. 8  is a view showing a state in which the portable terminal  800   c  shown in  FIG. 6  is gripped.  FIG. 9  is a view showing a state in which the portable terminal  800   d  shown in  FIG. 7  is gripped. The portable terminals  800   a  and  800   b  are smart phones. The portable terminals  800   c  and  800   d  are not smart phones but older-generation portable terminals. When the portable terminal  800   a  is changed to the portable terminal  800   b , both being smart phones, the gripping features do not change much if compared with the center of the touch sensitive panel (the point indicated by a cross) being used as a reference, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . A smart phone is usually gripped with the hand other than the dominant hand and is operated with the dominant hand on the touch sensitive panel, because of the operating characteristics. Therefore, if the right hand is the dominant hand, the smart phone is usually gripped with the left hand, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . When the portable terminal  800   c  is changed to the portable terminal  800   d , both being not smart phones but older-generation portable terminals, the gripping features do not change much if compared with the center of the OK key (the point indicated by a cross) being used as a reference, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . An older-generation portable terminal is usually gripped with the dominant hand. Therefore, if the right hand is the dominant hand, the portable terminal is usually gripped with the right hand, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     Changes in Position of Pressure Sensors Before and after the Portable Terminal is Changed 
     A case in which the positions of the pressure sensors change before and after the portable terminal is changed will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 1  again and to  FIG. 2  newly.  FIG. 2  is a view showing the portable terminal  800   b , which has pressure sensor arrays. In the present description, it is assumed that the user first uses the portable terminal  800   a , the authentication template has been learned by a learning function of the portable terminal  800   a , and then, the user changes from the portable terminal  800   a  to the portable terminal  800   b . As described earlier, the portable terminal  800   b  is a smart phone, like the portable terminal  800   a.    
     As is clear when the portable terminal  800   a  shown in  FIG. 1  is compared with the portable terminal  800   b  shown in  FIG. 2 , the portable terminal  800   a  is provided with the pressure sensor array Ra having the seven pressure sensors  105   a - 1  to  105   a - 7  at the right side face, whereas the portable terminal  800   b  is provided with the pressure sensor array Rb having the five pressure sensors  105   b - 1  to  105   b - 5  at the right side face. The number of pressure sensors at the right side face is smaller in the portable terminal  800   b  than in the portable terminal  800   a . The portable terminal  800   a  is provided with the pressure sensor array Ua having the four pressure sensors  105   a - 8  to  105   a - 11  at the upper face, whereas the portable terminal  800   b  is provided with the pressure sensor array Ub having the three pressure sensors  105   b - 6  to  105   b - 8  at the upper face. The number of pressure sensors at the upper face is smaller in the portable terminal  800   b  than in the portable terminal  800   a . As in this example, even if each portable terminal has pressure sensors from which gripping features can be acquired, the positions and the number of pressure sensors cannot be made equal among all models due to the structural design. In addition, since the sizes of portable terminals differ depending on the design, the positions and the number of pressure sensors change accordingly. 
     In the present description, the number of sensors is reduced after the portable terminal is changed, and the positions of the sensors change accordingly. However, in another conceivable case, although the total number of sensors is not changed before and after the portable terminal is changed, the positions of the sensors differ before and after the portable terminal is changed. As described earlier, it is assumed here that the user changes from the portable terminal  800   a , which is a smart phone, to the portable terminal  800   b .  FIGS. 3 and 4  show example states in which the portable terminal  800   a , which is used before the change of the portable terminal, and the portable terminal  800   b , which is used after the change of the portable terminal, are gripped by the user who first uses the portable terminal  800   a . In the present description, it is assumed that, because the portable terminal  800   a  and the portable terminal  800   b  are similar in shape, the way the user grips the portable terminal does not change much before and after the portable terminal is changed, and only the arrangement of pressure sensors has a large effect on the acquired measurement values of the gripping pressure distribution. 
     Changes in measurement values of the gripping pressure distribution caused by different sensor positions before and after the portable terminal is changed will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 10A and 10B .  FIG. 10A  shows an authentication template used before the portable terminal is changed in a case in which sensor positions differ before and after the portable terminal is changed.  FIG. 10B  shows an example gripping feature sample after the portable terminal is changed.  FIG. 10A  shows the authentication template (hereafter called a former template) learned in the portable terminal  800   a  before the portable terminal is changed.  FIG. 10B  shows a gripping pressure distribution (gripping feature sample) obtained when the portable terminal  800   b  is gripped after the portable terminal is changed. In the graphs, the vertical axis indicates gripping pressure (kPa), and the horizontal axis indicates the angle (°) defined with the reference point being used as the vertex, as described earlier. The positions corresponding to the thumb, the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger are roughly indicated by arrows labeled THM, IND, MID, ANN, and LIT in the graphs. The values acquired at the pressure sensors in the former template are indicated by black squares, and the measured gripping pressure values at the pressure sensors acquired when the portable terminal  800   b  is gripped are indicated by white circles. Curves obtained by smooth-fitting the measured values with, for example, a trigonometric function or another desired function are indicated by a solid line in  FIG. 10A  and by a dotted line in  FIG. 10B . The curves obtained by fitting can be acquired as digital gripping feature values corresponding to a series of discrete angle positions (digital values) that includes the sensor positions and positions between the sensors. 
     The gripping features of the user change little before and after the portable terminal is changed, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The reason why the graphs shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B  differ even though the way the user grips the portable terminal changes little before and after the portable terminal is changed is that whether a sensor is located at an area where a finger presses the portable terminal with high pressure is changed due to the changes in sensor positions. For example, the index finger presses the terminal at around 90 degrees. As is clear from the graph shown in  FIG. 10A , since the portable terminal  800   a  has the pressure sensor  105   a - 6  at the position where the index finger presses, the peak pressure value can be measured. In contrast, as is clear from the graph shown in  FIG. 10B , since the portable terminal  800   b , used after the portable terminal is changed, has the pressure sensors  105   b - 4  and  105   b - 5 , between which the position where the index finger presses the terminal, about 90 degrees, is located, the peak pressure value of the index finger cannot be detected with the pressure sensors  105   b - 4  and  105   b - 5 . As described above, when the positions of the pressure sensors differ before and after the portable terminal is changed, the acquired gripping pressure distribution is different. However, this difference merely means that similar gripping pressure distributions of the same user are measured at different positions. 
     The differences in sensor positions between the portable terminals  800   a  and  800   b , both being smart phones, have been described. Differences in sensor positions occur between not only smart phones but also conventional portable terminals. These differences will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  FIG. 6  is a view showing the portable terminal  800   c  having pressure sensor arrays.  FIG. 7  is a view showing the portable terminal  800   d  having pressure sensor arrays. As described earlier, the portable terminal  800   c  is not a smart phone but an older-generation folding-type portable terminal. The portable terminal  800   d  is not a smart phone but an older-generation sliding-type portable terminal. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the position of the seventh pressure sensor of the portable terminal  800   c  is θc 7 , the position of the seventh pressure sensor of the portable terminal  800   d  is θd 7 , and θc 7  is larger than θd 7 . When the portable terminal  800   c  is changed to the portable terminal  800   d , the gripping features do not change much in appearance if compared with the center of the OK key (the point indicated by the cross) being used as a reference, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Therefore, also in this case, when the positions of the pressure sensors differ before and after the portable terminal is changed, the acquired gripping pressure distribution is different. However, this difference merely means that similar gripping pressure distributions of the same user are measured at different positions. 
     Correcting Sensor Positions 
     Correcting changes in gripping features caused by changes in pressure sensor positions before and after the portable terminal is changed, described above, will be described below. The portable terminals  800  and  800 ′ shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15  according to all of the embodiments of the present invention are provided with a sensor position correcting section  815 . The sensor position correcting section  815  performs interpolation to correct changes in gripping features caused by changes in pressure sensor positions. This correction will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 11A and 11B .  FIG. 11A  shows the graph shown in  FIG. 10A  placed on the graph shown in  FIG. 10B . The graph shown in  FIG. 10A  is indicated by a solid line, which shows a former template learned with the portable terminal  800   a , used before the portable terminal is changed, and the graph shown in  FIG. 10B  is indicated by a dotted line, which shows the gripping pressure distribution (gripping feature sample) acquired by the portable terminal  800   b , used after the portable terminal is changed. In the same way as in  FIG. 10B , the measured values of gripping pressure with the pressure sensors in the portable terminal  800   b , used after the portable terminal is changed, are indicated by white circles. As shown in  FIG. 11A , when the gripping features of the user do not change before and after the portable terminal is changed, the measured values (white circles) of the pressure sensor arrays in the portable terminal  800   b  should ideally be close to or on the fitting curve of the former template obtained before the portable terminal is changed. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 11B , gripping pressure values at the sensor angle positions θb t  (indicated by a short-and-long-dot chain line) of the portable terminal  800   b , used after the portable terminal is changed, can be extracted as interpolation values from the fitting curve of the former template already obtained before the portable terminal is changed, and used as prediction values (indicated by white circles in  FIG. 11B ) of an authentication template for the new sensor positions. The authentication template to be used after the portable terminal is changed includes these predicted measurement values (white circles in  FIG. 11B ). To perform such a process, it is necessary to store the sensor positions θb t  of the portable terminal  800   b , used after the portable terminal is changed, in a sensor-position storage  810  in the portable terminals  800  and  800 ′ of the present invention. The sensor positions are not limited to those indicated by angles, as described above, but it is preferable that the center of the touch sensitive panel (OK key) be used as the reference point. This is because the gripping features of the user are stable before and after the portable terminal is changed unless the portable terminal changes much in size. 
     As described above, since the former template can be converted to the authentication template for the portable terminal  800   b , used after the portable terminal is changed, by applying interpolation at the sensor positions, the former template can be reused. This method can be used for cases in which the number of pressure sensors in the portable terminal before it is changed is equal to or smaller than that in the portable terminal after it is changed, but the method is not suitable for the converse cases because the estimation error would become large. If a past authentication template cannot be reused well, a usual authentication template learning method, described later, can be used instead to obtain a highly precise authentication template. 
     Changes in Gripping States Before and after the Portable Terminal is Changed 
     Example cases in which gripping features change before and after the portable terminal is changed, other than those in which the sensor positions are changed, described above, include cases in which the shape of the portable terminal is changed or the positions of the operating keys are changed before and after the portable terminal is changed, so that the gripping features change. A case in which gripping features change as the arrangement of the operating keys is changed before and after the portable terminal is changed will be described specifically with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 5 .  FIG. 5  is a view showing a state in which the portable terminal  800   b ′ is gripped. In the present description, it is assumed that the portable terminal is changed from the portable terminal  800   a  to the portable terminal  800   b ′; and the portable terminal  800   b ′, used after the portable terminal is changed, has exactly the same sensor positions as the portable terminal  800   a , used before the portable terminal is changed, but is provided, at the right side face thereof, with an operating key (such as a camera activation button)  108 , which is not provided on the portable terminal  800   a . In that case, the user grips the portable terminal  800   b ′ with his or her fingers shifted a little (see an arrow in  FIG. 5 ) so as not to place the fingers on the operating key  108  to prevent it from being erroneously pressed in a usual gripping state, as shown in  FIG. 5 . As understood when comparing  FIG. 3  with  FIG. 5 , the user shifts his or her middle finger a little toward the index finger to avoid pressing the operating key  108  at the right side face of the portable terminal  800   b ′. Changes in measured values of a gripping pressure distribution caused by changes in the gripping state before and after the portable terminal is changed will be described here with reference to  FIGS. 12A and 12B .  FIG. 12A  is a view of an authentication template before the portable terminal is changed in a case where the gripping state is different before and after the portable terminal is changed, and  FIG. 12B  is an example view of a gripping feature sample acquired after the portable terminal is changed. In other words,  FIG. 12A  shows the former template, and  FIG. 12B  shows measured values in the gripping pressure distribution when the user grips the portable terminal  800   b ′. In the graphs, the vertical axis indicates gripping pressure (kPa), and the horizontal axis indicates the angle (°) defined with the reference point being used as the vertex, as described earlier. The positions corresponding to the thumb, the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger are roughly indicated by arrows labeled THM, IND, MID, ANN, and LIT in the graphs. The values acquired at the pressure sensors in the former template are indicated by black squares in  FIG. 12A , and the measured gripping pressure values at the pressure sensors acquired when the portable terminal  800   b ′ is gripped are indicated by white triangles in  FIG. 12B . Curves obtained by smooth-fitting the measured values are indicated by a solid line in  FIG. 12A  and by a dotted line in  FIG. 12B . Since the portable terminals  800   a  and  800   b ′ have exactly the same sensor positions as described earlier, the points indicated by black squares and the points indicated by white triangles have identical values (angles) along the horizontal axis. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , in terms of the gripping features of the user, the middle finger is shifted toward the index finger, and the other fingers are almost the same. Therefore, in  FIG. 12B , it is understood that the peak gripping-pressure position caused by pressing with the middle finger (MID) is shifted in the positive angle direction from the position of the middle finger shown in  FIG. 12A . Correcting such a change in gripping features caused by a change in the gripping state before and after the portable terminal is changed will be described below. 
     Extracting Feature Segments and Correcting Segment Positions 
     To correct a change in gripping features caused by a change in the gripping state before and after the portable terminal is changed, it is possible to calculate the distance between the former template and a gripping feature sample acquired newly and to estimate a new authentication template from this distance with a statistical method. One specific example method for implementing a new authentication template will be described. 
     A portable terminal  800 ′ according to a second embodiment of the present invention, the functional blocks thereof being shown in  FIG. 15 , includes a feature-segment extracting section  830  and a segment-position correcting section  835 . The feature-segment extracting section  830  extracts feature segments from the former template, and the segment-position correcting section  835  applies deformation correction, described later, to correct the former template.  FIG. 13A  is a view explaining feature-segment extraction performed by the feature-segment extracting section  830 , and  FIG. 13B  is a view explaining deformation correction performed by the segment-position correcting section  835 . In  FIG. 13A , a curve obtained by smooth-fitting the values corresponding to the pressure-sensor angle positions in the former template is indicated by a solid line, and the measured gripping-pressure values acquired in the portable terminal  800 ′, used after the portable terminal is changed, are schematically indicated by white triangles. 
     First, feature segments are extracted in the former template. A well-known edge detection method or other methods can be used to extract feature segments. For example, feature segments can be obtained by extracting zero points having positive gradients in the first derivative of the curve and by dividing the template at the zero points. When the k-th angle position in K discrete angle positions in the range from 0 to 360 degrees is indicated by θ k , the first derivative (gradient) of the curve can be calculated by dividing the difference between a gripping pressure value x k  at the angle position θ k  and a gripping pressure value x k-1  at the angle position θ k-1  by the difference between the angle positions, that is, (x k −x k-1 )/(θ k −θ k-1 ). With this method, for example, an area around 0 to 30 degrees, corresponding to the position where the ring finger presses, is partitioned as a segment by a dotted line so as to include the start point, the peak position, and the end point of the range where the ring finger presses, as shown in  FIG. 13A . Feature segments are also partitioned for the middle finger, the index finger, and other fingers. 
     Next, the distances between the former template and measured gripping-pressure values acquired in the portable terminal  800   b ′, used after the portable terminal is changed, are measured in each feature segment extracted as described above. These distances may be an inter-vector distance between the gripping pressure values at the respective sensor angle positions in each feature segment in the former template and the respective measured gripping-pressure values in the same feature segment, acquired in the portable terminal  800   b ′, used after the portable terminal is changed. The inter-vector distance may be, for example, expressed similarly to Expression (4), (5), or (6), described earlier. It is assumed here that the upper-boundary angle position in each feature segment belongs to the feature segment; and, when the absolute value of the difference between the template value and the measured gripping pressure value at the central angle position between both ends of the segment is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the angle positions at both ends also belong to the segment. Whether the gripping features have changed can be determined from whether the distance in each feature segment, calculated as described above, exceeds a predetermined threshold. For example, in  FIG. 13A , since the position of the middle finger is changed before and after the portable terminal  800   a  is changed, in an area around 30 to 60 degrees corresponding to the position where the middle finger presses the portable terminal  800   a , used before the portable terminal is changed, the white triangle point (the measured gripping-pressure value acquired in the portable terminal  800   b ′, used after the portable terminal is changed) is not on the solid line (on the former template). Therefore, the distance in the feature segment corresponding to the position where the middle finger presses is larger than the distances in the other feature segments. In  FIG. 13A , mark x indicates that the above-described distance exceeds the predetermined threshold in that feature segment, whereas mark ∘ indicates that the above-described distance does not exceed the predetermined threshold in that feature segment. The following deformation correction is applied to the former template in a feature segment marked with x. 
     Deformation correction is performed by shifting the former template along the horizontal axis in a feature segment where the distance exceeds the threshold, as the feature segment of the area around 30 to 60 degrees in  FIG. 13A , for example. More specifically, every time the template in a feature segment in which the distance exceeds the threshold is shifted by one sensor angle in the direction in which the angle position increases or decreases, the inter-vector distance between the template at the shifted segment position and the gripping pressure values in the measured sample is calculated, and the template in that segment is shifted to the angle position where the distance becomes minimum. As described earlier, the curve obtained by smooth-fitting the values in the former template is used to divide the template into the segments. Instead of this fitting curve, a broken line connecting the values in the former template by straight lines may be used to divide the template into segments. As described above, the difference in gripping features before and after the portable terminal is changed is obtained in each feature segment, and when the difference exceeds the threshold, deformation correction in which the former template is shifted in the feature segment is applied. Even if the gripping features are deformed partially, the deformation can be effectively corrected to reuse the former template. 
     As a specific example of deformation correction, the operations of the feature-segment extracting section  830  and the segment-position correcting section  835  have been described. The feature-segment extracting section  830  needs to calculate the distance between the former template and the data of a newly acquired gripping feature sample, and the segment-position correcting section  835  needs to apply deformation correction to the former template according to the distance calculated by the feature-segment extracting section, to obtain a new authentication template. The present invention is not limited to the specific example of deformation correction described above. 
     Case in which Both Pressure Sensor Position and Gripping State are Changed Before and after the Portable Terminal is Changed 
     Even when the pressure sensor positions and the gripping state are both changed before and after the portable terminal is changed, the former template can be corrected. In that case, interpolation is first applied to the former template according to the sensor positions stored in the sensor position storage. The former template obtained after interpolation and a gripping feature sample acquired after the portable template is changed are compared, and the inter-vector distance is calculated. When the inter-vector distance exceeds a predetermined threshold, feature-segment extraction and deformation correction (segment-position correction) are applied to the former template obtained after interpolation. As described above, even when the pressure sensor positions and the gripping state are both changed before and after the portable terminal is changed, the former template can be corrected to be reused in the portable terminal, used after the portable terminal is changed. 
     First Embodiment 
     With the above described conditions being used as a premise, the portable terminal  800  according to a first embodiment will be described in detail. Reusing the former template in a learning state in the portable terminal  800  will be described first with reference to  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 16 .  FIG. 14  is a block diagram showing the configuration of the portable terminal  800 .  FIG. 16  is a flowchart (F 1 ) showing how to reuse the former template in the portable terminal  800 . The portable terminal  800  includes a pressure sensor array  105 , a gripping-feature sample acquisition section  120 , a switch  125 , a temporary sample storage  130 , a former-template storage  805 , the sensor position storage  810 , the sensor position correcting section  815 , a template comparison section  820 , a template storage  155 , a template learning section  135 , an authentication section  160 , and a locking section  180 . The switch  125  can switch the portable terminal  800  between the learning state and an authentication state. It is assumed here that the switch  125  is set to the learning state (connected to the temporary sample storage  130 ). 
     The former-template storage  805  stores the authentication template used for authentication in a portable terminal used in the past, as a former template. The sensor position storage  810  stores sensor positions in the portable terminal currently being used. The sensor position correcting section  815  obtains the former template from the former-template storage  805  and the sensor positions from the sensor position storage  810 , applies interpolation to the former template according to the sensor positions, and generates an interpolated template (S 815 ) (for details, see Correcting sensor positions). The gripping-feature sample acquisition section  120  acquires a gripping feature sample from the pressure sensor array  105  (S 120 ). The temporary sample storage  130  temporarily stores the gripping feature sample acquired by the gripping-feature sample acquisition section  120 . The template comparison section  820  compares the interpolated template generated in step S 815  with the acquired gripping feature sample and calculates the inter-vector distance (S 820 ). The template storage  155  stores the interpolated template as an authentication template when the inter-vector distance between the interpolated template and the acquired gripping feature sample is equal to or shorter than a predetermined value (Yes in S 825 ). The inter-vector distance used here can be the distance given by Expression (4), (5), or (6), described earlier. In contrast, when the inter-vector distance between the interpolated template and the acquired gripping feature sample is longer than the predetermined value (No in S 825 ), it is determined that the former template cannot be reused and the processing proceeds to a flowchart F 2  (to the start of F 2 ) showing a usual authentication-template learning method. As described above, since the portable terminal  800  of the present embodiment applies interpolation to the former template by using the sensor positions, even if the sensor positions change before and after the portable terminal is changed, the former template can be reused. In this case, it is not necessary to learn an authentication template every time the portable terminal is changed, increasing the convenience of the user. 
     Next, with continuing reference to  FIG. 14  and to  FIG. 17  newly, an authentication-template learning operation in the learning state in the portable terminal  800  according to the present embodiment will be described.  FIG. 17  is a flowchart (F 2 ) showing the authentication-template learning operation of the portable terminal  800  according to the present embodiment. As described earlier, when the inter-vector distance between the interpolated template and the acquired gripping feature sample is longer than the predetermined value (No in S 825 ), the processing proceeds to the flowchart F 2 , and a usual authentication-template learning operation is performed. It is assumed here in the same way as described earlier that the switch  125  is set to the learning state (connected to the temporary sample storage  130 ). First, the gripping-feature sample acquisition section  120  acquires a gripping feature sample from the pressure sensor array  105  (S 120 ). It is assumed here that the number of gripping feature samples already acquired is Sm, and the number of learning-start samples is SFm. The number of learning-start samples, SFm, means a predetermined number of samples required for learning the authentication template. Since it is highly possible that, even if the authentication template is learned with a small number of acquired gripping feature samples, the authentication template cannot be generated with sufficient precision, the number of samples empirically found to be required to obtain a highly precise authentication template is set in the number of learning-start samples, SFm. Consequently, when the number of gripping feature samples, Sm, stored in the temporary sample storage  130  reaches the number of learning-start samples, SFm, that is, Sm≧SFm, the processing proceeds to step S 135 , and the template learning section  135  learns the authentication template with the gripping feature samples (Yes in S 130  and S 135 ) and stores the learned authentication template in the template storage  155  (S 155 ). If the number of gripping feature samples, Sm, stored in the temporary sample storage  130  does not reach the number of learning-start samples, SFm, that is, Sm&lt;SFm, the processing returns to the start (S 130 ), and the process for acquiring a gripping feature sample is repeated (S 120 ). The authentication template is obtained from the average of gripping feature samples (gripping pressure distributions in the present embodiment) by calculating Expressions (1), (2), and (3), described earlier. As described above, in the portable terminal  800  of the present embodiment, even if the former template cannot be reused to obtain an authentication template having sufficient precision, an authentication template reflecting the gripping features in the portable terminal used after the portable terminal is changed can be learned with the usual authentication-template learning method. 
     Next, with continuing reference to  FIG. 14  and to  FIG. 18  newly, authentication of the portable terminal  800  of the present embodiment in the authentication state will be described.  FIG. 18  is a flowchart (F 3 ) showing authentication of the portable terminal  800 . It is assumed here that the switch  125  is set to the authentication state (connected to the authentication section  160 ). It is also assumed that template learning, described above, has already been finished before authentication. The gripping-feature sample acquisition section  120  acquires a gripping feature sample from the pressure sensor array  105  (S 120 ). Next, the authentication section  160  compares the learned (reused) authentication template with the gripping feature sample to perform authentication (S 160 ). If this authentication fails (No in S 165 ), the locking section  180  locks some or all of the functions of the portable terminal  800  (S 180 ). If the authentication is successful (Yes in S 165 ), the locking operation is not performed (end of processing). The authentication template and the gripping feature sample can be compared in the following way, for example. The authentication section  160  calculates the inter-vector distance between the authentication template and the gripping feature sample acquired in the authentication state, for example, the distance given by Expression (4), (5), or (6), described earlier. The authentication section  160  determines that the acquired gripping feature sample was acquired from the authentication target when the distance is equal to or shorter than a predetermined value, as given by Inequality (7), described earlier. The authentication section  160  determines that the acquired gripping feature sample was not acquired from the authentication target when the distance between the authentication template and the gripping feature sample is longer than the predetermined value. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, the portable terminal  800 ′ according to the second embodiment, in which the authentication-template reusing function of the portable terminal according to the first embodiment has been further enhanced, will be described in detail. The former-template reusing operation of the portable terminal  800 ′ according to the present embodiment, in a learning state, will be described with reference to  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 19 .  FIG. 15  is a block diagram showing the configuration of the portable terminal  800 ′.  FIG. 19  is a flowchart (F 4 ) showing the former-template reusing operation of the portable terminal  800 ′. The portable terminal  800 ′ is made by adding the feature-segment extracting section  830  and the segment-position correcting section  835  to the configuration of the portable terminal  800  shown in  FIG. 14 . Since the operation of each section other than the feature-segment extracting section  830  and the segment-position correcting section  835  is exactly the same as that of the section having the same reference numeral in the first embodiment, a description thereof is omitted. It is also assumed, as in the first embodiment, that the switch  125  can switch the portable terminal  800 ′ between the learning state and an authentication state. It is assumed here that the switch  125  is set to the learning state (connected to the temporary sample storage  130 ). Since steps S 815 , S 120 , S 820 , S 825 , and S 155  in the flowchart F 4  are the same as steps S 815 , S 120 , S 820 , S 825 , and S 155  in the flowchart F 1 , described earlier, a description thereof is omitted. 
     The difference from the first embodiment is the processes performed when a No determination is made in step S 825 . When the inter-vector distance between the interpolated former template and the acquired gripping feature sample is longer than the predetermined value (No in S 825 ), the feature-segment extracting section  830  extracts feature segments from the interpolated former template, compares the interpolated former template with the gripping feature sample in each of the feature segments, and calculates the distance (S 830 ) (for details, see Extracting feature segments and correcting segment positions). The segment-position correcting section  835  applies deformation correction to the interpolated template to generate a corrected template for the feature segments where the distance calculated by the feature-segment extracting section  830  is longer than the predetermined value (S 835 ) (for details, see Extracting feature segments and correcting segment positions). The template comparison section  820  compares the corrected template with the gripping feature sample and calculates the inter-vector distance therebetween. When the inter-vector distance between the corrected template and the gripping feature sample is equal to or shorter than the predetermined value (Yes in S 825 ), the template storage  155  stores the corrected template as an authentication template (S 155 ). In contrast, when the inter-vector distance between the corrected template and the acquired gripping feature sample is longer than the predetermined value (No in S 825 ), it is determined that the former template cannot be reused and the processing proceeds to the flowchart F 2  (to the start of F 2 ), which shows the usual authentication-template learning method. The authentication-template learning operation (flowchart F 2 ) of the portable terminal  800 ′ of the present embodiment, in the learning state, and the authentication operation (flowchart F 3 ) of the portable terminal  800 ′, in the authentication state, are the same as in the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof is omitted. 
     It is also possible that the deformation correction data (such as the position of a feature segment in which deformation correction is required, and the deformation direction and the deformation amount of the feature segment) of the portable terminal  800 ′ of the present embodiment is stored in a server; and, even if the gripping features change when another user changes the portable terminal, the portable terminal  800 ′ owned by this other user, used after the portable terminal is changed, accesses the server, acquires necessary deformation correction data, and applies deformation correction to the former template according to the acquired deformation correction data. 
     As described above, since the portable terminal  800 ′ of the present embodiment applies deformation correction to the former template in each feature segment, even if the gripping features change before and after the portable terminal is changed, the former template can be reused. In this case, it is not necessary to learn an authentication template every time the portable terminal is changed, increasing the convenience of the user. 
     Each type of processing described above may be executed not only time-sequentially according to the order in the description but also in parallel or individually when necessary or according to the processing capability of each apparatus that executes the processing. Appropriate changes can be made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     When the configurations described above are implemented by a computer, the processing details of the functions that should be provided by each apparatus are described in a program. When the program is executed by the computer, the processing functions are implemented on the computer. 
     The program containing the processing details can be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium can be any type of medium, such as a magnetic recording device, an optical disc, a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. 
     The program is distributed by selling, transferring, or lending a portable recording medium, such as a DVD or a CD-ROM, with the program recorded on it, for example. The program may also be distributed by storing the program in a storage unit of a server computer and transferring the program from the server computer to another computer through a network. 
     A computer that executes this type of program first stores the program recorded on a portable recording medium or the program transferred from the server computer in its storage unit. Then, the computer reads the program stored in its storage unit and executes processing in accordance with the read program. In a different program execution form, the computer may read the program directly from the portable recording medium and execute processing in accordance with the program, or the computer may execute processing in accordance with the program each time the computer receives the program transferred from the server computer. Alternatively, the above-described processing may be executed by a so-called application service provider (ASP) service, in which the processing functions are implemented just by giving program execution instructions and obtaining the results without transferring the program from the server computer to the computer. The program of this form includes information that is provided for use in processing by the computer and is treated equivalent to a program (something that is not a direct instruction to the computer but is data or the like that has characteristics that determine the processing executed by the computer). 
     In the description given above, each apparatus is implemented by executing the predetermined program on the computer, but at least a part of the processing may be implemented by hardware.