PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9292728-B2
Application Number: US-201414291900-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Electronic device for reallocating finger biometric template nodes in a set memory space and related methods

Abstract:
An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor, a memory, and a processor capable of generating a respective finger biometric template node for each finger positioning adjacent the finger biometric sensor. The processor may also be capable of allocating a set space of the memory to store a total number of finger biometric template nodes based upon a first number of fingers and with each finger having a first number of finger biometric template nodes associated therewith. In addition, the processor may reallocate the set space of the memory to store the total number of finger biometric template nodes but with a second number of finger biometric template nodes associated with at least one finger, with the second number of finger biometric template nodes being different than the first number of finger biometric template nodes.

Claims:
That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a finger biometric sensor; 
 a memory; and 
 a processor configured to 
 generate a respective finger biometric template node for each finger positioning adjacent the finger biometric sensor, 
 allocate a set space of the memory to store a total number of finger biometric template nodes based upon a first number of fingers and with each finger having a first number of finger biometric template nodes associated therewith, and 
 reallocate the set space of the memory to store the total number of finger biometric template nodes but with a second number of finger biometric template nodes associated with at least one finger, the second number of finger biometric template nodes being different than the first number of finger biometric template nodes. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device according to  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to store the finger biometric template nodes based upon the reallocating. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device according to  claim 2  wherein the processor is configured to perform a finger match operation based upon the stored finger biometric template nodes. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device according to  claim 2  wherein the processor is configured to rank stored finger biometric template nodes, and replace in the memory a stored biometric template node having a lower ranking with a new finger biometric template node having a higher ranking. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device according to  claim 4  wherein the processor is configured to rank based upon at least one of a specific finger area, node age, frequency of node usage, and frequency of associated finger biometric template usage. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device according to  claim 4  wherein the processor is configured to store at least one newer finger biometric template node for each finger. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device according to  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to determine the second number of finger biometric template nodes based upon at least one of a finger size, a finger positional variability, and a finger frequency of usage. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one wireless transceiver coupled to the processor. 
     
     
       9. An electronic device comprising:
 at least one wireless transceiver; 
 a finger biometric sensor; 
 a memory; and 
 a processor coupled to the at least one wireless transceiver, finger biometric sensor, and memory and being configured to
 generate a respective finger biometric template node for each finger positioning adjacent the finger biometric sensor, 
 allocate a set space of the memory to store a total number of finger biometric template nodes based upon a first number of fingers and with each finger having a first number of finger biometric template nodes associated therewith, 
 reallocate the set space of the memory to store the total number of finger biometric template nodes but with a second number of finger biometric template nodes associated with at least one finger, the second number of finger biometric template nodes being different than the first number of finger biometric template nodes, 
 store the finger biometric template nodes based upon the reallocating, and 
 perform a finger match operation based upon the stored finger biometric template nodes. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic device according to  claim 9  wherein the processor is configured to rank stored finger biometric template nodes, and replace in the memory a stored biometric template node having a lower ranking with a new finger biometric template node having a higher ranking. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device according to  claim 10  wherein the processor is configured to rank based upon at least one of a specific finger area, node age, frequency of node usage, and frequency of associated finger biometric template usage. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device according to  claim 10  wherein the processor is configured to store at least one newer finger biometric template node for each finger. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device according to  claim 9  wherein the processor is configured to store the second number of finger biometric template nodes based upon at least one of a finger size, a finger positional variability, and a finger frequency of usage. 
     
     
       14. A method for finger biometric processing in an electronic device comprising a finger biometric sensor, the method comprising:
 operating a processor and associated memory of the electronic device for
 generating a respective finger biometric template node for each finger positioning adjacent the finger biometric sensor, 
 allocating a set space of the memory to store a total number of finger biometric template nodes based upon a first number of fingers and with each finger having a first number of finger biometric template nodes associated therewith, and 
 reallocating the set space of the memory to store the total number of finger biometric template nodes but with a second number of finger biometric template nodes associated with at least one finger, the second number of finger biometric template nodes being different than the first number of finger biometric template nodes. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 14  further comprising operating the processor and associated memory for storing the finger biometric template nodes based upon the reallocating. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15  further comprising operating the processor and associated memory for performing a finger match operation based upon the stored finger biometric template nodes. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 15  further comprising operating the processor and associated memory for ranking stored finger biometric template nodes, and replacing in the memory a stored biometric template node having a lower ranking with a new finger biometric template node having a higher ranking. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17  further comprising operating the processor and associated memory for ranking based upon at least one of a specific finger area, node age, frequency of node usage, and frequency of associated finger biometric template usage. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 17  further comprising operating the processor and associated memory for storing at least one newer finger biometric template node for each finger. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 14  further comprising operating the processor and associated memory for determining the second number of finger biometric template nodes based upon at least one of a finger size, a finger positional variability, and a finger frequency of usage. 
     
     
       21. A non-transitory computer readable medium for use with a finger biometric sensor and which when executed on a processor having an associated memory performs steps comprising:
 generating a respective finger biometric template node for each finger positioning adjacent the finger biometric sensor; 
 allocating a set space of the memory to store a total number of finger biometric template nodes based upon a first number of fingers and with each finger having a first number of finger biometric template nodes associated therewith; and 
 reallocating the set space of the memory to store the total number of finger biometric template nodes but with a second number of finger biometric template nodes associated with at least one finger, the second number of finger biometric template nodes being different than the first number of finger biometric template nodes. 
 
     
     
       22. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 21  further comprising storing the finger biometric template nodes based upon the reallocating. 
     
     
       23. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 22  further comprising performing a finger match operation based upon the stored finger biometric template nodes. 
     
     
       24. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 22  further comprising ranking stored finger biometric template nodes, and replacing in the memory a stored biometric template node having a lower ranking with a new finger biometric template node having a higher ranking. 
     
     
       25. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 24  further comprising ranking based upon at least one of a specific finger area, node age, frequency of node usage, and frequency of associated finger biometric template usage. 
     
     
       26. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 24  further comprising storing at least one newer finger biometric template node for each finger. 
     
     
       27. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 21  further comprising determining the second number of finger biometric template nodes based upon at least one of a finger size, a finger positional variability, and a finger frequency of usage.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of electronics, and, more particularly, to the field of finger sensors. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Fingerprint sensing and matching is a reliable and widely used technique for personal identification or verification. In particular, a common approach to fingerprint identification involves scanning a sample fingerprint or an image thereof and storing the image and/or unique characteristics of the fingerprint image. The characteristics of a sample fingerprint may be compared to information for reference fingerprints already in a database to determine proper identification of a person, such as for verification purposes. 
     A fingerprint sensor may be particularly advantageous for verification and/or authentication in an electronic device, and more particularly, a portable device, for example. Such a fingerprint sensor may be carried by the housing of a portable electronic device, for example, and may be sized to sense a fingerprint from a single-finger. 
     Where a fingerprint sensor is integrated into an electronic device or host device, for example, as noted above, it may be desirable to more quickly perform authentication, particularly while performing another task or an application on the electronic device and based upon different finger conditions. In other words, it may be particularly undesirable to have a user wait while a fingerprint is processed for authentication. Performing a fingerprint authentication with a reduced user delay and while maintaining a desired level of security may be increasingly difficult when a fingerprint sensor is integrated in a host device, such as a personal computer or cellphone. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor, a memory, and a processor. The processor may be capable of generating a respective finger biometric template node for each finger positioning adjacent the finger biometric sensor, and allocating a set space of the memory to store a total number of finger biometric template nodes based upon a first number of fingers and with each finger having a first number of finger biometric template nodes associated therewith. The processor may also be capable of reallocating the set space of the memory to store the total number of finger biometric template nodes but with a second number of finger biometric template nodes associated with at least one finger. The second number of finger biometric template nodes is different than the first number of finger biometric template nodes. 
     The processor may be capable of storing the finger biometric template nodes based upon the reallocating. The processor may be capable of performing a finger match operation based upon the stored finger biometric template nodes, for example. The processor may be capable of ranking stored finger biometric template nodes and replacing in the memory a stored biometric template node having a lower ranking with a new finger biometric template node having a higher ranking. 
     The processor may be capable of ranking based upon at least one of a specific finger area, node age, frequency of node usage, and frequency of associated finger biometric template usage, for example. The processor may be capable of storing at least one newer finger biometric template node for each finger. 
     The processor may be capable of determining the second number of finger biometric template nodes based upon at least one of a finger size, a finger positional variability, and a finger frequency of usage. The processor may be capable of reallocating also with a second number of fingers different than the first number of fingers. The electronic device may further include at least one wireless transceiver coupled to the processor. 
     A method aspect is directed to a method for finger biometric processing in an electronic device comprising a finger biometric sensor. The method includes operating a processor and associated memory of the electronic device for generating a respective finger biometric template node for each finger positioning adjacent the finger biometric sensor and allocating a set space of the memory to store a total number of finger biometric template nodes based upon a first number of fingers and with each finger having a first number of finger biometric template nodes associated therewith. The method may also include operating the processor and the associated memory for reallocating the set space of the memory to store the total number of finger biometric template nodes but with a second number of finger biometric template nodes associated with at least one finger. The second number of finger biometric template nodes may be different than the first number of finger biometric template nodes. 
     A non-transitory computer readable medium for use with a finger biometric sensor and which when executed on a processor having an associated memory may performs steps that may include generating a respective finger biometric template node for each finger positioning adjacent the finger biometric sensor, and allocating a set space of the memory to store a total number of finger biometric template nodes based upon a first number of fingers and with each finger having a first number of finger biometric template nodes associated therewith. The steps may also include reallocating the set space of the memory to store the total number of finger biometric template nodes but with a second number of finger biometric template nodes associated with at least one finger. The second number of finger biometric template nodes may be different than the first number of finger biometric template nodes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of an electronic device according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating operation of he electronic device of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    are schematic diagrams illustrating exemplary reallocation of the set space of the memory in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b    are schematic diagrams illustrating another exemplary reallocation of the set space of the memory in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    are schematic diagrams illustrating another exemplary reallocation of the set space of the memory in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an electronic device  20  is now described. The electronic device  20  illustratively includes a portable housing  21  and a processor  22  carried by the portable housing. The electronic device  20  is illustratively a mobile wireless communications device, for example, a cellular telephone. The electronic device  20  may be another type of electronic device, for example, a tablet computer, laptop computer, etc. 
     A wireless transceiver  25  is also carried within the housing  21  and coupled to the processor  22 . The wireless transceiver  25  cooperates with the processor  22  to perform at least one wireless communications function, for example, for voice and/or data. In some embodiments, the electronic device  20  may not include a wireless transceiver  25  or other wireless communications circuitry. 
     A display  23  is also carried by the portable housing  21  and is coupled to the processor  22 . The display  23  may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), for example, or may be another type of display, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. A memory  26  is also coupled to the processor  22 . The memory  26  is for storing finger matching biometric data and a subset of the finger matching biometric data, as will be described in further detail below. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the memory  26  may be device memory, host memory, or shared memory. 
     A finger-operated user input device  24 , illustratively in the form of a pushbutton switch, is also carried by the portable housing  21  and is coupled to the processor  22 . The pushbutton switch  24  cooperates with the processor  22  to perform a device function in response to the pushbutton switch. For example, a device function may include a powering on or off of the electronic device  20 , initiating communication via the wireless communications circuitry  25 , and/or performing a menu function. 
     More particularly, with respect to a menu function, the processor  22  may change the display  23  to show a menu of available applications based upon pressing of the pushbutton switch  24 . In other words, the pushbutton switch  24  may be a home switch or button, or key. Of course, other device functions may be performed based upon the pushbutton switch  24 , for example, switching to a user-interface unlocked mode. In some embodiments, the finger-operated user input device  24  may be a different type of finger-operated user input device, for example, forming part of a touch screen display. Other or additional finger-operated user input devices may be carried by the portable housing  21 . 
     A finger biometric sensor  30  is carried by the pushbutton switch  24  to sense a user&#39;s finger  40  or an object placed adjacent the finger biometric sensor. The finger biometric sensor  30  is carried by the pushbutton switch  24  so that when a user contacts and/or presses downward on the pushbutton switch, data from the user&#39;s finger  40  is acquired, for example, for finger matching and/or spoof detection, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. In other words, the finger biometric sensor  30  may be responsive to static contact or placement of the user&#39;s finger  40  or object. Of course, in other embodiments, for example, where the finger biometric sensor  30  is not carried by a pushbutton switch, the finger biometric sensor may be a slide sensor and may be responsive to sliding contact, or the finger biometric sensor may be a standalone static placement sensor. The finger biometric sensor  30  may also be a combination slide/static placement sensor and be responsive to both static placement and sliding contact with the user&#39;s finger  40 . 
     Referring now additionally to the flowchart  50  in  FIG. 3 , operation of the electronic device  20  is now described. Beginning at Block  52  the processor  22 , at Block  54 , generates a respective finger biometric template node for each finger positioning adjacent the finger biometric sensor. For example, finger biometric template nodes may be generated for different fingers of the same user or different users. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a node may be considered a collection of data points for a given region or area of a user&#39;s finger and may include ridge-flow data and/or minutiae points. 
     At Block  56 , the processor  22  allocates a set space of the memory  26  to store a total number of finger biometric template nodes based upon a first number of fingers and with each finger having a first number of finger biometric template nodes associated therewith. For example, a given finger may have a total of  18  finger biometric template nodes associated therewith in the memory  26 , which is capable of storing 90 nodes (thus there are in this example, 5 finger biometric templates). 
     The processor  22  reallocates the set space of the memory to store the total number of finger biometric template nodes but with a second number of finger biometric template nodes associated with at least one finger at Block  58 . The second number of finger biometric template nodes is different than the first number of finger biometric template nodes. The processor  22  may determine the second number of finger biometric template nodes based upon at least one of a finger size, a finger positional variability, and a finger frequency of usage, for example. Of course, the processor  22  may determine the second number based upon other and/or additional factors, either alone or in combination. With respect to the example sizes described above, after reallocation, there may be 4 finger biometric templates instead of 5, one of finger biometric templates having 36 nodes associated therewith, but the total number of nodes remains at 90. 
     At Block  60 , the processor  22  stores the finger biometric template nodes in the memory  26  based upon the reallocating. The processor  22  ranks the stored finger biometric template nodes (Block  62 ), and replaces, in the memory  26 , a stored biometric template node having a lower ranking with a new finger biometric template node having a higher ranking (Block  64 ). It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the ranking may be performed by the processor  22  before or after being stored in the memory  26  or during the storage thereof. 
     The processor  22  may rank the stored finger biometric template nodes based upon a specific finger area, node age, frequency of node usage, and/or frequency of associated finger biometric template usage. For example, the processor  22  may store at least one newer finger biometric template node for each finger. Of course, the processor  22  can rank the stored finger biometric template nodes based upon other and/or additional factors, either alone or in combination, for example with the factors listed above. 
     While the above has been described with respect to a first number of fingers, the processor  22  may reallocate with a second number of fingers different than the first number of finger. For example, the processor  22  may reallocate with more or less fingers than were originally allocated and reallocated. This may occur when fingers are added or removed, for example, storing finger biometric template nodes associated with 3 fingers instead of 5 fingers or vice versa. By adding a finger, for example, an additional template would be generated and allocated in memory, leaving the previously stored finger biometric templates with less node capacity. Thus, the set space of the memory is reallocated. A similar process may occur when a finger biometric template is removed. 
     The processor, at Block  66 , performs a finger match operation based upon the stored finger biometric template nodes. The method ends at Block  68 . 
     As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, prior art finger template management may be limited in that each finger biometric template is typically allocated memory of a fixed size and each finger biometric template has its own data structure. Thus, the fixed size allocation may not address finger size (e.g. a thumb may use more memory space than an index finger), positional variability (e.g., a finger involving a tip and cores usage may use more space than that involving a tip only), a change in fingerprint pattern (e.g. a finger that undergoes a condition change may use more memory space), frequency of usage (e.g. more frequently used fingers should generally be given more memory space), and partial enrollment (e.g. if the number of enrolled fingers is less than a maximum, then capacity is available and memory space is wasted). 
     The reallocation of the finger biometric template nodes may be particularly advantageous for adapting to finger size. In particular, more finger biometric template nodes may be allocated to a larger finger. Additionally, the more finger biometric template nodes that are associated with a given finger, the better performance in terms of accuracy and speed. 
     Changing finger conditions may also be addressed by reallocation of the set space of the memory  26 . Finger conditions change over time, for example from dry to moist, and by reallocating the set space of the memory  26 , for example, based upon age, may increasingly account for these changing finger conditions. Accordingly, a more accurate and quicker finger match operation may be performed. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b   , an exemplary reallocation of the set space of the memory  26  to store the total number of finger biometric template nodes is illustrated. The diagram in  FIG. 4 a    illustrates two finger biometric templates  70 ,  71  each having three nodes  72   a - 72   c ,  73   a - 73   c , respectively. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, as illustrated, the edges correspond to alignment information between incident nodes.  FIG. 4 b    illustrates a single finger biometric template  74  having the six total finger biometric nodes therein. In other words, the generally fixed template size of three nodes has been reallocated to a single biometric template having the six finger biometric nodes  72   a - 72   c ,  73   a - 73   c . It should be noted that the total number of finger biometric template nodes in the template  74  is the same as the total of the finger biometric templates  70 ,  71 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b   , another exemplary reallocation of the set space of the memory  26  to store the total number of finger biometric template nodes is illustrated. The diagram in  FIG. 5 a    illustrates a finger biometric six nodes  75   a - 75   f , nodes  75   a - 75   c  being associated and nodes  75   d - 75   f  being associated. Node  75   c  is the least ranked node. A match image or finger biometric template node  75   g , for example, may be generated, which is more closely associated with the finger biometric template nodes  75   d - 75   f . The memory  26  is reallocated so that finger biometric template nodes  75   d - 75   g  are associated and finger biometric template nodes  75   a ,  75   b  are associated. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b   , yet another exemplary reallocation of the set space of the memory  26  to store the total number of finger biometric template nodes is illustrated. The diagram in  FIG. 6 a    illustrates a finger biometric six nodes  76   a - 76   f , nodes  76   a - 76   c  being associated and nodes  76   d - 76   f  being associated. A match image or finger biometric template node  76   g , for example, may be generated, which is associated with all the finger biometric template nodes  76   a - 76   f . The memory  26  is reallocated so that finger biometric template nodes  76   a - 76   g  are associated. Finger biometric template node  76   c  is deleted. This reallocation scheme may be particularly advantageous for managing duplicate finger biometric template nodes. 
     A method aspect is directed to a method for finger biometric processing in an electronic device  20  that includes a finger biometric sensor  30 . The method includes operating a processor  22  and associated memory  26  of the electronic device  20  for generating a respective finger biometric template node for each finger positioning adjacent the finger biometric sensor, and allocating a set space of the memory to store a total number of finger biometric template nodes based upon a first number of fingers and with each finger having a first number of finger biometric template nodes associated therewith. The method also includes operating the processor  22  and the associated electronic device  20  for reallocating the set space of the memory  26  to store the total number of finger biometric template nodes but with a second number of finger biometric template nodes associated with at least one finger. The second number of finger biometric template nodes is different than the first number of finger biometric template nodes. 
     Another aspect is directed to a non-transitory computer readable medium for use with a finger biometric sensor  30  and which when executed on a processor  22  having an associated memory  26  performs steps that include generating a respective finger biometric template node for each finger positioning adjacent the finger biometric sensor. The steps also include allocating a set space of the memory to store a total number of finger biometric template nodes based upon a first number of fingers and with each finger having a first number of finger biometric template nodes associated therewith, reallocating the set space of the memory to store the total number of finger biometric template nodes but with a second number of finger biometric template nodes associated with at least one finger. The second number of finger biometric template nodes is different than the first number of finger biometric template nodes. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the reallocating of the set space of the memory  26  may occur at any time and any number of times. Thus, the reallocation may be considered a dynamic reallocation. For example, the set space of the memory  26  may be reallocated each time a finger biometric template node is generated, at a time interval or after a threshold time period, either fixed or variable, and/or randomly. The time threshold may be set by any number of factors, for example, usage. Of course the time threshold may be set based upon other and/or additional factors, and the set space of the memory  26  may also be reallocated based upon other factors and/or at other times, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
     Many modifications and other embodiments will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20140530
Publication Date: 20160322
Grant Date: 20160322
Priority Date: 20140530
Inventors: BOSHRA MICHAEL
MARCINIAK CRAIG A.
VIETA WILLIAM M.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F17/30247", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06K9/00033", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06V40/1365", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06V40/1365", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F16/583", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06V40/50", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06V40/1312", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F16/583", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06V40/50", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 54702146