Earlier this month Samsung introduced their new Note 7 along with a new biometrics authentication option using an iris scanner that was supported by multiple Samsung patent filings that we covered in reports over the years (one, two and three). Samsung's latest biometrics patent came to life this month via the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office that illustrates how Samsung is thinking of adding fingerprint authentication to a future version of their Gear Fit and possibly an iris scanner to a future version of their Galaxy VR headset.
Samsung notes that in FIG. 1, the Gear Fit device may detect a wearing state of the wearable device (#100) based, for example, on whether a fastener is fastened or not. The device could be protected by a fingerprint sensor/scanner to authenticate the user.
Further, the Gear Fit may obtain biometric information of a user by measuring a pulse of a wrist. What's interesting here is that the Gear Fit will only be able to connect to a Wi-Fi function to activate push notification functions when the pulse rate of the user hits 50 beats per minute or more.
Samsung's patent FIG. 5 noted below is a diagram illustrating an example operation of activating at least one function by obtaining biometric information, performed by a watch-type wearable device #100, such as the Gear Fit.
The Gear Fit may apply a "Condition of Biometric Information" before initiating a particular function as noted below in patent FIG. 6.
Biometrics for Eyewear, Gear VR
In Samsung's patent FIG. 9 noted below we're able to see a diagram illustrating an example operation of activating at least one function by obtaining biometric information, performed by a glasses-type wearable device #800, which could also be applied to a future version of their Gear VR headset.
Overview of a New Biometrics System
Samsung notes in their patent filing that the wearable device obtains at least one piece of biometric information of the user. In addition, the wearable device may obtain more biometric information of the user after authenticating the user to turn on other device functions.
Overall, "biometric information" may include, for example, at least one of information about a heart rate, an electrocardiography (ECG), a pulse, blood pressure, a temperature, an iris, sweat, eyes, an ultraviolet ray index, a retina, an artery, a vein, a skeleton, a face, and a motion of a user, or the like. The biometric information obtained from the user may vary depending on a user's body part to which the wearable device is attached or the type of a sensor included in the wearable device.
Furthermore, a "home network control function" may refer, for example, to a function of controlling a house environment through a home network, performed by the wearable device. For example, the wearable device may be configured to control furniture or devices installed in a house such as air-conditioners, heaters, computers, TVs, telephones, or microwave ovens, or the like, through the home network.
Turning on Apps Automatically
Another feature of this new invention is that future wearable devices may, for example, determine a user's state based on biometric information measured from a user. For example, if a user's temperature is high and the pulse has quickened compared to in a user's normal state, the wearable device may be automatically configured to determine that the user is exercising and may execute applications related to exercising such as a pedometer application, a calorie-consumption measuring application, or a running-speed measuring application, or the like. So you could just start your jog and at a certain body temperature or heart rate, the associated application would simply activate.
Samsung filed their U.S. patent application back in January 2016. Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.
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