Microsoft was issued a granted patent earlier this month for a security feature that they've branded as 'Watch It' what introduces a 'Watch It Interface.' While the invention focuses their idea around a smartwatch, the invention could apply to a smartphone or other mobile devices including a notebook. The security feature is like Apple's new iPhone X Face ID using 3D imagery while adding a second security feature explained in the report.
In their patent background Microsoft notes that "The ubiquity of computers in all their new and various forms, and their associated accessories and mobile applications, "Apps", and the increase in world population and resultant density have eroded personal and collective privacy to a degree that maintaining and protecting a modicum of quiet, privacy, and confidentiality, has become a nagging, headline making worry. For example, inadvertent visual eavesdropping of a laptop, tablet, wrist or hand computer screen by a crowded neighbor in a subway, on a bus, in an airplane or shopping mall is an often frequent breach of a person's personal zone of privacy that if at all possible, may require substantial dexterous fidgeting to avoid."
Microsoft describes in their granted patent that an aspect of the invention relates to providing a wearable computer interface that operates to provide and protect a zone of privacy for a user.
In an embodiment, the computer interface operates to determine if a user is facing the interface, and if so to determine an identity for the user. If the determined identity is that of a user authorized to access functionalities provided by a computer that the interface interfaces, the interface enables the user access to the functionalities. Optionally, the interface sustains access substantially only as long as the user is facing and watching the interface, hereinafter also referred to as a "Watch-It interface" or simply "Watch-It".
In another embodiment of the invention, "Watch-It", comprises a three dimensional (3D) camera system controllable to acquire 3D range images of a scene in the field of view (FOV) of the camera system and optionally, a contrast image, hereinafter also referred to as a "picture image" or "picture" of the scene. The 3D range image provides 3D spatial coordinates for features of the scene. The picture image provides pictures that may be used to identify the features and characteristics of the features.
Optionally, Watch-It and the 3D camera system are normally OFF and Watch-It repeatedly turns ON, periodically or intermittently, to use the 3D camera system to image its environment and process images acquired by the 3D camera system to determine if a user is in the FOV and facing Watch-It. Optionally, Watch-It comprises an accelerometer and turns ON to image its environment responsive to signals generated by the accelerometer indicating motion that brings Watch-It to face a user. If Watch-IT determines it is being "watched" by a user, Watch-It processes images of the user provided by the 3D camera system to determine an identity for the user. If the identity is that of a user authorized to access functionalities of the computer that Watch-It interfaces, Watch-It enables the user access to the functionalities.
Microsoft's patent FIG. 1C noted above shows us a block diagram of components pertaining to a new security feature called 'Watch-It'; FIG. 2A schematically shows a user holding up a smartwatch with the Watch It security feature to his face so that it could identify him; FIG. 2B schematically shows an enlarged view of the field of view of Watch-It and the face of the user shown in FIG. 2A and parameters used to determine head orientation of the user and whether the user is watching Watch-It in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Microsoft further notes that optionally, Watch-It comprises a video screen and may display substantially only a screen saver on the screen or maintain the screen blank until Watch-It has determined that it is being watched by an authorized user. Upon making such a determination Watch-It may generate an interactive display on the screen for the user's use. A solid angle of the FOV of the Watch-It 3D camera system and a depth of field of the FOV define a zone of privacy that Watch-It provides the user. Further, the solid angle and/or depth of field are adjustable to adapt the FOV and thereby the zone of privacy to the authorized user's preferences and/or needs. In an embodiment Watch-It comprise a privacy filter that operates to shield images displayed on the Watch-It screen from visual prying.
In an embodiment of the invention, Watch-It is configured to acquire a voiceprint of speech vocalized by a user and processes images provided by the 3D camera system to identify words such as a password or passphrase, in the voiceprint that the user may be expected to voice to gain access to the functionalities and/or to interact with the computer. In an embodiment of the invention the 3D camera system images the users' face simultaneously with the user vocalizing the speech in the voiceprint, and processes the images to lip-read the user to aid in identifying the words.
In an embodiment of the invention, the Watch-It interface is comprised in a device worn on the arm or wrist that may have a form similar to that of a wrist watch. Optionally, the Watch-It is worn on the leg to enable a user to use the interface when seated.
And lastly the new feature is not limited to a smartwatch. Microsoft notes that the computer may be any of various computing devices such as a smartphone, laptop, notebook, PC, personal digital aid (PDA), chipset, and application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
Microsoft's newly granted patent issued earlier in the month by the U.S. Patent Office was originally filed in Q3 2014.
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