Multi-stage biometric authentication

A method for optical biometric user authentication by a system on a chip (SoC) in a device, comprising:

• determining to power on a first subsystem of the SoC, the determination to power on the first subsystem made by a second subsystem of the SoC based on detection of user identity data contained in a first image frame during an initial biometric detection process, the second subsystem configured to operate independent of the first subsystem and control power to the first subsystem, the second subsystem comprising a second optical sensor, a set of ambient sensors, and a second processor;
• detecting, by one or more ambient sensors of the set of ambient sensors, an event comprising one or more of an environmental event outside of the device or a motion event of the device;
• and
• in response to a determination that the event is qualified under a predetermined criteria indicative of a user engaging the device:
• selecting, by the second processor, a plurality of operating parameters for the second optical sensor based on the detected event, wherein the plurality of operating parameters include an image resolution, a framerate, and a focal length of the second optical sensor;
• powering on, by the second processor, the second optical sensor;
• capturing, by the second optical sensor, the first image frame according to the plurality of operating parameters;
• and
• performing, by the second processor, the initial biometric detection process on the first image frame, the initial biometric detection process configured to detect the user identity data contained in the first image frame.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions that when executed by a processor of an apparatus cause the apparatus to perform a method for optical biometric user authentication, the method comprising:

• determining to power on a first subsystem of the SoC, the determination to power on the first subsystem made by a second subsystem of the SoC based on detection of user identity data contained in a first image frame during an initial biometric detection process, the second subsystem configured to operate independent of the first subsystem and control power to the first subsystem, the second subsystem comprising a second optical sensor, a set of ambient sensors, and a second processor;
• detecting, by one or more ambient sensors of the set of ambient sensors, an event comprising one or more of an environmental event outside of the apparatus or a motion event of the apparatus;
• and
• in response to a determination that the event is qualified under a predetermined criteria indicative of a user engaging the apparatus:
• selecting, by the second processor, a plurality of operating parameters for the second optical sensor based on the detected event, wherein the plurality of operating parameters include an image resolution, a framerate, and a focal length of the second optical sensor;
• powering on, by the second processor, the second optical sensor;
• capturing, by the second optical sensor, the first image frame according to the plurality of operating parameters;
• and
• performing, by the second processor, the initial biometric detection process on the first image frame, the initial biometric detection process configured to detect the user identity data contained in the first image frame.