# US 12,015,925 B2 · Device, computer program and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,925 B2 - Document ID: US12015925B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/057,763 - Filed: 2022-11-22 - Published: 2023-03-16 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-28 - Assignees: Sony Group Corporation - Applicants: Sony Group Corporation - Inventors: Conor Aylward; Hugo Embrechts; Dimitri Torfs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015925B2 ## CPC - H04W 12/68: Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent - G06F 3/011: {Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00)} - G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)} - G06F 3/0304: {Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means (constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042)} - G06F 3/0426: {tracking fingers with respect to a virtual keyboard projected or printed on the surface (virtual keyboards on touch screens G06F3/04886)} - G06F 21/316: {by observing the pattern of computer usage, e.g. typical user behaviour} - G06F 21/36: by graphic or iconic representation - G06V 40/11: {Hand-related biometrics; Hand pose recognition} - G06V 40/67: {by interactive indications to the user} - H04W 12/06: Authentication - H04W 12/065: Continuous authentication - H04W 12/33: using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses - H04W 12/65: Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data - H04L 63/083: {using passwords (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226)} - H04L 63/0861: {using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231)} - H04L 63/0876: {based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint} - H04W 12/08: Access security - H04W 12/61: Time-dependent - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A device for authenticating a user is described that comprises a sensor configured to measure the movement of a user in response to the interaction of the user with a displayed image and controller circuitry configured to authenticate the user in response to a positive comparison between the movement of the user and a stored movement associated with the user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for authenticating a user, comprising: microphone circuitry configured to capture an ambient sound over a predetermined period, and controller circuitry configured to: measure the energy of the ambient sound over a predefined period; compare the time series of the measured energy with a received time series of the measure of the energy of the ambient sound from a second device known to be close to the user, wherein the measured energy includes no personal information from the ambient sound; and authenticate the user of the second device as the user of the device in the event of a positive comparison. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, wherein: the microphone circuitry is configured to capture the ambient sound over a time period, and controller circuitry is configured to update a comparison result for each time period and to authenticate the user in the event that the comparison result reaches a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 3 A method of authenticating a user of a device, the method comprising: storing a table that includes a device identifier for each device associated with the user and a location that indicates whether each device is close to the user; capturing, using microphone circuitry, an ambient sound over a predetermined period measuring the energy of the ambient sound over a predefined period; comparing the time series of the measured energy with a received time series of the measure of the energy of the ambient sound from a second device known to be close to the user; and authenticating the user of the second device as the user of the device in the event of a positive comparison. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, further comprising: capturing the ambient sound over a time period; updating a comparison result for each time period; and authenticating the user in the event that the comparison result reaches a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, wherein the measured energy includes no personal information from the ambient sound. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, wherein the table further includes a confidence score regarding a level of confidence associated with the location of each device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4, further comprising: storing a table that includes a device identifier for each device associated with the user, a location that indicates whether each device is close to the user, and a confidence score regarding a level of confidence associated with the location of each device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, further comprising updating the location and the confidence score in the table when updating the comparison result. ### Claim 9 A device for authenticating a user, comprising: a memory that stores a table that includes a device identifier for each device associated with the user and a location that indicates whether each device is close to the user; microphone circuitry configured to capture an ambient sound over a predetermined period, and controller circuitry configured to: measure the energy of the ambient sound over a predefined period; compare the time series of the measured energy with a received time series of the measure of the energy of the ambient sound from a second device known to be close to the user; and authenticate the user of the second device as the user of the device in the event of a positive comparison. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A device according to claim 9, wherein the table further includes a confidence score regarding a level of confidence associated with the location of each device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) A device according to claim 2, further comprising: a memory that stores a table that includes a device identifier for each device associated with the user, a location that indicates whether each device is close to the user, and a confidence score regarding a level of confidence associated with the location of each device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A device according to claim 11, wherein the controller circuitry updates the location and the confidence score when updating the comparison result. ### Claim 13 A non-transitory computer readable storage device having computer readable instructions that when executed by circuitry case the circuitry to: capture an ambient sound over a predetermined period measure the energy of the ambient sound over a predefined period; compare the time series of the measured energy with a received time series of the measure of the energy of the ambient sound from a second device known to be close to the user, wherein the measured energy includes no personal information from the ambient sound; and authenticating the user of the second device as the user of the device in the event of a positive comparison. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A non-transitory computer readable storage device according to claim 13, wherein the circuitry is to: capture the ambient sound over a time period; update a comparison result for each time period; and authenticate the user in the event that the comparison result reaches a predetermined threshold.