# US 12,223,022 B2 · Control of user profiles based on biometrical user authentication in an electronic user device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,223,022 B2 - Document ID: US12223022B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/622,053 - Filed: 2019-06-28 - Published: 2022-10-06 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-28 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Applicants: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Inventors: Mohammed Zourob; Alexander Hunt; Andreas Kristensson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12223022B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/1684: {Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675} - G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints - G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface} - G06F 3/04166: {Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving (Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184)} - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06V 40/13: Sensors therefor - H04L 9/3231: {Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina (network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861)} - H04M 1/67: by electronic means - H04W 12/06: Authentication - H04W 12/68: Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent - H04M 2250/22: including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector - H04W 88/02: Terminal devices - 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) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method for transitioning between user profiles in an electronic user device during use of the electronic user device wherein the electronic user device comprises a fingerprint sensor operatively connected to a touch sensor of the electronic user device is disclosed. The method comprises sensing (103), by the fingerprint sensor, at least a part of a fingerprint at a determined position and area of a detected touch, and determining (104), by a fingerprint controller configured to control the fingerprint sensor, whether the sensed part of the fingerprint corresponds to a registered user of the electronic user device. The method further comprises, when the sensed part of the fingerprint corresponds to a registered user of the electronic user device, authenticating (105) the registered user based on the sensed fingerprint, and applying (106), by a settings controller configured to control the settings of the electronic user device, settings of a user profile associated with the registered user in the electronic user device. Corresponding computer program product, apparatus, and system are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for transitioning between user profiles in an electronic user device during use of the electronic user device, wherein the electronic user device comprises a fingerprint sensor operatively connected to a touch sensor of the electronic user device, the method comprising the following steps: sensing, by the fingerprint sensor, at least a part of a fingerprint at a determined position and area of a detected touch, determining, by a fingerprint controller configured to control the fingerprint sensor, whether the sensed part of the fingerprint corresponds to a registered user of the electronic user device, and when the sensed part of the fingerprint corresponds to a registered user of the electronic user device: authenticating the registered user based on the sensed fingerprint, and applying, by a settings controller configured to control the settings of the electronic user device, settings of a user profile associated with the registered user in the electronic user device; wherein the method further comprises repeating the steps at a frequency corresponding to a set security level. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: determining, by a touch sensor controller configured to control the touch sensor, the position and the area of the detected touch on the touch sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: repeating the determining and sensing steps for every detected touch on the touch sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the set security level is set by the registered user and/or owner of the electronic user device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: scanning the touch sensor for detecting one or more touches on the touch sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the scanning of the touch sensor comprises scanning at least a part of the touch sensor on a first side of the electronic user device and/or at least a part of the touch sensor on a second side of the electronic user device and/or at least a part of the touch sensor on a third side of the electronic user device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the scanning of the touch sensor comprises scanning a whole area or a dedicated area of the touch sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein use of the electronic user device is defined as the electronic user device being in an unlocked mode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: setting the electronic user device in a locked mode in response to repeatedly determining that the sensed part of the fingerprint corresponds to a non-registered user of the electronic user device. ### Claim 10 A method for registering user profiles for transitioning between user profiles in an electronic user device during use of the electronic user device, wherein the electronic user device comprises a fingerprint sensor operatively connected to a touch sensor of the electronic user device, the method comprising the following steps: sensing, by the fingerprint sensor, at least a part of a fingerprint at the determined position and area of the detected touch, determining, by a fingerprint controller configured to control the fingerprint sensor, whether the sensed part of the fingerprint corresponds to a non-registered user of the electronic user device, and when the sensed part of the fingerprint corresponds to a non-registered user of the electronic user device: registering, by a registration controller configured to control registration of user profiles, the non-registered user by associating the sensed fingerprint to a user profile associated with the user to be registered. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of: determining, by a touch sensor controller configured to control the touch sensor, the position and the area of the detected touch on the touch sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: repeating the steps for every detected touch on the touch sensor, and/or repeating the steps at a frequency corresponding to a set security level. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the set security level is set by a registered user and/or owner of the electronic user device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of: adjusting settings of the user profile associated with the user to be registered in the electronic user device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein registering the non-registered user is performed during a specified time window. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the registering the non-registered user further comprises storing the sensed fingerprint to a secure memory in the electronic user device. ### Claim 17 An apparatus for transitioning between user profiles in an electronic user device during use of the electronic user device wherein the electronic user device comprises a fingerprint sensor operatively connected to a touch sensor of the electronic user device, the apparatus comprising: a memory comprising executable instructions and one or more processors configured to communicate with the memory, whereby the one or more processors are configured to cause the following operations: sensing, by the fingerprint sensor, of at least a part of a fingerprint at a determined position and area of a detected touch, determination, by a fingerprint controller configured to control the fingerprint sensor, of whether the sensed part of the fingerprint corresponds to a registered user of the electronic user device, and when the sensed part of the fingerprint corresponds to a registered user of the electronic user device: authentication of the registered user based on the sensed fingerprint, and application, by a settings controller configured to control the settings of the electronic user device, of settings of a user profile associated with the registered user in the electronic user device; wherein the one or more processors are further configured to repeatedly cause the operations, at a frequency corresponding to a set security level. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to: determination, by a touch sensor controller configured to control the touch sensor, of the position and the area of the detected touch on the touch sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to: scan the touch sensor for detecting one or more touches on the touch sensor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the scan of the touch sensor further comprises scan of at least a part of the touch sensor on a first side of the electronic user device and/or at least a part of the touch sensor on a second side of the electronic user device and/or at least a part of the touch sensor on a third side of the electronic user device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to: set the electronic user device in a locked mode in response to repeated determination that the sensed part of the fingerprint corresponds to a non-registered user of the electronic user device. ### Claim 22 An apparatus for registering user profiles for transitioning between user profiles in an electronic user device during use of the electronic user device wherein the electronic user device comprises a fingerprint sensor operatively connected to a touch sensor of the electronic user device, the apparatus comprising: a memory comprising executable instructions and one or more processors configured to communicate with the memory, whereby the one or more processors are configured to cause: sensing, by the fingerprint sensor, of at least a part of a fingerprint at a determined position and area of a detected touch, determination, by a fingerprint controller configured to control the fingerprint sensor, of whether the sensed part of the fingerprint corresponds to a non-registered user of the electronic user device, and when the sensed part of the fingerprint corresponds to a non-registered user of the electronic user device: registration, by a registration controller configured to control registration of user profiles, of the non-registered user by associating the sensed fingerprint to a user profile associated with the user to be registered. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to: determine, by a touch sensor controller configured to control the touch sensor, of the position and the area of the detected touch on the touch sensor. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to: adjust settings of the user profile associated with the user to be registered in the electronic user device. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to: register the non-registered user during a specified time window. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to: store the sensed fingerprint to a secure memory in the electronic user device at registration of the non-registered user.