Method and apparatus for non-intrusive biometric capture

A method for providing a computer system with user input data and user biometric data, comprising the steps of:

• providing a computer peripheral device, the computer peripheral device including an event sensor and a biometric sensor;
• detecting a user induced event with the event sensor;
• detecting user biometric data at substantially the same time as the step of detecting the user induced event;
• converting the user induced event into a first set of electronic signals;
• converting the user biometric data into a second set of electronic signals;
• transmitting the first set of electronic signals to the computer system;
• and
• transmitting the second set of electronic signals to the computer system.

A computer system having an input device for providing input data and biometric data, the input device comprising:

• an input portion for detecting the input data in response to a user action, and for converting the input data into first data signals;
• a biometric sensing portion for detecting biometric data from the user at substantially a same time the input portion detects the input data, and for converting the biometric data into second data signals;
• and
• a processor coupled to the input portion and to the biometric sensing portion for combining the first data signals and the second data signals to form third data signals, and for providing the third data signals to the computer system.

The method for a computer system to monitor a user with a user input device coupled thereto, during a user session of the computer system, the method comprising the step of:

• providing a plurality of user identification requests to the user input device during the user session;
• detecting a user event with the user input device as event data during the user session;
• detecting biometric data of the user with the user input device in response the plurality of user identification request during the user session;
• transmitting the event data and the biometric data to the computer system during the user session;
• and
• processing the biometric data of the user during the user session.