User Authentication Based on Body Tremors

A method implemented by a mobile computing device to authenticate a user, comprising:

• detecting a first signal indicative of a body tremor of a limb holding the mobile computing device;
• detecting a second signal indicative of a body tremor of a limb to which a separate wearable computing device is secured;
• determining, based on a comparison of the body tremors, whether the limbs are the same limb;
• and
• authenticating a user account associated with the wearable computing device based on the determining indicating that the limbs are the same limb.

A mobile computing device comprising:

• one or more processing circuits configured to:
• detect a first signal indicative of a body tremor of a limb holding the mobile computing device;
• detect a second signal indicative of a body tremor of a limb to which a separate wearable computing device is secured;
• determine, based on a comparison of the body tremors, whether the limbs are the same limb;
• and
• authenticate a user account associated with the wearable computing device based on the determining indicating that the limbs are the same limb;
• and
• a communication interface circuit configured to communicate with the wearable computing device to enable the detection of the second signal.

A computer program product stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium for authenticating a user of a mobile computing device, the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run by one or more processing circuits of the mobile computing device, configures the mobile computing device to:

• detect a first signal indicative of a body tremor of a limb holding the mobile computing device;
• detect a second signal indicative of a body tremor of a limb to which a separate wearable computing device is secured;
• determine, based on a comparison of the body tremors, whether the limbs are the same limb;
• and
• authenticate a user account associated with the wearable computing device based on the determining indicating that the limbs are the same limb.