Biometric authentication and identification

Electronic device comprising biometric input means, processing and communication circuitry that are configured to authenticating a user to the electronic device in a communication network, the circuitry being configured to:

• obtain a biometric characteristic of the user,
• transmit, to a social networking service, information that specifies at least one primary user of the device,
• receive, from the social networking service, information that specifies a group of persons who have a social relationship with the at least one primary user, and
• obtain information that specifies a result from a biometric matching operation with the biometric characteristic of the user and biometric characteristics of persons in the specified group of persons;
• the result indicating whether or not the user is authenticated to the electronic device.

A non-transitory computer readable media comprising software instructions that, when executed in a processing unit, performs a method of authenticating a user in relation to an electronic device in a communication network, the method comprising:

• obtaining a biometric characteristic of the user,
• transmitting, to a social networking service, information that specifies at least one primary user of the device,
• receiving, from the social networking service, information that specifies a group of persons who have a social relationship with the at least one primary user, and
• obtaining information that specifies a result from a biometric matching operation with the biometric characteristic of the user and biometric characteristics of persons in the specified group of persons, the result indicating whether or not the user is authenticated to the electronic device.

A method of enabling authentication of a user in a communication network, comprising:

• receiving information that specifies at least one primary user,
• receiving a biometric characteristic of the user,
• obtaining information that specifies a group of persons who have a social relationship with the at least one primary user, and
• performing a biometric matching operation with the biometric characteristic of the user and biometric characteristics or persons in the specified group of persons, the result indicating whether or not the user is authenticated.

Apparatus comprising processing and communication circuitry that are configured to enable authentication of a user in a communication network, the circuitry being configured to:

• receive information that specifies at least one primary user,
• receive a biometric characteristic of the user,
• obtain information that specifies a group of persons who have a social relationship with the at least one primary user, and
• perform a biometric matching operation with the biometric characteristic of the user and biometric characteristics of persons in the specified group of persons, the result indicating whether or not the user is authenticated.

A non-transitory computer readable media comprising software instructions that, when executed in a processing unit, performs a method of enabling authentication of a user in a communication network, the method comprising:

• receiving information that specifies at least one primary user,
• receiving a biometric characteristic of the user,
• obtaining information that specifies a group of persons who have a social relationship with the at least one primary user, and
• performing a biometric matching operation with the biometric characteristic of the user and biometric characteristics of persons in the specified group of persons, the result indicating whether or not the user is authenticated.