Method and apparatus for authenticating access to a multi-level secure environment of an electronic device

A method comprising:

• storing, by an electronic system that provides a multi-level secure environment, fingerprint data for at least one authorized human user of the electronic system to produce stored fingerprint data, the stored fingerprint data comprising respective data for each authorized human user that includes copies of fingerprints for a plurality of fingers of the respective authorized human user;
• sensing, by the electronic system, one or more fingers of an individual who is attempting to use the electronic system to produce sensed finger data;
• comparing, by the electronic system, the sensed finger data to the stored fingerprint data;
• determining, by the electronic system, one or more finger types for which the sensed finger data matches copies of one or more fingerprints in the stored fingerprint data for one or more of the fingers of a particular authorized human user, to produce finger type data;
• providing, by the electronic system, feedback to the individual indicating the one or more finger types;
• determining, by the electronic system and based on the finger type data, a first security level for the individual;
• providing, by the electronic system and based on the first security level, access to functionality of the electronic system;
• after providing the feedback indicating the one or more finger types, and responsive to determining that a period of time allotted for fingerprint sensing has not expired, sensing, by the electronic system, one or more additional fingers of the individual to produce additional sensed finger data;
• determining, by the electronic system, at least one finger type for which the additional sensed finger data matches copies of one or more additional fingerprints in the stored fingerprint data for one or more additional fingers of the particular authorized user, to produce additional finger type data;
• providing, by the electronic system, additional feedback to the individual indicating respective finger types associated with the finger type data and the additional finger type data;
• determining, by the electronic system, based on the finger type data and on the additional finger type data, a second security level for the individual, the second security level being different from the first security level;
• and
• providing, by the electronic system and based on the second security level, access to additional functionality of the electronic system.

An electronic system comprising:

• a memory operable to store fingerprint data for at least one authorized human user of the electronic system to produce stored fingerprint data, the stored fingerprint data comprising respective data for each authorized human user that includes copies of fingerprints for a plurality of fingers of the respective authorized human user, the memory further operable to store operating instructions;
• a plurality of sensors arranged to sense touching of one or more human-accessible surfaces;
• and
• a processing subsystem operably coupled to the plurality of sensors and to the memory, the processing subsystem being operable in accordance with the stored operating instructions to:
• control the plurality of sensors to sense one or more fingers of an individual who is touching the one or more human-accessible surfaces and attempting to use the electronic system;
• process outputs from the plurality of sensors to produce sensed finger data;
• compare the sensed finger data to the stored fingerprint data;
• determine one or more finger types for which the sensed finger data matches copies of one or more fingerprints in the stored fingerprint data for one or more of the fingers of a particular authorized human user, to produce finger type data;
• provide feedback to the individual indicating the one or more finger types;
• determine, based on the finger type data, a first security level for the individual;
• provide, based on the first security level, access to functionality of the electronic system;
• after providing the feedback indicating the one or more finger types, and responsive to determining that a period of time allotted for fingerprint sensing has not expired, control the plurality of sensors to sense one or more additional fingers of the individual, and process additional outputs from the plurality of sensors to produce additional sensed finger data;
• determine at least one finger type for which the additional sensed finger data matches copies of one or more additional fingerprints in the stored fingerprint data for one or more additional fingers of the particular authorized user, to produce additional finger type data;
• provide additional feedback to the individual indicating respective finger types associated with the finger type data and the additional finger type data;
• determine, based on the finger type data and on the additional finger type data, a second security level for the individual, the second security level being different from the first security level;
• and
• provide, based on the second security level, access to additional functionality of the electronic system.