Apple (AAPL) Submits Multiple Patents to Advance Biometric Sensor Usage, Technology

Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) TouchID on the iPhone 5s is a step forward for the industry in what kind of security and biometrics can be applied to handheld devices. But, there might be more in store from Apple with biometrics in the near future.

PatentlyApple said a recent filing by Apple shows the company's intention for far-field (2-millimeters or more) finger sensing with capability to determine rotation (moving in a clockwise, counter-clockwise direction, for instance).

Apple might also be working to bring the technology to its iMac and iPod product lines, or upcoming television set product. Apple's patent states that a computing system may drive a display with graphical data to display a graphical user interface (GUI). As embodied as a touch screen, touch I/O device may display the GUI. Alternatively, the GUI may be displayed on a display separate from touch I/O device. The GUI may include graphical elements displayed at particular locations within the interface. Graphical elements may include but are not limited to a variety of displayed virtual input devices including virtual scroll wheels, a virtual keyboard, virtual knobs, virtual buttons, any virtual UI, and the like.

Another Apple patent has to do with tracking ability combined with TouchID. The technology would be able to be used to keep tabs on a child, or potentially be put to use by the court systems when a convict is under house arrest. With TouchID embedded, it would be a challenge for the criminal to have someone else pose as them.

Apple is also looking to patent a system that uses multiple biometrics for authentication. PatentlyApple said, Such biometrics may include one or more fingerprints, retinal images, and/or other such biometrics. The computing device may assign one or more authentication credentials to the one or more biometrics.

Apple wants lock in the biometrics of someone attempting to access a device that isn't authorized, to prevent future attempts. The patent states that preventing access by unauthorized users to a computing device may not be sufficient in all cases. For example, some authentication systems may be overcome with sufficient effort and may not be able to prevent access by unauthorized users forever. Users of computing devices may desire to be able to identify one or more unauthorized users who have attempted to utilize the user's computing device. Such identification of unauthorized users who have attempted to utilize a computing device may assist a user in prosecuting unauthorized users, preventing further access in situations where the computing device has not been stolen, recovering the computing device in situations where the computing device has been stolen, and so on.

Apple's fifth highlighted patent involves using biometrics to alert authorities discretely when the user isn't able to physically contact officials (via phone call).

The sixth, seventh, and eighth highlighted patents include methods for quicker biometric validation, improvement of fingerprint sensing quality, and zero/automatic enrollment.

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