Using biometric user-specific attributes

Abstract

Techniques are provided for determining two or more user-specific parameters that can be measured or obtained using various methods, and using values of the two or more user-specific parameters to uniquely identify or authenticate an individual, or to determine authenticity or ownership of a device. Examples of the user-specific parameters may include biometric parameters, textual-based parameters, a combination of biometric parameters and textual-based parameters, and the like.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computerized data processing method to control access to consumer devices, the method comprising:
 collecting a plurality of user-specific parameter values as a user attempts to access a consumer device;   determining that the plurality of user-specific parameter values was collected in a low light environment;   ranking the plurality of user-specific parameter values by assigning high ranks to values collected using a voice and speech recognition device, and assigning low ranks to values collected as results of a contact with a sensor;   based on the ranking, selecting, from the plurality of user-specific parameter values, at least two of the plurality of user-specific parameter values that have the highest ranks;   determining two or more parameter categories to which the at least two of the plurality of user-specific parameter values belong;   for each of the two or more parameter categories, retrieving, from a reference database, at least one user-specific reference value that belongs to a parameter category and that has been stored in the reference database for the user;   for each of the two or more parameter categories, determining whether any of the at least two of the plurality of user-specific parameter values matches the at least one user-specific reference value that belongs to the parameter category; and   in response to determining, for each of the two or more parameter categories, that at least one of the at least two of the plurality of user-specific parameter values matches the at least one user-specific reference value that belongs to the parameter category, granting, to the user, access to the consumer device.   
     
     
         22 . The computerized data processing method of  claim 21 , wherein the values collected as results of a contact with a sensor comprise values resulting from touching the sensor with a finger, a thumb, or a palm, or having the sensor determine an EKG pattern. 
     
     
         23 . The computerized data processing method of  claim 21 , wherein the values collected as a result of a contact with a sensor comprise values obtained by an iris scanning or a retinal scanning. 
     
     
         24 . The computerized data processing method of  claim 21 , wherein ranking the plurality of user-specific parameter values collected as the user attempts to access the consumer device is based on one or more criteria;
 wherein the one or more criteria are selected from one or more of: a date when identification samples of the plurality of user-specific parameter values were collected, importance of identification samples of the plurality of user-specific parameter values, reliability of identification samples of the plurality of user-specific parameter values, quality of environmental conditions at which the identification samples of the plurality of user-specific parameter values were collected, or preferences assigned to the identification samples of the plurality of user-specific parameter values.   
     
     
         25 . The computerized data processing method of  claim 21 , wherein the consumer device is any one of: a computerized security device, a motorized vehicle, a motorized machinery, a domestic appliance, a bank kiosk, a television set, a setup box, a play station, a movie recorder, a computer device, a portable device, a smart phone, or a digital camera. 
     
     
         26 . The computerized data processing method of  claim 21 , wherein granting, to the user, access to the consumer device comprises one or more of:
 positively authenticating the user with a security system of the consumer device;   determining that the user is capable of performing one or more functions with respect to the consumer device, including starting the consumer device, operating the consumer device, or accessing resources of the consumer device;   permitting to continue operating the consumer device;   permitting to withdraw funds from a bank account using the consumer device;   permitting to deposit funds to a bank account using the consumer device;   permitting to watch a specially-rated television program on the consumer device;   permitting to record a specially-rated television program on the consumer device;   permitting to play a specially-rated program on the consumer device;   permitting to access computer resources of the consumer device; or   permitting to use functionalities of the consumer device.   
     
     
         27 . The computerized data processing method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 in response to determining, for each of the two or more parameter categories, that none of the at least two of the plurality of user-specific parameter values matches the at least one user-specific reference value that belongs to the parameter category, denying, to the user, access to the consumer device.   
     
     
         28 . The computerized data processing method of  claim 27 , wherein denying, to the user, access to the consumer device comprises one or more of:
 refusing to positively authenticate the user with a security system of the consumer device;   determining that the user is incapable of performing one or more functions with respect to the consumer device, including starting the consumer device, operating the consumer device, or accessing resources of the consumer device;   turning off the consumer device;   preventing the user from withdrawing funds from a bank account using the consumer device;   preventing the user from depositing funds to a bank account using the consumer device;   preventing the user from watching a specially-rated television program on the consumer device;   preventing the user from recording a specially-rated television program on the consumer device;   preventing the user from playing a specially-rated program on the consumer device;   preventing the user from accessing computer resources of the consumer device; or   preventing the user from using functionalities of the consumer device.   
     
     
         29 . The computerized data processing method of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of user-specific parameter values includes two or more of: user credentials, a textual-based parameter value, a digital image, a biometric parameter value, a physiological parameter value, or a behavioral parameter value. 
     
     
         30 . A computer system comprising:
 one or more hardware processors;   a data collector performing:   collecting a plurality of user-specific parameter values as a user attempts to access a consumer device;   a computer processor performing:   determining that the plurality of user-specific parameter values was collected in a low light environment;   ranking the plurality of user-specific parameter values by assigning high ranks to values collected using a voice and speech recognition device, and assigning low ranks to values collected as results of a contact with a sensor;   based on the ranking, selecting, from the plurality of user-specific parameter values, at least two of the plurality of user-specific parameter values that have the highest ranks;   determining two or more parameter categories to which the at least two of the plurality of user-specific parameter values belong;   for each of the two or more parameter categories, retrieving, from a reference database, at least one user-specific reference value that belongs to a parameter category and that has been stored in the reference database for the user;   for each of the two or more parameter categories, determining whether any of the at least two of the plurality of user-specific parameter values matches the at least one user-specific reference value that belongs to the parameter category; and   in response to determining, for each of the two or more parameter categories, that at least one of the at least two of the plurality of user-specific parameter values matches the at least one user-specific reference value that belongs to the parameter category, granting, to the user, access to the consumer device.   
     
     
         31 . The computer system of  claim 30 , wherein the values collected as results of a contact with a sensor comprise values resulting from touching the sensor with a finger, a thumb, or a palm, or having the sensor determine an EKG pattern. 
     
     
         32 . The computer system of  claim 30 , wherein the values collected as a result of a contact with a sensor comprise values obtained by an iris scanning or a retinal scanning. 
     
     
         33 . The computer system of  claim 30 , wherein ranking the plurality of user-specific parameter values collected as the user attempts to access the consumer device is based on one or more criteria;
 wherein the one or more criteria are selected from one or more of: a date when identification samples of the plurality of user-specific parameter values were collected, importance of identification samples of the plurality of user-specific parameter values, reliability of identification samples of the plurality of user-specific parameter values, quality of environmental conditions at which the identification samples of the plurality of user-specific parameter values were collected, or preferences assigned to the identification samples of the plurality of user-specific parameter values.   
     
     
         34 . The computer system of  claim 30 , wherein the consumer device is any one of: a computerized security device, a motorized vehicle, a motorized machinery, a domestic appliance, a bank kiosk, a television set, a setup box, a play station, a movie recorder, a computer device, a portable device, a smart phone, or a digital camera. 
     
     
         35 . The computer system of  claim 30 , wherein the computer processor also performs:
 in response to determining that, for each of the two or more parameter categories, none of the at least two of the plurality of user-specific parameter values matches the at least one user-specific reference value, denying, to the user, access to the consumer device.   
     
     
         36 . The computer system of  claim 35 , wherein denying, to the user, access to the consumer device comprises one or more of:
 refusing to positively authenticate the user with a security system of the consumer device;   determining that the user is incapable of performing one or more functions with respect to the consumer device, including starting the consumer device, operating the consumer device, or accessing resources of the consumer device;   turning off the consumer device;   preventing the user from withdrawing funds from a bank account using the consumer device;   preventing the user from depositing funds to a bank account using the consumer device;   preventing the user from watching a specially-rated television program on the consumer device;   preventing the user from recording a specially-rated television program on the consumer device;   preventing the user from playing a specially-rated program on the consumer device;   preventing the user from accessing computer resources of the consumer device; or   preventing the user from using functionalities of the consumer device.   
     
     
         37 . One or more non-transitory computer storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more computer processors, cause performing:
 collecting a plurality of user-specific parameter values as a user attempts to access a consumer device;   determining that the plurality of user-specific parameter values was collected in a low light environment;   ranking the plurality of user-specific parameter values by assigning high ranks to values collected using a voice and speech recognition device, and assigning low ranks to values collected as results of a contact with a sensor;   based on the ranking, selecting, from the plurality of user-specific parameter values, at least two of the plurality of user-specific parameter values that have the highest ranks;   determining two or more parameter categories to which the at least two of the plurality of user-specific parameter values belong;   for each of the two or more parameter categories, retrieving, from a reference database, at least one user-specific reference value that belongs to a parameter category and that has been stored in the reference database for the user;   for each of the two or more parameter categories, determining whether any of the at least two of the plurality of user-specific parameter values matches the at least one user-specific reference value that belongs to the parameter category; and   in response to determining, for each of the two or more parameter categories, that at least one of the at least two of the plurality of user-specific parameter values matches the at least one user-specific reference value that belongs to the parameter category, granting, to the user, access to the consumer device.   
     
     
         38 . The one or more non-transitory computer storage media of  claim 37 , wherein the values collected as results of a contact with a sensor comprise values resulting from touching the sensor with a finger, a thumb, or a palm, or having the sensor determine an EKG pattern. 
     
     
         39 . The one or more non-transitory computer storage media of  claim 37 , wherein the values collected as a result of a contact with a sensor comprise values obtained by an iris scanning or a retinal scanning. 
     
     
         40 . The one or more non-transitory computer storage media of  claim 37 , wherein granting, to the user, access to the consumer device comprises one or more of:
 positively authenticating the user with a security system of the consumer device;   determining that the user is capable of performing one or more functions with respect to the consumer device, including starting the consumer device, operating the consumer device, or accessing resources of the consumer device;   permitting to continue operating the consumer device;   permitting to withdraw funds from a bank account using the consumer device;   permitting to deposit funds to a bank account using the consumer device;   permitting to watch a specially-rated television program on the consumer device;   permitting to record a specially-rated television program on the consumer device;   permitting to play a specially-rated program on the consumer device;   permitting to access computer resources of the consumer device; or   permitting to use functionalities of the consumer device.