Slashdot Mirror
Google Awarded Face-To-Unlock Patent
An anonymous reader writes "CNet reports that Google was awarded a patent yesterday for logging into a computing device using face recognition (8,261,090). 'In order for the technology to work, Google's patent requires a camera that can identify a person's face. If that face matches a "predetermined identity," then the person is logged into the respective device. If multiple people want to access a computer, the next person would get in front of the camera, and the device's software would automatically transition to the new user's profile. ... Interestingly, Apple last year filed for a patent related to facial recognition similar to what Google is describing in its own service. That technology would recognize a person's face and use that as the authentication needed to access user profiles or other important information.'"
has had this for over 2 years. It logs onto windows using facial recognition, and different users are logged in under their respective username.
Only muiltibillion dollar companies like Google and Apple could come up with such original, clever, and non-obvious uses for existing technologies such as this. Facial recognition?? Whoduthunkit? Logging in? Never tried that before, but it sure sounds neat.
Better known as 318230.
This story has been posted in violation of my patent 9336.121.354 (European Union patent 983123.4120.123.31234.412), patent on the posting of information on patents using patented or nonpatented electronic devices. I will settle for the sum of $54.24 or a used Samsung Galaxy SII. Also, please see my earlier post regarding your violation of patent regarding the posting of stories over the Web regarding patents.
It's not just "facial recognition" that they were awarded the patent on. It's the method of recognition and the technology suite behind it.
I swear to god, sometimes Slashdotters come off sounding like a bunch of gimps. Normally these are the people who are made fun of around here but really, Slashdotters aren't that much better for the most part.
How long until one of you wanna-bes post something like "But I thought scientists said coffee was good fer ya!?!? These scientists don't know nothing!!!"
blink to login. ok.
but to get to root, you have to do a full sneeze. and I can't always do that on command.
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"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
This patent, like most modern, computer-related patents, do not describe, much less patent, the actual solution to the problem. They patent the problem itself.
Consider, for instance, claim 12 (for increased legibility, I have added some punctuation, numbering, and line breaks):
A computer program product
- stored on a non-transitory tangible computer readable medium
- and comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a computer system to:
1. receive an image of the first user via a camera operably coupled with the computing device;
2. determine an identity of the first user based on the received first image;
3. if the determined identity of the first user matches the first predetermined identity,
- then, based at least on the identity of the first user matching the first predetermined identity,
- log the first user in to the computing device;
4. receive a second image of a second user via the camera operably coupled with the computing device;
5. determine an identity of the second user based on the received second image;
6. and if the determined identity of the second user matches the second predetermined identity,
- then, issue a prompt to confirm that the first user should be logged off of the computing device
- and that the second user should be logged on to the computing device;
7. receive a valid confirmation from the first or second user in response to the prompt;
8. in response to receiving the valid confirmation,
- log the first user off of the computing device
- and log the second user in to the computing device.
There is no substitute for common sense. Especially, no body of rules will do.