AT&T files patents for biometric technologies

AT&T recently filed for three patents related to biometric technologies that would be used by mobile phones and other products the company develops, according to a report by IP Watchdog.

The U.S. Patent No. 8913991, titled User Identification in Cell Phones Based on Skin Contact, involves a system for managing profiles for multiple users with access to a single device.

As detailed in the application, the system features a skin conductivity sensor on the back of an electronic device that combined with a thermal sensor, collects the user’s touch data to ultimately identify the device user.

The sensor is able to identify a device user and apply power management settings, which the user can pre-select, enabling individual users to decide when the screen dims or how long a device can remain idle before switching over to sleep mode.

AT&T’s U.S. Patent No. 8909535, titled System and Method for Tracking Persons of Interest Via Voiceprint, specifies a method designed to help law enforcement agencies track criminals using digital voice communications.

The new method involves recording a voiceprint attached to a caller, determining the accuracy level between that voiceprint and a stored voiceprint which has been associated with a specific individual, and tracking a caller when the accuracy rate hits a minimum level.

As a result, the system can greatly improve on traditional methods of tracking persons of interests which usually involve monitoring specific phone numbers, which criminals easily thwart by using payphones or VoIP computer services.

Finally, U.S. Patent No. 8908894, titled Devices and Methods for Transferring Data Through a Human Body, protects a method involving the modulation of an authentication credential with a signal.

The method provides a signal to an electro-acoustic transducer, which is physically contacting an individual, transmitting a signal through a bone in the individual’s body to a second device which is also physically touching a user.

Article Topics

AT&T  |  biometrics  |  patents