Apple applies for another facial unlock patent for iOS devices
Your face is once again the subject of a patent Apple has filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.The technology described in the patent, which was discovered by Patently Apple and AppleInsider, isn't all that different from one that surfaced from the iPhone maker in December, which described a method for users to lock and unlock their handsets with their face. However, the latest technology uses the front-facing camera on a mobile device to determine whether to lock or unlock the product.According to Patently Apple, the front-facing camera takes rapid snapshots that then translate into an action. If a phone is on but the camera can't see a person looking at the display, it'll lock the product. Conversely, if a person picks up the device, the camera will recognize that and unlock it.Related storiesPatents suggest stylus; Mode-based interface customizationKodak patent complaints target Apple, RIMCNET News Daily Podcast: Tech industry opens wallets for HaitiApple files patents to manage home energyApple seeks ban on U.S. Nokia importsTo add a bit more flavor to the patent, Apple also describes the use of sensors in a respective device that can determine whether a device should be locked or unlocked. For example, the respective device could sense someone holding it, gripping it, or moving it in some fashion, and then execute a locking or unlocking function.It's the face, though, that has proven most appealing to companies. Back in December, in fact, Apple filed for a patent on a technology that would recognize a person's face and use that as the authentication needed to access user profiles or other important information. Earlier this month, Google was awarded a patent on a technology that will identify a person's face and deliver full access to personal information.Face-to-unlock is already available in the wild. The Samsung Galaxy S3, for example, has a face unlock application. Samsung's Galaxy Nexus also comes with the feature and allows people to snap a picture of themselves to unlock their smartphone.
