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`US008667297B2
`
`02) United States Patent
`Salter et al.
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,667,297 B2
`Mar.4,2014
`
`(54) KEY WITH INTEGRAL BIOMETRCC lNP T
`DEVICE
`
`(56)
`
`References
`
`itcd
`
`U.S. PATENT DO UMENT
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Timothy Ryan Salter, Guelph (CA)·
`Mark David Mesaros, ambri dge (
`
`(73)
`
`ssignee: mackberry Limited, Wa terloo (C )
`
`( •) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted m1der 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 28 days.
`
`(2 1) Appl. No.: 12/897,886
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Oct. 5, 2010
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2012/0083311 Al
`
`Apr. 5 2012
`
`5,848.23 1 A
`6,255,643 Bl
`6,643,528 Bl •
`2004/0183783
`1 •
`2004/0225773 Al•
`I
`2006/0007 129
`I •
`2008/02288 14
`2008/0310619 Al•
`2009/0140982 AI•
`I •
`2009/0 I 0993
`2009/0249014
`I •
`I •
`2009/0257626
`2011/01760~7
`1 •
`
`12/1998 Teitelbmun el al .
`7/200 1 Sayag
`11/2003 Shim cl al. ................. 455/575.2
`9/2004 Rojas et al. ................... 345/ 168
`11/2004 Wang et al. ........... ... .. .. . 710/200
`1/2006 Pletikosa
`9/2008 Raley ct al ................. 707/104. l
`12/2008 Scheidt c l al . .. ................ 380/28
`612009 Chen et al ..................... 345/ 160
`612009 Tilley ............................. . 726/ 19
`I 012009 Obcrciner et al.
`.... .... .. .. 7 I I/ I 64
`1012009 Sherlock cl al ............... 382/ 126
`7/20 11 Benklcy, Ill .................. 481294
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DO UM· NT
`
`EP
`WO
`WO
`
`11/2007
`1857954 Al
`6/2005
`2005057320 A2
`12/2007
`2007 140806 A I
`OTHER PUBLIC TlONS
`
`(20 13.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.0 1)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01 )
`
`(51) wt.Cl.
`G06F 21/00
`H04M 1166
`TT04M 1/ 68
`H04M 3/16
`G06K 9/00
`(52) U.S.
`I.
`USPC .......................................................... 7J3/J86
`(58) Field of Classificatio n Search
`USPC ............... 455/4IO. 550.1 , 411 ; 382/124. 115,
`382/116: 713/ 182, 186
`See applicat ion file for complete search history.
`
`EPO, Partial European Search Report rclati og 10 EP Application No .
`I0I865l 2.9daled Mar. 15. 20ll.
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner - Anthony Addy
`Assista/11 Examiner - Edd Ri aru1e Plata
`(74) Attorney, Ageni, or Firm - Ridout & Maybee LLP
`A.BSTRA T
`(57)
`A key integrates with a biometric input device. According to
`an aspect of the present disclosure, a fi ngerpri nt scanner may
`be integral with a spacebar.
`13 Claims 4 Drawing beets
`
`402
`
`START
`
`RECEIVE
`INPUT FROM
`KEY
`
`YES
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`414
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`416
`
`IGNORE
`INDICATION OF
`KEY DEPRESSION
`EVENT
`
`PROCESS
`INDICATION OF
`KEY DEPRESS ION
`EVENT
`
`408
`
`409
`
`PROCESS
`CANDIDATE
`BIOMETRIC
`
`IGN ORE
`BIOMETRIC
`INPUT
`
`Apple and Samsung Ex. 1009
`Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., and
`Samsung Electronics America, Inc. v. Firstface Co., Ltd.
`IPR2019-00611
`Page 00001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.4, 2014
`Mar.4,2014
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`~ AUXILIARY 1/0 306
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`354
`SUBSYSTEM 302:
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`IPR2019-00611 Page 00004
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`(cid:141)
`

`

`US 8,667,297 B2
`
`5
`
`1
`KEY WITH INTEGRAL BIOMETRIC INPUT
`DEVICE
`
`FIELD
`
`The present application relates generally to input devices
`and, more specifically, to keyboards and biometric input
`devices and, more specifically, to integrating a biometric
`input device with a key of a keyboard.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`As mo bile communication and computing devices become
`more powerful and have increased storage, there becomes an
`increasing potential for sensitive information to be available
`on a mobile communication and/or computing device.
`Accordingly, security for such devices has moved beyond
`merely expecting one or more correct passwords such that
`many such devices now require biometric authentication.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`2
`indication of a depression event from the key and processing
`the indication of the depression event.
`Other aspects and features of the present disclosure will
`become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon
`review of the following description of specific embodiments
`of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying fig(cid:173)
`ures.
`FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile communication device 100
`embodying aspects of the present application. In particular,
`10 mobile communication device 100 includes a keyboard 124
`having a plurality of keys. One of the keys on the illustrated
`keyboard 124 is a spacebar key 130. Integrated with the
`spacebar key 130 is a biometric input device 140. More par(cid:173)
`ticularly, the biometric input device 140 may comprise a
`15 fingerprint scanner.
`FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of the mobile communi(cid:173)
`cation device 100 of FIG. 1 along line A:A. A housing 202
`houses a main circuit board 204 and the keyboard 124, several
`keys of which are illustrated in section, including the space-
`20 bar key 130. The spacebar key 130 is illustrated as having
`several components. Among the components of the spacebar
`key 130 are typical components, such as a key top 206 and a
`key plunger 208. Notably, scanner controlling circuits (not
`shown) for the scanner 210 may be integrated into the main
`circuit board 204. This configuration may be considered to
`facilitate repairor swapping ofa defective scanner 210 and/or
`a defective keyboard 124. This configuration may also be
`considered to facilitate the manufacturing process.
`Distinct from typical spacebar keys, the illustrated space-
`30 bar key 130 has the integrated biometric input device 140. The
`integrated biometric input device 140 includes a scanner 210
`and a flex board 212. The integrated biometric input device
`140 also includes a flex connector 214 for connecting the
`scanner 210 and the flex board 212 to the main circuit board
`35 204. In one implementation, the scanner 210 is mounted flush
`with an exposed surface of the key top 206.
`FIG. 3 illustrates components of the mobile communica(cid:173)
`tion device 100 of FIG. 1. The mobile communication device
`100 includes a housing, an input device (e.g., the keyboard
`40 124) and an output device (e.g., a display 126), which may
`comprise a full graphic, or full color, Liquid Crystal Display
`(LCD). In some embodiments, the display 126 may comprise
`a touchscreen display. In such embodiments, the keyboard
`124 may comprise a virtual keyboard. Other types of output
`45 devices may alternatively be utilized. A processing device (a
`processor 328) is shown schematically in FIG. 3 as coupled
`between the keyboard 124 and the display 126. The processor
`328 controls the operation of the display 126, as well as the
`overall operation of the mobile communication device 100, in
`50 part, responsive to actuation of the keys on the keyboard 124
`by a user.
`The mobile communication device 100 also includes the
`biometric input device 140 (e.g., a fingerprint sensor), first
`illustrated in FIG. 1. A fingerprint sensor comprises an elec(cid:173)
`tronic device used to capture a digital image of a fingerprint
`pattern. The captured image is called a live scan. This live
`scan may be digitally processed to create a biometric tem(cid:173)
`plate, which is stored and used for later matching. Some of the
`more commonly used fingerprint sensor technologies
`include: optical; ultrasonic; and capacitance.
`The housing may be elongated vertically, or may take on
`other sizes and shapes (including clamshell housing struc(cid:173)
`tures). Where the keyboard 124 includes keys that are asso(cid:173)
`ciated with at least one alphabetic character and at least one
`numeric character, the keyboard 124 may include a mode
`selection key, or other hardware or software, for switching
`between alphabetic entry and numeric entry.
`
`Reference will now be made to the drawings, which show
`by way of example, embodiments of the present disclosure, 25
`and in which:
`FIG.1 illustrates a mobile communication device embody(cid:173)
`ing aspects of the present application;
`FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of the mobile communi(cid:173)
`cation device of FIG. 1 along lineA:A;
`FIG. 3 illustrates components of the mobile communica(cid:173)
`tion device of FIG. 1; and
`FIG. 4 illustrates example steps in a method of handling
`input received from a key with an integral biometric input
`device according to aspects of the present application.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`Often mobile communication and computing devices are
`made small for portability. However, as such devices are
`made smaller, there is reduced space to include all the features
`that a designer may wish to include.
`Proposed herein is a keyboard that includes at least one key
`that integrates with a biometric input device. For example, a
`typical keyboard includes a space bar. According to an aspect
`of the present disclosure, a fingerprint scanner may be inte(cid:173)
`gral with the spacebar.
`In accordance with an aspect of the present application,
`there is provided a keyboard input device. The keyboard input
`device comprises a key and a biometric input device integral
`with the key.
`In accordance with another aspect of the present applica(cid:173)
`tion, there is provided a mobile communication device. The
`mobile communication device comprises a keyboard input 55
`device including a key and a biometric input device integral
`with the key.
`In accordance with a further aspect of the present applica(cid:173)
`tion, there is provided a method of handling input from a key
`in a keyboard. The method comprises receiving input from a 60
`key in a keyboard, determining that the input is a candidate
`biometric from a biometric input device integral to the key
`and processing the candidate biometric.
`In accordance with a further aspect of the present applica(cid:173)
`tion, there is provided a method of handling input from a key 65
`in a keyboard. The method comprises receiving input from a
`key in a keyboard, determining that the input comprises an
`
`IPR2019-00611 Page 00006
`
`

`

`US 8,667,297 B2
`
`3
`In addition to the processor 328, other parts of the mobile
`communication device 100 are shown schematically in FIG.
`3. These may include a communications subsystem 302, a
`short-range communications subsystem 304, the keyboard
`124 and the display 126. The mobile communication device
`100 may further include other input/output devices, such as a
`set of auxiliary I/O devices 306, a serial port 308, a speaker
`311 and a microphone 312. The mobile communication
`device 100 may further include memory devices including a
`flash memory 316 and a Random Access Memory (RAM) 10
`318 and various other device subsystems 320. The mobile
`communication device 100 may comprise a two-way radio
`frequency (RF) communication device having voice and data
`communication capabilities. In addition, the mobile commu(cid:173)
`nication device 100 may have the capability to communicate 15
`with other computer systems via the Internet.
`Operating system software executed by the processor 328
`may be stored in a computer readable medium, such as the
`flash memory 316, but may be stored in other types of
`memory devices, such as a read only memory (ROM) or 20
`similar storage element. In addition, system software, spe(cid:173)
`cific device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily
`loaded into a volatile store, such as the RAM 318. Commu(cid:173)
`nication signals received by the mobile device may also be
`stored to the RAM 318.
`The processor 328, in addition to its operating system
`functions, enables execution of software applications on the
`mobile communication device 100. A predetermined set of
`software applications that control basic device operations,
`such as a voice communications module 330A and a data
`communications module 330B, may be installed on the
`mobile communication device 100 during manufacture. An
`authentication module 330C may also be installed on the
`mobile communication device 100 during manufacture, to
`implement aspects of the present disclosure. As well, addi(cid:173)
`tional software modules, illustrated as an other software mod(cid:173)
`ule 330N, which may be, for instance, a PIM application, may
`be installed during manufacture. The PIM application may be
`capable of organizing and managing data items, such as
`e-mail messages, calendar events, voice mail messages,
`appointments and task items. The PIM application may also
`be capable of sending and receiving data items via a wireless
`carrier network 370 represented by a radio tower. The data
`items managed by the PIM application may be seamlessly
`integrated, synchronized and updated via the wireless carrier
`network 370 with the device user's corresponding data items
`stored or associated with a host computer system.
`Communication functions, including data and voice com(cid:173)
`munications, are performed through the communication sub(cid:173)
`system 302 and, possibly, through the short-range communi- 50
`cations subsystem 304. The communication subsystem 302
`includes a receiver 350, a transmitter 352 and one or more
`antennas, illustrated as a receive antenna 354 and a transmit
`antenna 356. In addition, the communication subsystem 302
`also includes a processing module, such as a digital signal 55
`processor (DSP) 358, and local oscillators (LOs) 360. The
`specific design and implementation of the communication
`subsystem 302 is dependent upon the communication net(cid:173)
`work in which the mobile communication device 100 is
`intended to operate. For example, the communication sub(cid:173)
`system 302 of the mobile communication device 100 may be
`designed to operate with the Mobitex™, Data TAC™ or Gen(cid:173)
`eral Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile data communica(cid:173)
`tion networks and also designed to operate with any of a
`variety of voice communication networks, such as Advanced
`Mobile Phone Service (AMPS), Time Division Multiple
`Access (TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA),
`
`4
`Personal Communications Service (PCS), Global System for
`Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data rates for
`GSM Evolution (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunica(cid:173)
`tions System (UMTS), Wideband Code Division Multiple
`5 Access (W-CDMA), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), etc.
`Other types of data and voice networks, both separate and
`integrated, may also be utilized with the mobile communica(cid:173)
`tion device 100.
`Network access requirements vary depending upon the
`type of communication system. Typically, an identifier is
`associated with each mobile device that uniquely identifies
`the mobile device or subscriber to which the mobile device
`has been assigned. The identifier is unique within a specific
`network or network technology. For example, in Mobitex™
`networks, mobile devices are registered on the network using
`a Mobitex Access Number (MAN) associated with each
`device and in Data TAC™ networks, mobile devices are reg(cid:173)
`istered on the network using a Logical Link Identifier (LLI)
`associated with each device. In GPRS networks, however,
`network access is associated with a subscriber or user of a
`device. A GPRS device therefore uses a subscriber identity
`module, commonly referred to as a Subscriber Identity Mod(cid:173)
`ule (SIM) card, in order to operate on a GPRS network.
`Despite identifying a subscriber by SIM, mobile devices
`25 within GSM/GPRS networks are uniquely identified using an
`International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number.
`When required network registration or activation proce(cid:173)
`dures have been completed, the mobile communication
`device 100 may send and receive communication signals over
`30 the wireless carrier network 370. Signals received from the
`wireless carrier network 370 by the receive antenna 354 are
`routed to the receiver 350, which provides for signal ampli(cid:173)
`fication, frequency down conversion, filtering, channel selec(cid:173)
`tion, etc., and may also provide analog to digital conversion.
`35 Analog-to-digital conversion of the received signal allows the
`DSP 358 to perform more complex communication func(cid:173)
`tions, such as demodulation and decoding. In a similar man(cid:173)
`ner, signals to be transmitted to the wireless carrier network
`370 are processed ( e.g., modulated and encoded) by the DSP
`40 358 and are then provided to the transmitter 352 for digital to
`analog conversion, frequency up conversion, filtering, ampli(cid:173)
`fication and transmission to the wireless carrier network 370
`(or networks) via the transmit antenna 356.
`In addition to processing communication signals, the DSP
`45 358 provides for control of the receiver 350 and the transmit(cid:173)
`ter 352. For example, gains applied to communication signals
`in the receiver 350 and the transmitter 352 may be adaptively
`controlled through automatic gain control algorithms imple(cid:173)
`mented in the DSP 358.
`In a data communication mode, a received signal, such as a
`text message or web page download, is processed by the
`communication subsystem 302 and is input to the processor
`328. The received signal is then further processed by the
`processor 328 for output to the display 126, or alternatively to
`some auxiliary I/O devices 306. A device user may also
`compose data items, such as e-mail messages, using the key-
`board 124 and/or some other auxiliary I/O device 306, such as
`a touchpad, a rocker switch, a thumb-wheel, a trackball, a
`touchscreen, or some other type of input device. The com-
`60 posed data items may then be transmitted over the wireless
`carrier network 370 via the communication subsystem 302.
`In a voice communication mode, overall operation of the
`device is substantially similar to the data communication
`mode, except that received signals are output to the speaker
`65 311, and signals for transmission are generated by a micro(cid:173)
`phone 312. Alternative voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as
`a voice message recording subsystem, may also be imple-
`
`IPR2019-00611 Page 00007
`
`

`

`US 8,667,297 B2
`
`5
`mented on the mobile communication device 100. In addi(cid:173)
`tion, the display 126 may also be utilized in voice communi(cid:173)
`cation mode, for example, to display the identity of a calling
`party, the duration of a voice call, or other voice call related
`information.
`The short-range communications subsystem 304 enables
`communication between the mobile communication device
`100 and other proximate systems or devices, which need not
`necessarily be similar devices. For example, the short-range
`communications subsystem may include an infrared device 10
`and associated circuits and components, or a Bluetooth™
`communication module to provide for communication with
`similarly-enabled systems and devices.
`In overview, the spacebar key 130 in the keyboard 124 of 15
`the mobile communication device 100 incorporates the bio(cid:173)
`metric input device 140.
`It is common for devices of the type of the mobile commu(cid:173)
`nication device 100 to have a security feature that locks the
`mobile communication device 100 responsive to various 20
`locking trigger events. Such locking trigger events may
`include receipt of a lock command. Such locking trigger
`events may also include receipt of an indication that the
`mobile communication device 100 has entered a holster or
`other protective sleeve or covering. Such locking trigger
`events may also include receipt of an indication that a time
`since last user input has surpassed a predetermined threshold.
`Additional locking trigger events may also be used.
`To unlock the mobile communication device 100 after the
`mobile communication device 100 has entered a locked
`mode, it is typical to use the keyboard 124 to provide a
`password to an authentication dialog provided on the display
`126.
`For the mobile communication device 100 including the
`biometric input device 140, unlocking the mobile communi(cid:173)
`cation device 100 may involve providing a candidate biomet(cid:173)
`ric to the biometric input device 140. Provision of a candidate
`biometric to the biometric input device 140 may involve a
`user swiping a pad of a finger across the scanner 210.
`The scarmer 210 may comprise a "dumb" scarmer, that
`interfaces with the scanner controlling circuits via the flex
`connector 214. In operation, a device operating system
`(through the main circuit board 204 and the processor 328)
`may instruct the scarmer controlling circuits to become active
`and begin accepting biometric input from the scanner 210 via
`the flex connector 214. As the user swipes a pad of a finger
`across the scarmer 210, the active scarmer controlling circuits
`obtain a plurality of images and generate a candidate biomet-
`ric (an image of the finger) from the plurality of images. The
`active scarmer controlling circuits may then transfer the can(cid:173)
`didate biometric to the processor 328 for comparison to a
`stored biometric template.
`It should be clear that, during normal unlocked usage of the
`mobile communication device 100, operation of the scanner
`210 may not be required. Accordingly, the scanner control(cid:173)
`ling circuits may be configured to generally remain powered
`down to save battery energy.
`It has been discussed hereinbefore that the device operating
`system may instruct the scarmer controlling circuits to
`become active and begin accepting biometric input from the
`scanner 210 for the formation of a candidate biometric. Such
`biometric input may also be required to establish a stored
`biometric template. In addition to unlocking the mobile com(cid:173)
`munication device 100, biometric input may also be useful,
`for example, as the mobile communication device 100 deter(cid:173)
`mined whether to allow access to a cryptographically secured
`e-mail message.
`
`6
`The mobile communication device 100 may unlock itself
`responsive to an unlocking trigger event. Such unlocking
`trigger events may include receipt of an indication that a
`received candidate biometric matches a stored biometric tem-
`5 plate. Such unlocking trigger events may also include receipt
`of a candidate password that matches a stored password. Such
`unlocking trigger events may also include receipt of an indi(cid:173)
`cation that a received candidate biometric matches a stored
`biometric template in combination with receipt of a candidate
`password that matches a stored password. Additional unlock(cid:173)
`ing trigger events may also be used. A security policy resident
`on the mobile communication device 100 may specify the
`requirements for successfully unlocking the mobile commu(cid:173)
`nication device 100.
`The authentication module 330C includes a biometric
`matching software component. The biometric matching soft(cid:173)
`ware component is used to analyze or compare candidate
`biometrics scarmed by the biometric input device 140 in
`reference to stored biometric templates.
`Code for the authentication module 330C, including code
`for the biometric matching software component and code for
`handling input received at the processor 328 from the space(cid:173)
`bar key 130 with the integrated biometric input device 140,
`25 may be temporarily loaded into a volatile storage medium
`such as the RAM 318.
`FIG. 4 illustrates example steps in a method of handling
`input received from the spacebar key 130 with the integrated
`biometric input device 140. Initially, an input of an unknown
`30 type is received ( step 402) from the space bar key 130 with the
`integrated biometric input device 140. The processor 328 may
`determine the type of the received input by determining ( step
`404) whether the input is a candidate biometric formed by the
`biometric input device 140 or by determining (step 410)
`35 whether the input is an indication of a spacebar key 130
`depression event. Notably, the order of these determinations
`is presented in one marmer, but the skilled person will recog(cid:173)
`nize that the order is unimportant and may be reversed.
`Upon determining (step 404) that the input is a candidate
`40 biometric, the processor 328 may determine (step 406)
`whether the mobile communication device 100 is locked.
`Upon determining ( step 406) that the mobile communication
`device 100 is locked, the processor 328 may process (step
`408) the candidate biometric. When processing (step 408) the
`45 candidate biometric, the processor 328, executing the biomet(cid:173)
`ric matching software component, may compare a stored
`fingerprint template to the received candidate fingerprint and
`determine a result of the comparing. Though not illustrated in
`FIG. 4, the processor 328 may unlock the mobile communi-
`50 cation device 100 based on the result of the comparing. Upon
`determining ( step 406) that the mo bile communication device
`100 is not locked, the processor 328 may ignore (step 409) the
`candidate biometric.
`Upon determining (step 404) that the input is not a candi-
`55 date biometric, the processor 328 may determine (step 410)
`whether the input is an indication of a spacebar key 130
`depression event.
`Upon determining (step 410) that the input is an indication
`of a spacebar key 130 depression event, the processor 328
`60 may determine ( step 412) whether the mo bile communication
`device 100 is locked. Upon determining (step 412) that the
`mobile communication device 100 is not locked, the proces(cid:173)
`sor 328 may process (step 416) the indication of a spacebar
`key 130 depression event. For example, such processing may
`65 involve the processor 328 arranging the insertion of a space
`character in a document being edited. Upon determining ( step
`412) that the mobile communication device 100 is locked, the
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`US 8,667,297 B2
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`15
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`7
`processor 328 may ignore (step 414) the indication of a spa(cid:173)
`cebar key 130 depression event.
`Even while the mobile communication device 100 locked,
`the authentication user interface may allow for the placement
`of an emergency call.
`The mobile communication device 100 may be configured
`to erase its memory (316, 318, see FIG. 3) after a certain
`number of unsuccessful scans in a predetermined time period.
`Notably, a number of unsuccessful scans in a predetermined
`time period may be representative of an inoperative or simply 10
`dirty biometric input device 140. Rather than erase its
`memory responsive to a number of unsuccessful scan, the
`mobile communication device 100 may be configured to
`request an alternate unlocking trigger event, such as entry of
`a candidate password using the keyboard 124.
`It has been mentioned hereinbefore that, in some embodi(cid:173)
`ments, the display 126 may comprise a touchscreen display
`and that, in such embodiments, the keyboard 124 may com(cid:173)
`prise a virtual keyboard. It is notable that a biometric input
`device may be integral with a key, even if the key is merely a 20
`virtual key that is part of a virtual keyboard presented on the
`display 126. Indeed, the display 126 may have a degree of
`translucence and the scanner 210 may be mounted under the
`display 126 in a predetermined location.
`The above-described embodiments of the present applica- 25
`tion are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifica(cid:173)
`tions and variations may be effected to the particular embodi(cid:173)
`ments by those skilled in the art without departing from the
`scope of the application, which is defined by the claims
`appended hereto.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A mobile communication device comprising:
`an input device including:
`a key; and
`a biometric input device integral with said key; and
`a processor adapted to:
`receive first input from said key;
`determine that said first input comprises a candidate
`biometric from a biometric input device integral with
`said key and then:
`determine if said mobile communication device is
`locked or unlocked;
`responsive to determining that said mo bile communi(cid:173)
`cation device is locked, process said candidate bio(cid:173)
`metric; and
`responsive to determining that said mo bile communi(cid:173)
`cation device is unlocked, ignore said candidate
`biometric;
`receive second input from said key;
`determine that said second input does not comprise can- 50
`didate biometric;
`determine that said second input comprises an indication
`of a depression event from said key and then:
`determine if said mobile communication device is
`locked or unlocked;
`responsive to determining that said mo bile communi(cid:173)
`cation device is locked, ignore said indication of
`said depression event; and
`responsive to determining that said mo bile communi(cid:173)
`cation device is unlocked, process said indication 60
`of said depression event.
`2. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein
`said key comprises a spacebar.
`3. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein
`said biometric input device comprises a fingerprint scanner.
`
`8
`4. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein
`said key comprises a key top and a key plunger.
`5. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein
`said biometric input device comprises a scanner, a flex board
`5 and a flex connector for connecting said scanner and said flex
`board to a mobile communication device main circuit board.
`6. The mobile communication device of claim 5 wherein
`said scanner is mounted flush with an exposed surface of said
`key top.
`7. A method of handling input from a key of a mobile
`communication device, said method comprising:
`receiving first input from a key;
`determining that said first input comprises a candidate
`biometric from a biometric input device integral with
`said key and then:
`determining if said mobile communication device is
`locked or unlocked;
`responsive to determining that said mobile communica(cid:173)
`tion device is locked, processing said candidate bio(cid:173)
`metric; and
`responsive to determining that said mobile communica(cid:173)
`tion device is unlocked, ignoring said candidate bio-
`metric;
`receiving second input from said key;
`determining that said second input does not comprise can(cid:173)
`didate biometric;
`determining that said second input said input comprises an
`indication of a depression event from said key and then:
`determining if sai