(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Yes, Sony is a huge company and keeping track of all their users is difficult, but a new patent might change that for the future of gamers. Gamesharing might actually be put to a stop.



Sony's solution of keeping track of you and your every move is to store you biometric data online. This patent was published from the Japanese tech giant. Originally it was introduced in May.

One of the biggest problems Sony has been experiencing is having other people log-in to the owners account. In the Patent the problem is detailed. "Consumer electronic devices are increasingly being used in conjunction with web-based applications. Such devices include personal computers, personal digital assistants, cellular phones, televisions and video game modules. Because of the near-ubiquity of such devices, there is a tremendous potential market for advertising of goods and services via these devices. However, most web-based advertising is largely unfocused due to a lack of information about the person who uses the device. Advertising could be more focused if it could be targeted to the specific interests of device users. Information about the users is typically obtained through some form of querying the device user. Typically, the user is asked to provide information when registering the device or when signing up for an online service. Information can also be obtained by monitoring device use. For example, an online game provider can monitor which games are accessed by a particular device registered to a known user. However, many consumer electronic devices, such as video game consoles, often have multiple users, e.g., members of the same family. These users may be different from the individual who registered the device. Unfortunately, currently existing technology only allows content providers to track the device and cannot distinguish among different users of a device.

In the prior art security systems for device such as personal computers have used biometric sensors such as fingerprint sensors as alternatives to entering a password. However, such security systems are not contingent on the identity of the user while the user is using the device. Instead, the user is only identified at when the user starts up the device. Once the device starts up, anyone can use the device. Such prior art security systems are, therefore, easily circumvented.


Thus, there is a need in the art, for methods and apparatus that overcome the above disadvantages."

For the solution to this they were insisting of using your biometric data (fingerprints, DNA, face, hand sensors, etc.) Here's a piece of the patent that goes into some detail. "To overcome the above disadvantages, embodiments of the invention are directed to consumer devices and methods for operating consumer devices. According to embodiments of the invention a user of a consumer electronics device is uniquely identified using a metric that is contingent upon the user using the device normally. Content that depends on the user’s identity can be provided to or from the device. According to certain embodiments, a user may be uniquely identified using a biometric sensor to provide the metric. Examples of suitable biometric sensors include fingerprint sensors, hand sensors, face recognition systems, iris scanners retinal scanners, voice pattern analyzers, and DNA analyzers. The biometric sensor senses a user biometric during normal operation of the device by the user. In certain embodiments of the invention a user identification unit incorporated into a control module of the device."



We do have a photo to illustrate the process. As you can see figure 340 and 342 are fingerprint scanners. 329 and 336 are cameras used for getting pictures of your face. The microphone which is 328, will be used for voice recognition.

Continuing with the patent we move along with how this all will create a profile for you. "In some embodiments of the present invention, a user profile may be generated… user behavior may be monitored and information gleaned from patterns of user behavior may become part of the profile. The profile can be used to tailor the operation of the device to a particular user… In the case of a video game console, the user profile may include information about particular types of games (e.g., racing games as opposed to combat-type games) that the user downloads. The user profile information may then be associated with the user ID at 106. For example, the user profile may contain a unique hash generated by the user ID sensor 206. Note that for purposes of providing content, such as pushing advertising to the identified user, it is not necessary to know the user’s name, address, phone number or other personal information. It is sufficient to associate patterns of the user’s online activity with the identified user.

It is common practice to register a consumer electronic device with the manufacturer for record keeping purposes. Such a registration step 105 may be performed at any time before during or after the user begins using the device 200. Such registration, typically involves associating a device ID with a particular owner of the device. In embodiments of the present invention, the ID for one or more users of the device 200 may be associated with the device ID at step 107."

To conclude that patent section, it basically is saying gamesharing will not be possible anymore or at least very difficult. As we continue along with what I just said. "Embodiments of the invention can be used to prevent unauthorized sharing of online accounts. A biometric identifier, such as a fingerprint ID, that is generated during ordinary use of the online content allows the content server 602 to determine whether a user attempting to access an online account is the user associated with that account."

Piracy also comes into play here and the patent does go into details there too. "An additional problem associated with delivering content online is one of preventing illegal copying or distribution of downloaded content. The internet provides enormous opportunities for mass delivery of electronically generated content such as music, movies, literature, computer software, computer games and the like. However, the internet also presents equally enormous opportunities for unauthorized copying and distribution of such content. Currently, when a user downloads content purchased content it is difficult if not impossible to prevent unauthorized copying and distribution of that content. One technique for doing so is to “lock” the download to the user’s machine so that the downloaded content may only be accessed on that particular machine. However, if the user sells the machine, he cannot transfer the downloaded content that he has already paid for. By associating content with an authorized user, each download may be made unique so that only the authorized user (e.g., one who has paid for the content) will be able to access it. Such a technique may be used to prevent hacking or copying to steal music, software, video games or other copyrighted content."

I know this was a long thread with lots of quotes, but in all shortness Sony basically will have a Playstation camera which will track all your emotions and record what you say. This will all be stored in Sony's servers.

What's your opinion about this? Do you think they have a right to really invade a person's privacy?

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That was one heck of a read. After finishing it, I've only got one thing to say...

WTF

haha, it's a joke? no real.

Companies have been looking at biometric data as a way to solve the password problem which is passwords are the weak point in the chain.
Alot of tech companies have been using biometric data for some time. Finger scanners in laptops is one example.
This a reply to gamesharing no it a reply to the general problem of protecting data. I don't believe any sony laptops have finger scanners installed so this may mean we see that coming soon.
Pretty sure sony has a medical unit which may see use of these patents over the gaming part of the company.



Biometric data has been researched for years now and we already have systems using them. It was only a matter of time until it gets into your phone and almost all things.
Never forget your password unless you cut off a finger :p



It most likely real i seen things like being sold already!!

There's no doubt that they have to try and "protect" themselves, especially with piracy, but what got me was this part...



That doesn't fly with me, that's for sure.

Guess that is based on the same idea Samsung had which was a tv which depends on your smile the backlight changes colour. Which is in production already.....and you can buy it. You must login or register to view this content.
I very much doubt it sends any if to the servers.

This will sure be illegal in some countries.