Allowing varied device access based on different levels of unlocking mechanisms

Abstract

Systems and methods may provide for receiving runtime input from one or more unlock interfaces of a device and selecting a level of access with regard to the device from a plurality of levels of access based on the runtime input. The selected level of access may have an associated security policy, wherein an authentication of the runtime input may be conducted based on the associated security policy. In one example, one or more cryptographic keys are used to place the device in an unlocked state with regard to the selected level of access if the authentication is successful. If the authentication is unsuccessful, on the other hand, the device may be maintained in a locked state with regard to the selected level of access.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a processor;   a plurality of unlock interfaces coupled to the processor, wherein the plurality of unlock interfaces enable use of runtime input related to authentication of a user and re-lock one or more of the device or data stored on the device based on one or more of subsequent monitoring of a presence of the user, one or more gestures to signal a desire to re-lock, or a change in continuous authentication that falls below an acceptable tolerance level; and   a policy module comprising:
 level determination logic to select a level of access of a plurality of levels of access to the device based on the runtime input, wherein different levels of access have associated security policies that specify different combinations of the plurality of unlock interfaces; and 
 user authentication logic to conduct an authentication of the runtime input based on an associated security policy of the selected level of access; and 
   a secure processor coupled to the processor, the secure processor including a cryptographic hardware module to perform cryptographic operations using one or more cryptographic keys.