Authentication method and system

• US 10,366,215 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2016
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Licentia Group Limited, MYPINPAD Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Licentia Group Limited
• Inventors: Pike, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): Moorthy, Aravind K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pan, Peiliang
• Application Number:
  US15/094,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20160224771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 726 28- 30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1033 Details of the PIN pad
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1041 PIN input keyboard gets new key allocation at each use
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1075 PIN is checked remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1091 Use of an encrypted form of the PIN

Abstract

The invention provides a computer-implemented authentication method comprising the step of enabling a user to input an identifier (e.g. a PIN) into an electronic device having a screen and a keypad operable within a keypad zone of the screen; by operating at least one key of the keypad via an image of at least part of a scrambled keypad which is displayed at least partially within the keypad zone. The user'"'"'s operation of the keypad key via the image generates an encoded version of the user'"'"'s intended input. In one sense the invention can be perceived as superimposing a non-functional image of a scrambled keyboard over an underlying, functional keypad. The image may be any type of electronic image, and may include a video image. The invention is particularly suited for use with, but not limited to, mobile phones, tablet computer, PCs etc. It can be implemented in any system wherein a user'"'"'s identity must be verified before access is granted to a controlled resource.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented verification method comprising the step of:

enabling a user to input an identifier into an electronic device having;

a screen; and

an operable, virtual keypad provided within a keypad zone of the screen, the operable, virtual keypad comprising a plurality of labeled keys, each labeled key having at least one indicia associated with it which, when operated by the user, causes the associated indicia to be inputted to the device, and the operable, virtual keypad generated at run time;

by operating at least one labeled key of the operable, virtual keypad through an image of at least part of a scrambled keypad which is displayed at least partially within the keypad zone, and which functions as a cover superimposed over the operable, virtual keypad such that;

the operable, virtual keypad is hidden, at least partially, by the image; and

,

when the user identifies a location within the image it operates the operable, virtual keypad key positioned at that location within the keypad zone to record the indicia of the operable, virtual keypad key in the device as an encoded version of the user'"'"'s input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the image of the scrambled keypad is electronically formed, and comprises at least one of a graphical image, an optical image, a video or some other form of visual representation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the keypad zone is a defined area or portion of the screen which covers the screen'"'"'s entirety or a portion thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is displayed such that it appears to the user that the image is an operable keypad with keys in a scrambled order or configuration with respect to the operable keypad of the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the keypad zone is a portion of the screen which is designated, prior to the user inputting the identifier, as a keypad display area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a Personal Identification Code or Personal Identification Number.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the image represents or depicts a scrambled keypad having at least one key which is positionally re-ordered or reconfigured relative to a layout of the plurality of keys in the keypad.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is enabled to input the identifier by interaction with the screen, by touching a portion of the screen and/or selecting an area of the screen using a pointing device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the image to the electronic device from a remotely located computer-based resource and wherein the identifier inputted into the device is sent from the electronic device to the remote computer-based resource.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a configuration of keys depicted in the image is altered after at least a part of the identifier has been inputted.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a remote computer-based resource receives the identifier and processes the identifier using a stored version of the configuration of keys depicted in the image, wherein processing comprises:

using the stored version of the configuration of keys to provide a decoded version of the inputted identifier, and

deeming the input verified if the decoded version of the inputted identifier matches the stored version of the identifier.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a plurality of images of scrambled keypads;

selecting one image from the plurality by filtering the plurality to ensure that no image in the plurality depicts any keys in a position that corresponds to a position of a key in the keypad; and

sending a copy of the selected image to the electronic device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein of at least one key in the image is at least partially obscured or obfuscated but remains readable to the user.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is displayed via a web browser, an application embedded within a browser, a standalone software application, or an application providing a graphical user interface to allow the user to interact with the screen.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is erased from the electronic device following receipt of the input or expiration of a specified period of time.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

sending the image to the electronic device from a remotely located computer-based resource; and

sending at least one instruction to the electronic device, configured to generate the operable keypad upon execution by the device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the operable keypad is generated by invoking or calling a procedural call on the electronic device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the operable keypad is an object residing in a volatile memory of the device at run-time.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration or order of the keys of the plurality of keys of the operable keypad is altered after each key press by the user.

20. A method comprising:

providing, by an electronic device, a scrambled operable, virtual keypad, the scrambled operable, virtual keypad (i) being positioned within a keypad zone of a screen associated with the electronic device and (ii) comprising a first plurality of labeled keys;

outputting, by the electronic device and for display at least partially within the keypad zone, an image of a keypad comprising a second plurality of keys, wherein the first plurality of keys of the scrambled operable, virtual keypad are (i) in a scrambled order or configuration with respect to the second plurality of keys of the image and (ii) hidden, at least partially, by the image of the keypad comprising the second plurality of keys; and

receiving, at the electronic device and by operation of at least one key of the first plurality of keys through the image of a keypad comprising a second plurality of keys, an identifier.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the image of the keypad is received from a remote, computer-based resource.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the configuration or order of the first plurality of keys of the scrambled operable, virtual keypad is altered after at least part of the identifier has been inputted.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the image functions as a cover superimposed over the keypad.