Secure passcode entry user interface

• US 10,540,657 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2017
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Block, Inc. (f/k/a Square, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Block, Inc. (f/k/a Square, Inc.)
• Inventors: Edwards, Troy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bridges, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US15/444,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20170169428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/031 Protect user input by software means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1033 Details of the PIN pad
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083

Abstract

Some examples include determining a traffic region of a touchscreen prior to presentation of a passcode entry interface based on determining a portion of the touchscreen receiving a number of touch events that exceeds a touch event threshold and/or based on determining a portion of the touchscreen on which was presented another user interface that received one or more touch events immediately prior to the presentation of the passcode entry interface. Based at least partially on the traffic region, a location on the touchscreen may be determined for presenting the passcode entry interface. The passcode entry interface may include buttons corresponding to character options for composing a passcode entry. The passcode entry interface may be presented at the determined location on the touchscreen with at least one of the buttons overlapping the traffic region of the touchscreen.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:

determining, by the electronic device, a traffic region of a touchscreen based at least partially on determining a portion of the touchscreen most recently experiencing one or more touch events;

determining, by the electronic device, based at least partially on the traffic region, a location on the touchscreen for presenting a passcode entry interface, wherein the passcode entry interface includes buttons corresponding to character options for composing a passcode entry, and wherein the passcode entry interface is used to receive the passcode entry for performing authentication; and

presenting, by the electronic device, at the determined location on the touchscreen, the passcode entry interface with at least one of the buttons overlapping the traffic region of the touchscreen, wherein the presented passcode entry interface is smaller than a fullscreen size of the touchscreen.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the portion of the touchscreen most recently experiencing the one or more touch events corresponds to a portion of the touchscreen on which another user interface was presented prior to presentation of the passcode entry interface.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the other user interface includes at least one menu item presented on the touchscreen prior to presentation of the passcode entry interface, wherein determining the traffic region is based at least partially on a position of the at least one menu item.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein a plurality of the menu items are presented on the touchscreen as part of a mobile storefront prior to presentation of the passcode entry interface.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising at least one of:

swapping positions of the other interface and the passcode entry interface between financial transactions on the electronic device;

or

swapping positions of the other interface and the passcode entry interface between user sessions on the electronic device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein presenting the passcode entry interface comprises positioning the passcode entry interface on the traffic region to maximize an overlap between the passcode entry interface and the traffic region.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising, in response to the electronic device detecting a touch event on the touchscreen, rearranging the buttons in the passcode entry interface.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a touchscreen;

a processor connected for communication with the touchscreen; and

a non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions executable by the processor to cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising;

determining, by the electronic device, a traffic region of a touchscreen based at least partially on determining a portion of the touchscreen most recently experiencing one or more touch events;

determining, by the electronic device, based at least partially on the traffic region, a location on the touchscreen for presenting a passcode entry interface, wherein the passcode entry interface includes buttons corresponding to character options for comprising a passcode entry, and wherein the passcode entry interface is used to receive the passcode entry for performing authentication; and

presenting, by the electronic device, at the determined location on the touchscreen, the passcode entry interface with at least one of the buttons overlapping the traffic region of the touchscreen, wherein the presented passcode entry interface is smaller than a fullscreen size of the touchscreen.

9. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising:

determining, by the electronic device, a traffic region of a touchscreen based at least partially on determining a portion of the touchscreen most recently experiencing one or more touch events;

determining, by the electronic device, based at least partially on the traffic region, a location on the touchscreen for presenting a passcode entry interface, wherein the passcode entry interface includes buttons corresponding to character options for composing a passcode entry, and wherein the passcode entry interface is used to receive the passcode entry for performing authentication; and

presenting, by the electronic device, at the determined location on the touchscreen, the passcode entry interface with at least one of the buttons overlapping the traffic region of the touchscreen, wherein the presented passcode entry interface is smaller than a fullscreen size of the touchscreen.