Encoding methods and systems

• US 10,592,653 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Licentia Group Limited, MYPINPAD Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Licentia Group Limited
• Inventors: Pike, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Hien L
• Application Number:
  US15/576,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20180150629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/582 Pseudo-random number generators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/588 Random number generators, i.e. based on natural stochastic processes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/36 using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 Business processing using cryptography postage metering system using cryptography G06Q2250/05
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/08 Randomization, e.g. dummy operations or using noise
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0866 involving user or device identifiers, e.g. serial number, physical or biometrical information, DNA, hand-signature or measurable physical characteristics

Abstract

The invention provides a solution for secure input of a user'"'"'s input into an electronic device. The invention comprises methods and apparatus for secure input of a user'"'"'s identifier e.g. password or other code. An image of a keyboard is superimposed over a scrambled, operable keyboard within a display zone of a screen associated with an electronic device. The keyboard image depicts a non-scrambled keyboard, in that the keys depicted in the image are in an expected or standardised format or order eg QWERTY keyboard arrangement. The difference in positions of the keys depicted in the image, and those in the operable keyboard, provides a mapping which enables an encoded form of the identifier to be generated, such that the un-encoded version is never stored in the device'"'"'s memory. Preferably, the image depicts a keyboard which is standard for the device which it is being displayed on. The device may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, laptop, PC, payment terminal or any other electronic computing device with a screen. The underlying keyboard, which is at least partially obscured from the user'"'"'s view by the image, may be generated at run time by a procedure call. Preferably, this procedure is native to the device ie part of a library which is provided as standard with the device.

Claims

1. A method of encoding a user'"'"'s input into an electronic device, the method comprising:

generating a plurality of operable keyboards;

providing one of the plurality of operable keyboards within a display zone of a screen associated with the electronic device, the provided operable keyboard being an active keyboard;

generating a plurality of images of a keyboard;

presenting one of the plurality of images within at least part of the display zone such that the presented image superimposes over the active keyboard, wherein the positions of respective keys of the active keyboard do not correspond to the positions of same keys in the presented image; and

receiving user input at one or more locations corresponding to the positions of the keys in the presented image, wherein each input activates a different key of the active keyboard in the corresponding position to generate an encoded version of the user'"'"'s input,

wherein at least one of (1) the layout of the keys of the active keyboard and (2) the layout of the keys depicted in the presented image are scrambled with respect to a reference or expected layout.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of operable keyboards is generated at run-time by invoking a subroutine.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of operable keyboards includes at least one of;

i) a virtual keyboard;

ii) a return key;

iii) a space key;

iv) at least one punctuation key;

v) a delete key;

vi) a backspace key;

vii) at least one modifier key; and

viii) at least one cursor key.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of images depicts a keyboard which is a default keyboard associated with the device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of images is generated on the device, or

at least one of the plurality of images is received by the device from a remote computing resource.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of operable keyboards is generated using a keyboard configuration derived using a random or pseudo-random number, or biometric data relating to the user.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the order of the operable keys in at least one of the plurality of operable keyboards or the order of keys depicted in at least one of the plurality of images is at least partially determined using biometric data derived from or associated with the user.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein:

the biometric data comprises, or is processed to provide, one or more strings, arrays or sequences of values which are used to specify the order of the keys.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of operable keyboards is a scrambled keyboard.

10. The method according to any claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of images is an image of a non-scrambled or scrambled keyboard.

11. The method according claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the encoded version of the user'"'"'s input to a remote computing resource.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the electronic device is a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a payment terminal, a portable computing device or a personal computer.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a scrambled keyboard layout based on biometric data related to a user; and

generating a mapping between the active keyboard and the presented image,

wherein the active keyboard or the image is generated using the generated scrambled keyboard layout.

14. A system for encoding a user'"'"'s input into an electronic device comprising:

an electronic device; and

a screen associated with the electronic device,

wherein the electronic device is configured to;

generate a plurality of operable keyboards;

provide one of the plurality of operable keyboards within a display zone of a screen associated with the electronic device, the provided operable keyboard being an active keyboard;

generate a plurality of images of a keyboard;

present one of the plurality of images within at least part of the display zone such that the presented image superimposes over the active keyboard, wherein the positions of respective keys of the active keyboard do not correspond to the positions of same keys in the presented image; and

receive user input at one or more locations corresponding to the positions of the keys in the presented image, wherein each input activates a different key of the active keypad in the corresponding position to generate an encoded version of the user'"'"'s input,

wherein at least one of (1) the layout of the keys of the active keyboard and (2) the layout of the keys depicted in the presented image are scrambled with respect to a reference or expected layout.