Method of input of a security code by means of a touch screen for access to a function, an apparatus or a given location, and device for implementing the same

• US 20040113819A1
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asulab SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Asulab SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Farine, Pierre-Andre, Gauthey, Darryl
• Granted Patent: US 7,286,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof

Abstract

The method relates to the input of a security code by means of a touch screen of an electronic device such as a watch for access to a specific function, an apparatus or a given location. This touch screen comprises control keys, which can be activated by a manual action of a user using a finger or a stylus. Each key is linked to a microprocessor unit of the electronic device. The method comprises steps which consist of placing a finger or stylus on a key of the touch screen, which represents a first reference of the code to be entered, moving the finger or stylus from the first reference to a key of a second reference over a specific trajectory through the microprocessor unit, keeping the finger on the second reference for a given period of time or detecting a change in trajectory of the finger in the area of the key of the second reference to be input, moving the finger from the key of the second reference to a key of a third reference over a specific trajectory, and removing the finger or stylus from the touch screen to validate the entered code and access to the function, apparatus or given location.

Claims

1. A method of input of a security code by means of a touch screen of an electronic device for access to a function, a device or a given location, said touch screen comprising control keys, which can be activated by a manual action of a user using a finger or a stylus, each of said keys being made up of at least one sensitive pad linked to a microprocessor unit of the electronic device, wherein the method comprises a series of steps in an entry mode of the security code, which consists of

a) placing a finger or stylus on a first key of the touch screen, which represents a first reference of the code to be entered;

b) moving the finger or stylus on the touch screen from the first key to a second key of the touch screen, which represents a second reference of the code to be entered, over a specific trajectory, wherein the microprocessor unit registers the sensitive keys or pads activated during the movement of the finger or stylus on the screen to determine the security code.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the finger or stylus is removed from the touch screen from the last reference of the code to be entered to validate said code in order to access the function, device or given location.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a memory linked to the microprocessor unit for recording at least one security code for access to a function, device or given location, wherein when the electronic device is in a mode for recording or modifying the security code on the memory, the method comprises a series of steps corresponding to steps a) and b), and a step consisting of removing the finger or stylus from the touch screen from the last reference of the code to be entered to validate said code.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor unit is linked to a memory, the security code recorded or to be recorded in the memory, comprising more than two references represented by digits or numbers, wherein in the entry mode of the security code or in a recording or modifying mode of the security code in the memory, for each reference of the security code to be input between the first and the last reference, the microprocessor unit detects either a change in trajectory of the movement of the finger or stylus on the screen in the area of the key of the reference to be input or a specific period of time of holding the finger or stylus on the key of the reference to be input, and wherein the security code is validated by removing the finger or stylus from the key of the last reference to be input.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the finger or stylus is held on the key of each reference of the security code for a period of time to input each reference in the code to be entered in accordance with programming of the microprocessor unit.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the device is a portable object fitted with means for transmitting and/or receiving signals for wireless communication with a transceiver of the apparatus or the given location, wherein an inquiry signal is transmitted by the transceiver to be received by the portable article in a defined zone, and that after receipt of the inquiry signal, the security code is entered on the portable article in order to be transmitted to the transceiver and verified to allow access to the device or given location.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the control keys of the touch screen are activated as soon as the inquiry signal is received.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a wrist watch fitted with a liquid-crystal display, means for transmitting and/or receiving signals and at least one control button to actuate various functions of the watch, wherein the control keys of the touch screen are activated when the button is pressed, and wherein the liquid-crystal display indicates different operations of entry, verification and transmission of the security code.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a wrist watch fitted with a liquid-crystal display, means for transmitting and/or receiving signals and at least one control button to actuate various functions of the watch, the control keys being situated around the periphery of the watch glass for entry of the code, reference marks being placed on the glass to indicate the position of the control keys and their reference, wherein the finger or stylus is moved from one reference to another reference of the code to be entered on the glass in a clockwise direction or an anti-clockwise direction in accordance with initial programming of the security code performed in the microprocessor unit.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the security code comprises more than two references, wherein after input of the first reference and before the last reference of the code to be entered, the microprocessor unit detects a change in the direction of rotation of the finger or stylus on the glass in the area of a key of a reference of the code to be input.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the finger or stylus is moved on the glass from one reference to another reference being guided by an upper edge of a bezel of the case.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the watch has hands for indicating the time, wherein the hands move to indicate each input reference of the security code in the entry mode of the security code or in a recording or modifying mode of the security code in a memory linked to the microprocessor unit.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a wrist watch fitted with means for transmitting and/or receiving signals and at least one control button to actuate various functions of the watch, the control keys being arranged in the form of a matrix on the watch glass for entry of the code, reference marks being placed on the glass to indicate the position of the control keys and their reference, wherein the finger or stylus is moved from one reference representing a digit or number to another reference representing a digit or number of the security code to be entered over a specific trajectory, wherein the microprocessor unit registers the control keys activated during the movement of the finger or stylus on the screen to determine the security code.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor unit verifies the security code at each step of entry or at the end of the code entry using a reference security code located in a non-volatile memory of the electronic device.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an analog wrist watch, wherein the number of keys on the touch screen is 12 or a multiple of 12 in order to associate each reference of the code to be entered with an hour digit which is displayed on the dial of the wrist watch.

16. An electronic device for implementation of the method according to claim 1, the device comprising a touch screen with control keys, which can be activated by a manual action of a user using a finger or a stylus, each of said keys being made up of at least one sensitive field connected to a microprocessor unit, wherein the microprocessor unit is fitted to register the sensitive keys or fields activated during the movement of the finger or stylus on the screen from one key representing a first reference to second key representing a second reference to determine the security code.