System and method for using a visual password scheme

• US 20060206918A1
• Filed: 03/01/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: McLean, Ivan Hugh
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for inputting a password. The system and method operates to associate unique non-descriptive graphical features with unique text-based characters. The system and method operates to receive in sequence, a plurality of text-based characters. The system and method operates to display in sequence, in accordance with a sequence scheme, the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters. The system and method also operates to process the plurality of text-based characters as the password. In addition, the system and method operates wherein the password, including text-based characters, may be deciphered from both the display of the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters and the sequence scheme.

Claims

1. A method for inputting a password, the password including text-based characters, the method comprising:

associating unique non-descriptive graphical features with unique text-based characters;

receiving in sequence, a plurality of text-based characters;

displaying in sequence, in accordance with a sequence scheme, the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters; and

processing the plurality of text-based characters as the password;

wherein the password, including text-based characters, may be deciphered from both the display of the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters and the sequence scheme.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-descriptive graphical features include at least one of the following:

background color, pen color and pattern.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sequence scheme includes the following sequence:

background color;

pen color; and

a series of figure insertions using a 3×

3 component grid such that the figure insertions combine to display an object that is continuous and fully bounded.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-descriptive graphical features represent different facial features of a human face and wherein the sequence scheme includes displaying the non-descriptive graphical figures in a predetermined order.

5. A personal computing device using a password, the password including text-based characters, the personal computing device comprising:

logic configured to associate unique non-descriptive graphical features with unique text-based characters;

logic configured to receive in sequence, a plurality of text-based characters;

logic configured to display in sequence, in accordance with a sequence scheme, the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters; and

logic configured to process the plurality of text-based characters as the password;

wherein the password, including text-based characters, may be deciphered from both the display of the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters and the sequence scheme.

6. The personal computing device of claim 5 wherein the non-descriptive graphical features include at least one of the following:

background color, pen color and pattern.

7. The personal computing device of claim 5 wherein the sequence scheme includes the following sequence:

background color;

pen color; and

a series of figure insertions using a 3×

3 component grid in a clockwise movement.

8. The personal computing device of claim 5 wherein the non-descriptive graphical features represent different facial features of a human face and wherein the sequence scheme includes displaying the non-descriptive graphical figures in a predetermined order.

9. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program capable of inputting a password, the password including text-based characters, the computer program comprising:

code operable to associate unique non-descriptive graphical features with unique text-based characters;

code operable to receive in sequence, a plurality of text-based characters;

code operable to display in sequence, in accordance with a sequence scheme, the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters; and

code operable to process the plurality of text-based characters as the password;

wherein the password, including text-based characters, may be deciphered from both the display of the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters and the sequence scheme.

10. The computer program of claim 9 wherein the non-descriptive graphical features include at least one of the following:

background color, pen color and pattern.

11. The computer program of claim 9 wherein the sequence scheme includes the following sequence:

background color;

pen color; and

a series of figure insertions using a 3×

3 component grid in a clockwise movement.

12. The computer program of claim 9 wherein the non-descriptive graphical features represent different facial features of a human face and wherein the sequence scheme includes displaying the non-descriptive graphical figures in a predetermined order.

13. A personal computing device using a password, the password including text-based characters, the personal computing device comprising:

means for associating unique non-descriptive graphical features with unique text-based characters;

means for receiving in sequence, a plurality of text-based characters;

means for displaying in sequence, in accordance with a sequence scheme, the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters; and

means for processing the plurality of text-based characters as the password;

wherein the password, including text-based characters, may be deciphered from both the display of the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters and the sequence scheme.

14. The personal computing device of claim 13 wherein the non-descriptive graphical features include at least one of the following:

background color, pen color and pattern.

15. The personal computing device of claim 13 wherein the sequence scheme includes the following sequence:

background color;

pen color; and

a series of figure insertions using a 3×

3 component grid in a clockwise movement.

16. The personal computing device of claim 13 wherein the non-descriptive graphical features represent different facial features of a human face and wherein the sequence scheme includes displaying the non-descriptive graphical figures in a predetermined order.