Keyboard Configurations

• US 20100302157A1
• Filed: 03/09/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F Poszat Hu LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bekad Mgmt II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Zilberman, Arkady G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,766,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/164
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/316 by observing the pattern of computer usage, e.g. typical user behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2151 Time stamp

Abstract

Keyboard configurations are described. In embodiments, a keyboard includes a microcontroller to register key inputs, a memory to store time durations that correspond to the key inputs, and an algorithm that generates an input signature based on the time durations that correspond to the key inputs. The input signature can be used for user authentication and identity theft protection, and/or used to validate users for access to a computer system. The input signature may also include a watermark, a timestamp, or voice stamp for further security. An input system that includes a keyboard can provide multi-modal biometric protection by supplementing keystroke-scans with fingerprint, voice-scan, signature-scan and mouse-scan verification.

Claims

1. A keyboard, comprising:

a left portion comprising a first set of keys positioned in rows and orientated in left parallel columns; and

a right portion split apart from the left portion and comprising a second set of keys positioned in the rows and orientated in right parallel columns, the left portion and the right portion each rotated to position the rows of the first set of keys at an angle with respect to the rows of the second set of keys.

2. A keyboard as recited in claim 1, wherein the keyboard is customizable to several configurations according to user preferences.

3. A keyboard as recited in claim 1, further comprising a space between the left portion that is split apart from the right portion, and wherein the space includes at least one of key or input device.

4. A keyboard as recited in claim 3, wherein the key is an Enter key or a Space key positioned in the space between the left portion and the right portion.

5. A keyboard as recited in claim 3, wherein the input device is a Touchpad or a RollerBall positioned in the space between the left portion and the right portion.

6. A keyboard as recited in claim 1, wherein the left parallel columns of the first set of keys and the right parallel columns of the second set of keys allows one-coordinate outreaching to an adjacent key and simplifies finger targeting to a next key when a user is typing.

7. A keyboard as recited in claim 1, wherein the rows of the first set of keys are positioned at a 30 degree angle or less with respect to the rows of the second set of keys.

8. A keyboard as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a microcontroller configured to register key inputs;

a memory configured to store time durations that correspond to the key inputs; and

an algorithm configured to generate an input signature based on the time durations that correspond to the key inputs.

9. A keyboard as recited in claim 8, wherein:

the microcontroller is further configured to register additional key inputs that are different than the key inputs;

the memory is further configured to store additional time durations that correspond to the additional key inputs; and

the algorithm is further configured to generate a subsequent input signature based on the additional time durations that correspond to the additional key inputs.

10. A keyboard as recited in claim 9, wherein the input signature matches the subsequent input signature when the additional key inputs are different than the key inputs.

11. A keyboard as recited in claim 8, wherein the time durations comprise:

a first set of time durations each corresponding to a key input duration that a key input is depressed; and

a second set of time durations each corresponding to a key transition duration between releasing one key input to initiating a next key input.

12. A keyboard as recited in claim 11, wherein the algorithm is further configured to generate the input signature based on the first set of time durations and the second set of time durations.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving key inputs at a keyboard that are registered by a microcontroller;

storing time durations that correspond to the key inputs, the time durations being stored in memory at the keyboard; and

generating an input signature based on the time durations that correspond to the key inputs.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, comprising:

receiving additional key inputs at the keyboard that are registered by the microcontroller, the additional key inputs being different than the key inputs;

storing additional time durations that correspond to the additional key inputs, the additional time durations being stored in the memory at the keyboard; and

generating a subsequent input signature based on the additional time durations that correspond to the additional key inputs, the input signature matching the subsequent input signature when the additional key inputs are different than the key inputs.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the time durations include a first set of time durations and a second set of time durations, the method further comprising:

determining the first set of time durations each corresponding to a key input duration that a key input is depressed; and

determining the second set of time durations each corresponding to a key transition duration between releasing one key input to initiating a next key input.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising generating the input signature based on the first set of time durations and the second set of time durations.

17. An input system, comprising:

a first set of input keys configured for alphanumeric inputs;

a second set of input keys configured for additional alphanumeric inputs, the first set of input keys and the second set of input keys separated by an input device;

a microcontroller configured to register key inputs when initiated at the first and second input keys; and

an algorithm configured to generate an input signature based on time durations that correspond to the key inputs.

18. An input system as recited in claim 17, wherein the input signature matches a subsequent input signature that is based on additional time durations that correspond to additional key inputs, the additional key inputs being different than the key inputs.

19. An input system as recited in claim 17, wherein the input signature matches a subsequent input signature that is based on additional time durations that correspond to additional key inputs, the additional key inputs being the same as the key inputs.

20. An input system as recited in claim 17, wherein:

the time durations comprise;

a first set of time durations each corresponding to a key input duration that a key input is depressed;

a second set of time durations each corresponding to a key transition duration between releasing one key input to initiating a next key input; and

wherein the algorithm is further configured to generate the input signature based on the first set of time durations and the second set of time durations.