APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SECURING USER INPUT DATA

• US 20120265980A1
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pantech Corporation (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pantech Corporation (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Inventors: MOON, Ji Uk, KIM, Kwang Baek
• Application Number:
  US13/332,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20120265980A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6272 by registering files or documents with a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 Third party

Abstract

An apparatus and method for securing user input data in an electronic device including an input interface. A touch panel senses touch events in an input interface, a touch integrated circuit receives coordinate data associated with the touch events and encrypts the coordinate data using a secure key. The touch integrated circuit blocks a main processor of the electronic device from being aware that a touch event has been sensed and may directly transmit the coordinate data to a server without the intervention of the main processor.

Claims

1. An apparatus to secure input data, comprising:

a touch panel to receive an input data;

a touch integrated circuit to encrypt input data; and

a main processor to receive encrypted input data;

wherein the touch integrated circuit blocks the main processor from being aware of the content of the input data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch integrated circuit blocks the main processor from being aware that the touch panel receives the input data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication module to transmit the encrypted input data to a server;

wherein if the encrypted input data is transmitted to the server, the touch integrated circuit blocks the main processor from being aware that the touch panel receives the input data and the main processor does not intervene in the transmission of the encrypted input data.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main processor is aware that the touch panel receives the input data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch IC comprises:

a coordinate data obtainment unit to obtain coordinate data of the input data on the touch panel;

an encryption unit to encrypt the coordinate data using a secure key;

a mode controller to activate the encryption unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the mode controller activates the encryption unit if a secure mode entrance signal is received, a reference number, reference pattern, or reference motion is detected by the touch panel.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the secure mode entrance signal is received from the main processor or from an external server.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the secure key is a symmetric key or an asymmetric key.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a converter to convert coordinate data into user input values based on conversion based data for an input interface displayed on the touch panel.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a feedback unit to generate a feedback signal and provide the feedback signal to an application or display controller.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the feedback unit generates the feedback signal before the converter converts coordinate data to user input values.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the feedback unit generates the feedback signal after the converter converts coordinate data to user input values.

13. A method for securing input data in a touch integrated circuit, comprising:

obtaining a first coordinate data associated with a first touch event of an input of data in a touch panel;

storing the first coordinate data;

determining if an input of data is completed in the touch panel;

generating a first feedback signal;

if the input of data is completed encrypting the first coordinate data using a secure key;

if the input of data is not completed;

obtaining a second coordinate data associated with a second touch event of the input of data in a touch panel;

storing the second coordinate data;

generating a second feedback signal;

determining if the input of data is completed in the touch panel; and

if the input of data is completed, encrypting the first and second coordinate data is using a secure key.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising encrypting the first coordinate data as a first encryption target and the second coordinate data as a second encryption target.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising encrypting the first coordinate data and the second coordinate data as a single encryption target.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising converting the first coordinate data to a first user input value after storing the first coordinate data and if the second coordinate data is obtained, converting the second coordinate data to a second user input value after storing the second coordinate data.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising converting the first coordinate data to a first user input value after determining if the input of data is completed and if the second coordinate data is obtained, converting the second coordinate data to a second user input value after determining if the input of data is completed.

18. A method for securing user input data in an electronic device, comprising:

in a secure mode, providing an input interface to receive input data;

blocking a main processor from being aware of the content of input data;

receiving coordinate data about a touch event in a touch integrated circuit;

encrypting the coordinate data in the touch integrated circuit using a secure key; and

transmitting the encrypted coordinate data.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising blocking a main processor from being aware of an input interface receiving input data.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein transmitting the encrypted coordinate data is transmitted to the main processor or a server, and if the encrypted coordinate data is transmitted to the server, the main processor does not intervene in the transmission of encrypted coordinate data.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the input interface is an audio interface.