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 7,286,063 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr.; Timothy
• Application Number:
  US10/721,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20040113819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 341/34, 368/10, 340/5.2, 340/5.51, 340/5.54, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/5.7, 340/5.71, 345/173, 178/18.01, 708/111
• 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, apparatus or given location, wherein the touch screen comprises control keys, which can be activated by manual action of a user using a finger or a stylus, each of the keys comprises at least one sensitive pad linked to a microprocessor unit of the electronic device, wherein each key of the touch screen defines a different number, wherein the electronic device is a wrist watch comprising:

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 control button is pressed, and wherein the liquid-crystal display indicates different operations of entry, verification and transmission of the security code, wherein the method comprises a first series of steps in an entry mode of the security code, the first series of steps comprising;

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

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

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

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises a memory linked to the microprocessor unit for recording at least one security code for access to a function, apparatus or given location, wherein when the electronic device is in a mode for recording or modifying the security code on the memory, the method further comprises a second series of steps corresponding to steps a) and b), and a step comprising 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, and the security code recorded, or to be recorded, in the memory comprises 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 reference and 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 control keys are arranged in the form of a matrix on a watch glass of the wrist watch for entry of the code, and reference marks are placed on the watch glass to indicate a position of the control keys and the corresponding references, 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.

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

8. A method according to claim 1,

wherein the control keys are situated around a periphery of a watch glass of the wrist watch for entry of the code, wherein reference marks are placed on the watch glass to indicate a position of the control keys and the corresponding references, wherein the finger or stylus is moved from one reference to another reference of the code to be entered on the watch glass in a clockwise direction or an anti-clockwise direction in accordance with initial programming of the security code performed in the microprocessor unit.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the security code comprises more than two references, wherein after input of the first reference and before input of a 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 watch glass in an area of a key of a reference of the code to be input.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the finger or stylus is moved on the watch glass from one reference to another reference while guided by an upper edge of a bezel of a case of the wrist watch.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the wrist watch has hands for indicating 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.

12. An electronic device comprising:

a touch screen with control keys, wherein the touch screen is activated by a manual action of a user using a finger or a stylus, and each of the keys comprises at least one sensitive pad connected to a microprocessor unit, wherein each key of the touch screen defines a different number for a security code to be composed, wherein the microprocessor unit is fitted to register sensitive keys or fields activated during movement of the finger or stylus on the screen from one key representing a first reference to second key representing a second reference determining a security code, wherein the electronic device operates to implement a method of input of a security code by means of the touch screen for access to a function, an apparatus or a given location, wherein the electronic device is a wrist watch comprising 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 control button is pressed, and wherein the liquid-crystal display indicates different operations of entry, verification and transmission of the security code, wherein the method comprises a series of steps in an entry mode, the series of steps comprising;

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

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

13. An electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the number of keys on the touch screen is 6 or 12, or multiple of 12, in order to associate each reference of the code to be entered with a number or an hour digit displayed on a dial of the wrist watch.

14. A method of input of a security code by means of a touch screen of an electronic device for access to a function, an apparatus or given location, wherein the touch screen comprises control keys, which can be activated by manual action of a user using a finger or a stylus, each of the keys comprises at least one sensitive pad linked to a microprocessor unit of the electronic device, wherein the electronic device is a portable object fitted with means for transmitting and/or receiving signals for wireless communication with a first transceiver of the apparatus or the given location, wherein an inquiry signal is transmitted by the first transceiver to be received by the portable object in a defined zone, and after receipt of the inquiry signal, the security code is entered on the portable object in order to be transmitted to the first transceiver and verified to allow access to the apparatus or the given location, wherein the method comprises a first series of steps in an entry mode of the security code, the first series of steps comprising

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

and

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

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the control keys of the touch screen are activated as soon as the inquiry signal is received.

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

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

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