Thwarting screen logging of keypad in a web-based form

• US 8,334,845 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Firstrade Securities Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Firstrade Securities Incorporated
• Inventors: Liu, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): PARDO, THUY N
• Application Number:
  US12/276,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/173, 345/156, 345/157, 345/160, 345/169, 455/556.1, 455/550.1, 455/90.3, 340/5.2, 713/182, 381/73.1, 235/379
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

Characters on an on-screen keypad are hidden once a cursor is placed over the keypad. This prevents any spyware from screen logging the key selection as the characters on the keypad are not visible at the moment a key is selected. The keys of the keypad are optionally color-coded to help a user remember the location of the key with the desired character once the cursor is over the keypad.

Claims

1. A method for providing an on-screen keypad on a device, comprising:

displaying the keypad on a screen, the keypad comprising keys bearing characters;

monitoring a cursor'"'"'s location on the screen;

any time the cursor is placed on the keypad, displaying the keys without the characters; and

after receiving a selection of one of the keys from the cursor, transmitting the character of the selected key to another device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the keys have distinct colors from each other.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the characters on the keys are distinct from each other.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

after receiving a selection of one of the keys from the cursor, redisplaying the keypad at a new location on the screen.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said redisplaying the keypad comprises assigning new characters to the keys.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said redisplaying the keypad further comprises assigning new colors to the keys.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the keypad is rectangular and the keys are arranged in a grid pattern.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the keypad is circular and the keys are arranged in a circle around an inner ring and inside an outer ring.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

said displaying the keypad occurs any time the cursor is placed inside the inner ring; and

the method further comprises, any time the cursor is placed outside of the outer ring, displaying the keys without the characters.

10. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions for providing an on-screen keypad on a device, the instructions comprising:

displaying the keypad on a screen, the keypad having keys bearing characters;

monitoring a cursor'"'"'s location on the screen;

any time the cursor is placed on the keypad, displaying the keys without the characters; and

after receiving a selection of one of the keys from the cursor, transmitting the character of the selected key to another device.

11. The medium of claim 10, wherein the keys have distinct colors from each other.

12. The medium of claim 11, wherein the characters on the keys are distinct from each other.

13. The medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions further comprise:

after receiving a selection of one of the keys from the cursor, redisplaying the keypad at a new location on the screen.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein said redisplaying the keypad comprises assigning new characters to the keys.

15. The medium of claim 14, wherein said redisplaying the keypad further comprises assigning new colors to the keys.

16. The medium of claim 10, wherein the keypad is rectangular and the keys are arranged in a grid pattern.

17. The medium of claim 10, wherein the keypad is circular and the keys are arranged in a circle around an inner ring and inside an outer ring.

18. The medium of claim 17, wherein:

said displaying the keypad occurs any time the cursor is placed inside the inner ring; and

the instructions further comprise, any time the cursor is placed outside of the outer ring, displaying the keys without the characters.