Adjusting the position of an endpoint reference for increasing security during device log-on

• US 8,745,694 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason Tyler, Adams, Neil Patrick, Brown, Michael Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Reza, Mohammad W
• Application Number:
  US12/969,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20120159594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 726/27, 726/2, 713/168
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation

Abstract

A method of authenticating a user of a computing device is proposed, together with computing device on which the method is implemented. In the method a modified base image is overlaid with a modified overlay image on a display and with each execution of the method, at least one of a position of a pre-selected base image reference point on the modified base image and a position of a pre-selected overlay image reference point on the modified overlay image is varied. Positive authentication is indicated in response to an input resulting in the base image reference point on the modified base image being aligned with the overlay image reference point on the modified overlay image.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory computer readable media having computer readable instructions stored thereon for authenticating a user of a computing device, the computing device having a memory storing a base image and an overlay image, the base image having a base image reference point, and the overlay image having an overlay image reference point, which when executed by a processor direct the computing device to:

generating a modified base image;

generating a modified overlay image;

displaying, on a display, the modified base image overlaid by the modified overlay image, wherein displaying includes varying at least one of a position of the base image reference point on the display and a position of the overlay image reference point on the display relative to a previous displaying of the base image and the overlay image;

receiving an input causing alignment of the base image reference point on the modified base image with the overlay image reference point on the modified overlay image at a point on the display; and

in response to the alignment, indicating positive authentication.

2. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1, wherein generating the modified base image comprises making a copy of the base image.

3. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1, wherein generating the modified overlay image comprises making a copy of the overlay image.

4. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1, wherein generating the modified base image comprises randomly altering the position of the base image reference point on the display.

5. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1, wherein the input comprises a movement of the modified base image and a movement of the modified overlay image.

6. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1, wherein the input comprises a sequence of movements of the modified base image and the modified overlay image.

7. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1, wherein generating the modified base image comprises randomly altering an appearance of the base image.

8. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1, wherein generating the modified base image comprises distorting the base image.

9. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1, wherein generating the modified overlay image comprises randomly altering the appearance of the overlay image.

10. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1, wherein the overlay image is a grid of images and generating the modified overlay image comprises altering the position of the overlay image reference point while maintaining at least one of a column and a row with images having a common characteristic.

11. A method of authenticating a user of a computing device, the computing device having a memory storing a base image and an overlay image, the base image having a base image reference point, and the overlay image having an overlay image reference point, the method comprising:

generating a modified base image;

generating a modified overlay image;

displaying, on a display, the modified base image overlaid by the modified overlay image, wherein displaying includes varying at least one of a position of the base image reference point on the display and a position of the overlay image reference point on the display relative to a previous displaying of the base image and the overlay image;

receiving an input causing alignment of the base image reference point on the modified base image with the overlay image reference point on the modified overlay image at a point on the display; and

in response to the alignment, indicating positive authentication.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein generating the modified base image comprises randomly altering an appearance of the base image.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein generating the modified overlay image comprises randomly altering an appearance of the overlay image.

14. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a display;

a user interface for receiving user input; and

one or more non-transitory computer readable media having computer readable instructions stored thereon for authenticating a user of the computing device, the computing device having a memory storing a base image and an overlay image, the base image having a base image reference point, and the overlay image having an overlay image reference point, which when executed by the processor direct the computing device to generate a modified base image;

generate a modified overlay image;

display, on the display, the modified base image overlaid by the modified overlay image, wherein including varying at least one of a position of the base image reference point on the display and a position of the overlay image reference point on the display relative to a previous display of the base image and the overlay image;

receive an input causing alignment of the base image reference point on the modified base image with the overlay image reference point on the modified overlay image at a point on the display; and

in response to the alignment, indicate positive authentication.

15. The computing device of claim 14, further comprising the memory.

16. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the non-transitory computer readable media comprises a flash memory.

17. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the user interface comprises a touch screen.

18. The computing device of claim 14, comprising a mobile electronic device.