Password entry using 3D image with spatial alignment

• US 8,863,271 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason Tyler, Fyke, Steven Henry, Pasquero, Jerome, Adams, Neil Patrick, Brown, Michael Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMORIN, CARLOS E
• Application Number:
  US12/969,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20120159608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• US Class Current: 726/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G09C 5/00 Ciphering apparatus or methods not provided for in the preceding groups, e.g. involving the concealment or deformation of graphic data such as designs, written or printed messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/77 Graphical identity

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. At least one of the modified base image and modified overlay image is moved by the user. Positive authentication is indicated in response to the base image reference point on the modified base image being aligned, at least one of the base image reference point and the overlay image reference point having coordinates in three dimensions.

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 particular base image reference point, and the overlay image comprising a plurality of objects and having a particular overlay image reference point, the instructions, which when executed by a processor direct the computing device to:

generate a modified base image having the particular base image reference point;

generate a modified overlay image having the plurality of objects and the particular overlay image reference point;

display, on a display, the modified base image overlaid by the modified overlay image;

receive an input for moving one of the modified base image and the modified overlay image;

move the one of the modified base image and the modified overlay image in response to the input; and

in response to alignment of the particular base image reference point with the particular overlay image reference point on the display, indicate positive authentication, the particular base image reference point or the particular overlay image reference point having coordinates in three dimensions.

2. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1 wherein the instructions further direct the computing device to display the modified base image to have a three-dimensional appearance.

3. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1, wherein the modified base image is moveable in three dimensions.

4. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1, wherein the modified overlay image is moveable in three dimensions.

5. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions further direct the computing device to compare a first angle from which alignment is reached with a second angle from which a previous alignment was reached and only indicate positive authentication if the first angle and the second angle are different.

6. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 5, wherein the previous alignment is from a previous authentication attempt.

7. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 5, wherein the previous alignment is from an immediately preceding authentication attempt.

8. 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 particular base image reference point, and the overlay image comprising a plurality of objects and having a particular overlay image reference point, the method comprising:

generating a modified base image having the particular base image reference point;

generating a modified overlay image having the plurality of objects and having the particular overlay image reference point;

displaying, on a display, the modified base image overlaid by the modified overlay image;

receiving an input for moving one of the modified base image and the modified overlay image;

moving the one of the modified base image and the modified overlay image in response to the input; and

in response to alignment of the particular base image reference point with the particular overlay image reference point on the display, indicating positive authentication, the particular base image reference point or the particular overlay image reference point having coordinates in three dimensions.

9. The method of claim 8 comprising displaying the modified base image to have a three-dimensional appearance.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the modified base image is moveable in three dimensions.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the modified overlay image is moveable in three dimensions.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising comparing a first angle from which alignment is reached with a second angle from which a previous alignment was reached and only indicating positive authentication if the first angle and the second angle are different.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the previous alignment is from a previous authentication attempt.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the previous alignment is from an immediately preceding authentication attempt.

15. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a display; and

one or more 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 particular base image reference point, and the overlay image comprising a plurality of objects and having a particular overlay image reference point, the instructions, when executed by the processor direct the computing device to;

generate a modified base image having the particular base image reference point;

generate a modified overlay image having the plurality of objects and the particular overlay image reference point;

display, on the display, the modified base image overlaid by the modified overlay image;

receive an input for moving one of the modified base image and the modified overlay image;

move the one of the modified base image and the modified overlay image in response to the input;

assign a security level requirement for authenticating the user; and

in response to alignment of the particular base image reference point with the particular overlay image reference point on the display, indicate positive authentication, the particular base image reference point or the particular overlay image reference point having coordinates in three dimensions.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the display comprises a touch screen and the input is received via the touch screen.

17. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the display comprises a multi-touch screen and the input is received via the multi-touch screen.

18. The computing device of claim 15, further comprising an input interface that enables manipulation of the modified overlay image or the modified base image from a position above the display.

19. The computing device of claim 15 comprising a mobile electronic device.

20. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the display comprises a three-dimensional display.