Graphical authentication

• US 9,064,104 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Riddiford, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORRES, JOSE
• Application Number:
  US12/815,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20100322485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,834 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/115, 382/287, 382/294
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

A method includes displaying a base image and a secondary image overlying the base image on a display, detecting an alignment of a first element of the base image with a second element of the secondary image, and when the first element and the second element are pre-selected elements for a user, authenticating the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying a first image and a second image overlaying the first image on a display, the first image having a plurality of points of interest and the second image having a plurality of user-identifiable elements;

detecting a substantial alignment of a point of interest in the first image with a first element of the second image in response to user input for movement of the second image; and

when the point of interest and the first element are a selected point of interest and a selected element for a user, authenticating the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the point of interest is substantially aligned with the first element when a location of the first element is located in an authentication area associated with the point of interest.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein an adjustable authentication area is associated with the point of interest.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the size and shape of the authentication area is adjustable.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the authentication area is adjustable by user entry.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the authentication area is adjustable based on one or more characteristics of any one or more of the following:

the first image, the second image, and the display.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the point of interest is detected as substantially aligned with the first element when a location of the point of interest is located within a threshold distance of the first element.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first image or second image is partially transparent such that at least part of the first image or second image is visible through the other of the first image or second image.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a third image overlaying at least one of the first image and the second image, the third image having a plurality of user-identifiable elements including a second element; and

authenticating the user when the point of interest in the first image, the first element in the second image, and the second element of the third image are detected as being substantially aligned with each other.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second image is comprised of an array of elements.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the array is repeated or looped in one or more directions.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a different arrangement of elements of the second image when the second image is subsequently displayed.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the different arrangement is randomly generated.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of re-sizing, re-positioning, and re-arranging at least part of the first image when the first image is subsequently displayed.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising multiple authentication stages.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein a combination of information associated with the selected point of interest and the selected element for a user is at least part of an authentication key.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an authentication key comprising information from the second image and the first image.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the information from the first image is stored in a location physically remote from the information from the second image.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting substantial alignment of aligning at least one selected element of the second image to two or more points of interest in the first image.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the point of interest is in a fixed location in the first image.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the first image comprises a photograph and the second image comprises an array of the user-identifiable elements.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the first image comprises a photograph imported from a photo library.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein authenticating the user allows access to a computing device.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon for execution by at least one processor of a computing device, which when executed direct the computing device to:

display a first image and a second image overlaying the first image on a display, the first image having a plurality of points of interest and the second image having a plurality of user-identifiable elements;

detect a substantial alignment of a point of interest in the first image with a first element of the second image in response to user input for movement of the second image; and

when the point of interest and the first element are a selected point of interest and a selected element for a user, authenticate the user.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein authenticating the user allows access to a computing device.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the point of interest is substantially aligned with the first element when a location of the first element is located in an authentication area associated with the point of interest.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein an adjustable authentication area is associated with the point of interest.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the point of interest is detected as substantially aligned with the first element when a location of the point of interest is located within a threshold distance of the first element.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the first image or second image is partially transparent such that at least part of the first image or second image is visible through the other of the first image or second image.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the computer readable instructions direct the computing device to:

display a third image overlaying at least one of the first image and the second image, the third image having a plurality of user-identifiable elements including a second element; and

authenticate the user when the point of interest in the first image, the first element in the second image, and the second element of the third image are detected as being substantially aligned with each other.

31. A computing device comprising:

at least one processor;

a display; and

a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor direct the computing device to;

display a first image and a second image overlaying the first image on the display, the first image having a plurality of points of interest and the second image having a plurality of user-identifiable elements;

detect a substantial alignment of a point of interest in the first image with a first element of the second image in response to user input for movement of the second image; and

when the point of interest and the first element are a selected point of interest and a selected element for a user, authenticate the user.

32. The computing device of claim 31, wherein authenticating the user allows access to a computing device.

33. The computing device of claim 31, wherein the point of interest is substantially aligned with the first element when a location of the first element is located in an authentication area associated with the point of interest.

34. The computing device of claim 31, wherein an adjustable authentication area is associated with the point of interest.

35. The computing device of claim 31, wherein the point of interest is detected as substantially aligned with the first element when a location of the point of interest is located within a threshold distance of the first element.

36. The computing device of claim 31, wherein the first image or second image is partially transparent such that at least part of the first image or second image is visible through the other of the first image or second image.

37. The computing device of claim 31, wherein the computer readable instructions direct the computing device to:

display a third image overlaying at least one of the first image and the second image, the third image having a plurality of user-identifiable elements including a second element; and

authenticate the user when the point of interest in the first image, the first element in the second image, and the second element of the third image are detected as being substantially aligned with each other.

38. A method comprising:

displaying a first image, second image and third image, the second image and third image overlaying the first image on a display, the first image having at least one point of interest, the second image having a plurality of user-identifiable elements, and the third image having a plurality of user-identifiable elements;

detecting a substantial alignment of the at least one point of interest in the first image, a first element of the second image, and a second element of the third image; and

when the at least one point of interest in the first image, the first element of the second image, and the second element of the third image are a selected point of interest and selected elements for a user, authenticating the user.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein authenticating the user allows access to a computing device.