Optical security enhancement device

• US 9,418,215 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2013
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kotla, Ramakrishna, Nowatzyk, Andreas Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Baotran N
• Application Number:
  US13/874,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20140325677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 726/28
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors

Abstract

An optical security device can be used to view sensitive information provided in an obscured format via a potentially untrusted and/or compromised computer. The techniques described herein enable use of untrusted computers for access to sensitive information. The optical security device employs one or more forms of visual cryptography such as spatial cryptography and/or temporal cryptography in some instances via a programmable mask and/or a programmable color filter to reveal sensitive information that is provided in an obscured form by a potentially untrusted computer.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a touch enabled display device;

an optical layer configured to be interposed between an eye of a user and the touch enabled display device, wherein;

the optical layer is configured to reveal information presented on the touch enabled display device, the information including a pattern of characters located at random locations on the touch enabled display device for selection via an input; and

at least a portion of the optical layer is configured for use with a first screen resolution of the touch enabled display device and not being configured for use with a second screen resolution of a second display device, the first screen resolution being different than the second screen resolution; and

absent the optical layer, the information is not obtainable.

2. A system as claim 1 recites, the optical layer comprising a foil configured to be laid on a display portion of the touch enabled display device, wherein the input includes touching different locations on the foil to generate at least one of a personal identification number or a password.

3. A system as claim 2 recites, wherein the different locations on the foil correspond to characters from the pattern of characters that define the at least one of the personal identification number or the password.

4. A system as claim 1 recites, the optical layer being configured to narrow a viewing angle so that adversaries cannot glean the information presented on the touch enabled display device via an over the shoulder attack.

5. A system as claim 1 recites, the optical layer being configured particularly for use by the user to access private information particular to the user and not by a second user.

6. A system as claim 1 recites, wherein the first screen resolution is defined by a user profile of a user to which the optical layer is provided.

7. A system as claim 1 recites, further configured such that the pattern of characters is located on the optical layer such that the optical layer can attach to the touch enabled display device in four different orientations.

8. A user interface comprising:

a touch enabled display; and

concealed information presented via the touch enabled display controlled by a processor,

the concealed information being viewable as information when an optical layer is held over the touch enabled display, at least a portion of the optical layer is configured for use with a first screen resolution of a touch enabled display device and not being configured for use with a second screen resolution of a second display device, the first screen resolution being different than the second screen resolution,

the information including a pattern of characters located at random locations on the touch enabled display for selection via an input to access private information,

the pattern of characters comprising at least one alpha-numeric character that is a larger size or a different font than at least one other alpha-numeric character, wherein the at least one alpha-numeric character and the at least one other alpha-numeric character are selectable to access the private information.

9. A user interface as claim 8 recites, the pattern of characters comprising a keyboard that includes keys presented at the random locations on the touch enabled display.

10. A user interface as claim 8 recites, the pattern of characters comprising a numeric keypad that includes alpha-numeric characters presented at the random locations on the touch enabled display.

11. A user interface as claim 8 recites, the optical layer comprising a foil configured to be laid on the touch enabled display, wherein the input includes touching different locations on the foil to generate at least one of a personal identification number or a password.

12. A user interface as claim 11 recites, wherein the different locations on the foil correspond to characters from the pattern of characters that define the at least one of the personal identification number or the password.

13. A method comprising:

receiving a user profile;

configuring an optical security device based at least on the received user profile to reveal information presented on a touch enabled display device when the optical security device is interposed between an eye of a user and the touch enabled display device, the information including a pattern of characters located at random locations on the touch enabled display device for selection via an input, the information being unobtainable absent the optical security device, at least a portion of the optical security device being configured for use with a first screen resolution of the touch enabled display device and not being configured for use with a second screen resolution of a second display device, the first screen resolution being different than the second screen resolution; and

sending the optical security device toward the user.

14. A method as claim 13 recites, the optical security device comprising a foil configured to be laid on a display portion of the touch enabled display device, wherein the input includes touching different locations on the foil to generate at least one of a personal identification number or a password.

15. A method as claim 14 recites, wherein the different locations on the foil correspond to characters from the pattern of characters that define the at least one of the personal identification number or the password.

16. A method as claim 13 recites, the configuring comprising printing the pattern of characters on the optical security device.

17. A method as claim 13 recites further comprising pairing the optical security device to the user such that the optical security device is configured particularly for use by the user corresponding to the user profile to access private information particular to the user and not by a second user.

18. A method as claim 13 recites further comprising generating the optical security device using a computer that is programmed to generate the optical security device.

19. A method as claim 13 recites further comprising printing the optical security device using a printer arranged to print the pattern of characters on the optical security device.

20. A method as claim 13 recites, wherein the first screen resolution is defined by the user profile.