Entry of a password through a touch-sensitive computer screen

• US 20020196274A1
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Comfort, Dawn Ashley, Schule, Robert John
• Granted Patent: US 7,308,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/741
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A keyboard graphic is displayed on a touch-sensitive display screen of a computing system when it is determined that a password should be entered, so that the password can be entered by touching individual spaces within the keyboard graphic. The keyboard graphic may be thus displayed several times during the operation of the system, including following a predetermined period in which no user input is made to the computing system, under control of a subroutine operating as a screen saver subroutine.

Claims

1. In a computer system having a user interface including a touch-sensitive display screen, a method providing for entry of a password, said method comprising:

a) determining that said password is required;

b) in response to step a), displaying a keyboard graphic on said touch-sensitive display screen, wherein said keyboard graphic includes a first plurality of spaces, wherein each space in said first plurality of spaces is defined by surrounding lines within said keyboard graphic, and wherein each space in said first plurality of spaces includes a symbol representing an alphanumeric character within said keyboard graphic; and

c) in response to step a), converting output signals from said touch-sensitive display screen caused by touching said touch-sensitive display screen within a space in said first plurality of spaces to produce a code representing said alphanumeric character represented by said symbol included within said space.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein

said keyboard graphic additionally includes a second plurality of spaces,

each space in said second plurality of spaces is defined by surrounding lines within said keyboard graphic,

each space in said second plurality of spaces includes a graphical representation of a function performed within said computer system, and

said method additionally comprises, in response to step a) converting output signals from said touch-sensitive display screen caused by touching said touch-sensitive display screen within a space in said second plurality of spaces to produce a code representing said function represented by said graphical representation included within said space.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step a) comprises:

reaching a predetermined point within execution of a subroutine in said computer system; and

determining that use of said password at said predetermined point has been selected.

4. The method of claim 3, additionally comprising, in response to step a), displaying a indication of a need to enter said password on said touch-sensitive display screen.

5. The method of claim 3, additionally comprising:

d) following step c), sequentially receiving codes representing alphanumeric characters;

e) determining that said alphanumeric characters represented by said codes sequentially received in step d) form a predetermined password; and

f) in response to step e), removing said keyboard graphic from said touch-sensitive display screen.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein

said method additionally comprises, following step d), receiving a code representing a data entry function, and

step e) is performed in response to receiving said code representing said data entry function.

7. The method of claim 5, additionally comprising:

in response to step a, displaying an indication of a need to enter said password on said touch-sensitive display screen; and

in response to step e), removing said indication from said touch-sensitive display screen.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step a) comprises:

resetting and starting a timer in response to an input to said computer system; and

determining that a predetermined time has elapsed since starting said timer.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein step a) additionally comprises determining that a selection has been made to require entry of said password after said predetermined time has elapsed.

10. The method of claim 8, additionally comprising:

following step c), receiving an input signal representing a user input; and

in response to receiving said input signal, displaying an indication of a need to enter said password.

11. In a computer system having a user interface including a touch-sensitive display screen, a method providing for entry of said password, said method comprising:

a) receiving a user input to said computer system

b) resetting and starting a timer in response to step a);

c) determining that a predetermined time has elapsed since starting said timer;

d) determining whether a keyboard graphic is visible on said touch-sensitive display screen;

e) in response to step c), and further in response to a determination in step d) that said keyboard graphic is not visible on said touch-sensitive display screen, displaying a keyboard graphic on said touch-sensitive display screen, wherein said keyboard graphic includes a first plurality of spaces, wherein each space in said plurality of spaces is defined by surrounding lines within said keyboard graphic, and wherein each space in said first plurality of spaces includes a symbol representing an alphanumeric character within said keyboard graphic;

f) converting output signals from said touch-sensitive display screen within a space in said plurality of spaces to produce a code representing said alphanumeric character represented by said symbol included within said space;

g) following step f), sequentially receiving codes representing alphanumeric characters;

h) determining that said alphanumeric characters represented by said codes sequentially received in step e) form a predetermined password; and

i) in response to step h), and further in response to a determination in step c) that said keyboard graphic was not visible on said touch-sensitive display screen, removing said keyboard graphic from said touch-sensitive display screen.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein

said keyboard graphic additionally includes a second plurality of spaces,

each space in said second plurality of spaces is defined by surrounding lines within said keyboard graphic,

each space in said second plurality of spaces includes a graphical representation of a function performed within said computer system,

said method additionally comprises, following step b) converting output signals from said touch-sensitive display screen within a space in said second plurality of spaces to produce a code representing said function represented by said graphical representation included within said space, and, between steps f) and g), receiving a code representing a data entry function.

13. The method of claim 11, additionally comprising:

following step c), receiving an electrical signal resulting from a user input;

in response to receiving said electrical signal resulting from said user input, displaying an indication on said touch-sensitive display screen indicating a need to supply a password; and

in response to step h) removing said indication from said touch-sensitive display screen.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein

said method additionally comprises determining that a selection has been made to require entry of a password after said predetermined time has expired;

and

step e) occurs additionally in response to determining that said selection has been made.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein

said keyboard graphic additionally includes a second plurality of spaces,

each space in said second plurality of spaces is defined by surrounding lines within said keyboard graphic,

each space in said second plurality of spaces includes a graphical representation of a function performed within said computer system, and

said method additionally comprises, in response to step a) converting output signals from said touch-sensitive display screen caused by touching said touch-sensitive display screen within a space in said second plurality of spaces to produce a code representing said function represented by said graphical representation included within said space.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein step b) includes determining whether a handle is present to a subroutine causing display of said keyboard graphic on said touch-sensitive screen.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein

said keyboard graphic additionally includes a second plurality of spaces,

each space in said second plurality of spaces is defined by surrounding lines within said keyboard graphic,

each space in said second plurality of spaces includes a graphical representation of a function performed within said computer system, and

following user selection of said touchscreen password subroutine, and in response said first message), said touchscreen password subroutine causes output signals from said touch-sensitive display screen caused by touching said touch-sensitive display screen within a space in said second plurality of spaces to be converted to produce a code representing said function represented by said graphical representation included within said space.

15. In a computer system having a user interface including a touch-sensitive display and a processor executing instructions of an operating system to generate first and second messages, a method providing for entry of a password, wherein said method comprises:

a) receiving said first message;

b) in response to step a), determining whether a keyboard graphic is displayed on said touch-sensitive display screen, wherein said keyboard graphic includes a first plurality of spaces, wherein each space in said first plurality of spaces is defined by surrounding lines within said keyboard graphic, and wherein each space in said first plurality of spaces includes a symbol representing an alphanumeric character within said keyboard graphic;

c) in response to a determination in step b) that said keyboard graphic is displayed on said touch-sensitive display screen, determining whether a first flag is set;

d) in response to a determination in step c) that said first flag is not set, setting a second flag;

e) in response to a determination in step a) that said keyboard graphic is not displayed on said touch-sensitive display screen, displaying said keyboard graphic on said display screen;

f) in response to step d) setting said first flag;

g) receiving said second message;

h) in response to step b), determining whether said first flag is set; and

i) in response to a determination in step f) that said second flag is not set, removing a display of said keyboard graphic from said touch-sensitive display screen.

18. In a computer system having a user interface including a touch-sensitive display screen and a processor executing instructions of an operating system providing for user selection of a screen saver subroutine stored in a first folder in storage within said computer system and generating a first message causing an image to be displayed on said touch-sensitive display screen following a predetermined time period without an operator input to said computer system through execution of said screen saver subroutine, a method providing for entry of a password within said computer system, wherein

said method comprises loading a touchscreen password subroutine into said first folder,

following user selection of said touchscreen password subroutine, said touchscreen password subroutine causes a keyboard graphic to be displayed on said touch-sensitive display screen in response to said first message,

said keyboard graphic includes a first plurality of spaces, wherein each space in said first plurality of spaces is defined by surrounding lines within said keyboard graphic, and wherein each space in said first plurality of spaces includes a symbol representing an alphanumeric character within said keyboard graphic, and

following user selection of said touchscreen password subroutine, and in response said first message, said touchscreen password subroutine causes output signals from said touch-sensitive display screen caused by touching said touch-sensitive display screen within a space in said first plurality of spaces to be converted to produce a code representing said alphanumeric character represented by said symbol included within said space.

20. A computer readable medium, having an application program with instructions executable within a computer system with a user interface including a touch-sensitive display screen and a processor executing instructions of an operating system providing for user selection of a screen saver subroutine stored in a first folder in storage in said computer system and generating a first message causing an image to be displayed on said touch-sensitive display screen following a predetermined time period without an operator input to said computer system through execution of said screen saver subroutine, wherein

said application program causes a touchscreen password subroutine to be loaded into said first folder,

following user selection of said touchscreen password subroutine, said touchscreen password subroutine causes a keyboard graphic to be displayed on a touch-sensitive display screen in response to said first message,

said keyboard graphic includes a first plurality of spaces, wherein each space in said first plurality of spaces is defined by surrounding lines within said keyboard graphic, and wherein each space in said first plurality of spaces includes a symbol representing an alphanumeric character within said keyboard graphic, and

following user selection of said touchscreen password subroutine, and in response said first message, said touchscreen password subroutine causes output signals from said touch-sensitive display screen caused by touching said touch-sensitive display screen within a space in said first plurality of spaces to be converted to produce a code representing said alphanumeric character represented by said symbol included within said space.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein

said keyboard graphic additionally includes a second plurality of spaces,

each space in said second plurality of spaces is defined by surrounding lines within said keyboard graphic,

each space in said second plurality of spaces includes a graphical representation of a function performed within said computer system, and

following user selection of said touchscreen password subroutine, and in response said first message), said touchscreen password subroutine causes output signals from said touch-sensitive display screen caused by touching said touch-sensitive display screen within a space in said second plurality of spaces to be converted to produce a code representing said function represented by said graphical representation included within said space.

22. A method comprising transmission of electrical signals causing an application program to be downloaded to a computer system, wherein

said application program includes instructions executable within a computer system with a user interface including a touch-sensitive display screen and a processor executing instructions of an operating system providing for user selection of a screen saver subroutine stored in a first folder in storage in said computer system and generating a first message causing an image to be displayed on said touch-sensitive display screen following a predetermined time period without an operator input to said computer system through execution of said screen saver subroutine,

said application program causes a touchscreen password subroutine to be loaded into said first folder,

following user selection of said touchscreen password subroutine, said touchscreen password subroutine causes a keyboard graphic to be displayed on a touch-sensitive display screen in response to said first message,

said keyboard graphic includes a first plurality of spaces, wherein each space in said first plurality of spaces is defined by surrounding lines within said keyboard graphic, and wherein each space in said first plurality of spaces includes a symbol representing an alphanumeric character within said keyboard graphic, and

following user selection of said touchscreen password subroutine, and in response said first message, said touchscreen password subroutine causes output signals from said touch-sensitive display screen caused by touching said touch-sensitive display screen within a space in said first plurality of spaces to be converted to produce a code representing said alphanumeric character represented by said symbol included within said space.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein

said keyboard graphic additionally includes a second plurality of spaces,

each space in said second plurality of spaces is defined by surrounding lines within said keyboard graphic,

each space in said second plurality of spaces includes a graphical representation of a function performed within said computer system, and

following user selection of said touchscreen password subroutine, and in response said first message), said touchscreen password subroutine causes output signals from said touch-sensitive display screen caused by touching said touch-sensitive display screen within a space in said second plurality of spaces to be converted to produce a code representing said function represented by said graphical representation included within said space.

25. The computer system of claim 24, wherein

said keyboard graphic additionally includes a second plurality of spaces,

each space in said second plurality of spaces is defined by surrounding lines within said keyboard graphic,

each space in said second plurality of spaces includes a graphical representation of a function performed within said computer system, and

said conversion of said output signals additionally causes signals generated in response to touching said touch-sensitive display screen within a space in said second plurality of spaces to produce a code representing said function represented by said graphical representation included within said space.

26. The computer system of claim 24, wherein said operating system, executing within said processor, additionally sequentially receives codes representing alphanumeric characters, determines that said alphanumeric characters form a predetermined password, and causes said soft keyboard subroutine to remove said keyboard graphic from said touch-sensitive display screen and to end said conversion of said output signals.

27. The computer system of claim 24, wherein

said storage means additionally stores a touchscreen password subroutine accessible as a screen saver subroutine,

said operating system, executing within said processor, causes a graphical user interface to be displayed allowing a user to choose a screen saver subroutine, generates a first message when a predetermined time has elapsed since a user input to said computer system,

said first message causes said screen saver subroutine chosen by said user to execute within said processor, and

said touchscreen password subroutine, executing in said processor after said user chooses said touchscreen password subroutine as said screen saver subroutine, in response to said first message, causes said soft keyboard subroutine to display said keyboard graphic on said touch-sensitive display screen and to cause said conversion of said output signals.

28. The computer system of claim 27, wherein

said operating system, executing within said processor, additionally sequentially receives codes representing alphanumeric characters, determines that said alphanumeric characters form a predetermined password and generates a second message,

said touchscreen password subroutine, executing in said processor after said user chooses said touchscreen password subroutine as said screen saver subroutine, in response to said first message, additionally sets a flag in response to a determination that said soft keyboard subroutine is causing said keyboard graphic to be displayed on said touch-sensitive display screen before said first message, and additionally causes said soft keyboard subroutine to remove said keyboard graphic from said touch-sensitive display screen in response to said second message if said flag is not set.

24. A computer system comprising:

a touch-sensitive display screen having a display surface and generating output signals in response to said display surface being touched, wherein said output signal indicates a position in which said display surface is touched;

storage means storing an operating system and a soft keyboard subroutine; and

a processor,

wherein said operating system, executing within said processor, determines that a password is required and causes said soft keyboard subroutine to display a keyboard graphic on said touch-sensitive display screen and to cause a conversion of said output signals,

wherein said keyboard graphic includes a first plurality of spaces,

wherein each space in said first plurality of spaces is defined by surrounding lines within said keyboard graphic,

wherein each space in said first plurality of spaces includes a symbol representing an alphanumeric character within said keyboard graphic, and

wherein said conversion of said output signals causes signals generated in response to touching said touch-sensitive display screen within a space in said first plurality of spaces produces a code representing said alphanumeric character represented by said symbol included within said space.