GRAPHICAL AUTHENTICATION

• US 20100322485A1
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,064,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/115
• 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 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;

when the first element and the second element are pre-selected elements for a user, authenticating the user.

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

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

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 characteristics of any of the base image, the secondary image, and the display.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first element is detected as aligned with the second element when a location of the first element is located within a predetermined distance of the second element.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary image is moveable with respect to the base image.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least part of the base image is visible through the secondary image.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a third image over at least one of the base image and the secondary image, and authenticating the user when three or more elements of the base image, secondary image, and third image are detected as aligned.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary image is comprised of an array of elements.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the array is repeated or looped in one or more directions.

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

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

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

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

17. The method of claim 1, wherein a combination of information associated with the pre-selected elements is at least part of an authentication key.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an authentication key comprising information from the secondary image and the base image.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the information from the base image is stored in a location physically remote from the information from the secondary image.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising aligning at least one pre-selected element of the secondary image to two or more elements of the base image.

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

22. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of the computing device to perform the method of claim 1.

23. A computing device comprising at least one processor arranged and constructed to perform the method of claim 1.

24. A method comprising:

displaying a base image and a second and third image overlying the base image on a display;

detecting an alignment of at least three elements of the base image, the secondary image, and the third image;

when the at least three elements are pre-selected elements for a user, authenticating the user.

25. A computing device with a graphical authentication interface in which the computing device displays a base image and authenticates a user when a pre selected element in a secondary image overlying the base image is detected as aligned with a pre-selected element in the base image.