System, method, and computer program product for secure input for mobile devices

• US 7,836,513 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Garbow, Zachary A., Paterson, Kevin G., Cradick, Ryan K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Parthasarathy; Pramila
• Application Number:
  US11/359,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20070198843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 713/182, 379/93.08, 379/373.02, 708/135, 726/1, 726/36, 380/232, 380/247, 380/250, 705/67, 709/225, 709/226, 455/567, 455/564, 455/410, 455/411, 455/414.4, 455/466, 345/121, 345/126
• US Class Current: 726/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments include a system for secure input for a mobile device including: a input device for receiving an input from a user; a sensor for determining the status of the mobile device; and a processor in operable communication with the input device and the sensor, wherein the processor alters the input received from the user responsive to the status of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A system for secure input for a mobile device comprising:

a input device for receiving an input from a user, the input device having a keypad having a plurality of alphabetic keys;

a sensor for determining an status of the mobile device, wherein the sensor is a tilt sensor; and

a processor in operable communication with the input device and the sensor, wherein the processor provides a secure input to the mobile device by altering the input received from the user responsive to the status of the mobile device sensed by the tilt sensor;

wherein the processor translates an entered keystroke to a translated keystroke in response to a degree of tilt of the mobile device, wherein a tilt of less than a first degree value results in no translation of the entered keystroke, a tilt equal to the first degree value and less than a second degree value results in translating the entered keystroke by one key along the keypad in the direction of tilt and a tilt equal to or greater than the second degree value results in translating the entered keystroke by two keys along the keypad in the direction of tilt.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input from the user is text.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the status of the mobile device includes a spatial orientation of the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the input device is a QWERTY keyboard.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a display in operable communication with the processor, wherein the display displays an altered input received from the processor.

6. A method for providing secure input for a mobile device comprising:

receiving an input signal from a user throw having n a plurality of alphabetic keys;

receiving a status signal from a sensor, wherein the sensor is a tilt sensor;

securing input to the mobile device by altering the input signal responsive to the status signal sensed by the tilt sensor; and

wherein the altering translates an entered keystroke to a translated keystroke in response to a degree of tilt of the mobile device, wherein a tilt of less than a first degree value results in no translation of the entered keystroke, a tilt equal to the first degree value and less than a second degree value results in translating the entered keystroke by one key along the keypad in the direction of tilt and a tilt equal to or greater than the second degree value results in translating the entered keystroke by two along the keypad in the direction of tilt;

transmitting the altered input signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the status signal is indicative of a spatial orientation of the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the input signal is received from an input device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the input device is a QWERTY keyboard.

10. A computer program product for providing secure input for a mobile device, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising;

receiving an input signal from a user through an input device having a keypad having a plurality of alphabetic keys;

receiving a status signal from a sensor, wherein the sensor is a tilt sensor;

securing input to the mobile device by altering the input signal responsive to the status signal sensed by the tilt sensor;

wherein the altering translates an entered keystroke to a translated keystroke in response to a degree of tilt of the mobile device, wherein a tilt of less than a first degree value results in no translation of the entered keystroke, a tilt equal to the first degree value and less than a second degree value results in translating the entered keystroke by one key along the keypad in the direction of tilt and a tilt equal to or greater than the second degree value results in translating the entered keystroke by two characters keys along the keypad in the direction of tilt;

transmitting the altered input signal; and

wherein the sensor is a tilt sensor, the status signal is indicative of a spatial orientation of the mobile device, and the input signal is received from a QWERTY keyboard.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the spatial orientation of the mobile device is indicative of a desired directional translation of the input signal from the QWERTY keyboard.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the tilt sensor provides for the indication of multiple translations of a single keystroke received from the QWERTY keyboard.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the spatial orientation of the mobile device indicates the input signal received from the QWERTY keyboard is a dummy character.