Method and system of providing a picture password for relatively smaller displays

• US 9,300,659 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2015
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Antique Books, Inc
• Original Assignee: Antique Books, Inc
• Inventors: Thibadeau, Robert H. Sr., Donnell, Justin D., Thibadeau, Robert Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORTHY, ARAVIND K
• Application Number:
  US14/693,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20150304303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 726/7, 726/5, 713/168, 713/182
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2133 Verifying human interaction, e.g., Captcha
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to a device operable to process input for a picture password for proof of knowledge. In some embodiments, the device includes a display, an input subsystem, processor(s), and memory containing instructions executable by the processor(s) such that the device is operative to display, on the display of the device, an image for the picture password proof of knowledge. The image is associated with an overlaid grid comprising a plurality of elements, and each element corresponds to a distinct area of the image. The device is further operative to, in response to receiving an input via the input subsystem at a first location of the display, highlight an element of the overlaid grid at a second location on the first image on the display. The second location is offset from the first location by a predetermined offset.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a small display;

an input subsystem;

one or more processors; and

memory containing instructions executable by the one or more processors whereby the device is operable to;

display, on the small display of the device, a first image, wherein the first image is associated with an overlaid grid comprising a plurality of elements and each element corresponds to a distinct area of the image; and

in response to receiving an input via the input subsystem at a first location on the first image on the small display, highlight an element of the overlaid grid at a second location on the first image on the small display, wherein the second location is offset from the first location by a predetermined offset.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first location is located within the first image.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is further operable to:

display a white space area along an outer edge of the displayed image, wherein the first location is located within the white space area.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the input subsystem comprises a touch-sensitive display.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined offset is zero.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined offset is non-zero.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined offset is set based on at least one of a size of the small display and a policy setting.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined offset is set based on whether or not the device is a handheld mobile device and the input subsystem comprises a touch-sensitive display.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is further operable to display, on the small display of the device, the overlaid grid comprising the plurality of elements.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is further operable to not display, on the small display of the device, the overlaid grid comprising the plurality of elements.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a clock subsystem, and the input activates or deactivates a predetermined timer controlled by the clock subsystem.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the input is selected from a group consisting of a touch input, a mouse input, and a hover input.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the input is selected from a group consisting of a down input, a move input, and an up input.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the device further comprises a clock subsystem, and the device is further operable to determine a state of a predetermined timer controlled by the clock subsystem.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein, if the input is a down input, the device is further operable to:

if the predetermined timer is active;

designate the element of the overlaid grid at the second location as a prospective end-point for an input action; and

if the predetermined timer is inactive;

designate the element of the overlaid grid at the second location as a prospective start-point for the input action.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the device is further operable to:

if the element of the overlaid grid at the second location is designated as the prospective end-point, display a line between a start-point of the input action and the prospective end-point for the input action.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the device is further operable to:

determine a designation of the element of the overlaid grid at the second location on the first image, wherein the designation is selected from a group consisting of a prospective start-point for an input action and a prospective end-point for the input action.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein, if the input is a move input, the device is further operable to:

if the designation of the element of the overlaid grid at the second location on the first image is the prospective start-point for the input action;

move the prospective start-point in accordance with the move input; and

if the designation of the element of the overlaid grid at the second location on the first image is the prospective end-point for the input action;

move the prospective end-point in accordance with the move input.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the device is further operable to:

if the designation of the element of the overlaid grid at the second location on the first image is the prospective end-point for the input action, move, on the small display, a line between a start-point for the input action and the prospective end-point in accordance with the move input.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein, if the input is an up input, the device is further operable to:

if the designation of the element of the overlaid grid at the second location on the first image is a prospective start-point for the input action;

set the element of the overlaid grid at the second location as a start-point for the input action, and activate the predetermined timer; and

if the designation of the element of the overlaid grid at the second location on the first image is a prospective end-point for the input action;

set the element of the overlaid grid at the second location as an end-point for the input action.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the device is further operable to:

if the element of the overlaid grid at the second location on the first image is set as the prospective end-point for the input action, display, on the small display, a line between a start-point and the end-point for the input action.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the overlaid grid comprising the plurality of elements supports a plurality of different sizes for the overlaid grid.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the device is further operable to:

receive an input from the input subsystem that designates a size of the overlaid grid comprising the plurality of elements from the plurality of different sizes.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the device further comprises a communications interface, and the device is operable to:

receive an input via the communications interface that designates a size of the overlaid grid comprising the plurality of elements from the plurality of different sizes.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the first image comprises a plurality of input layers, and the device is further operable to:

if the input is a first type of input;

detect the input on a first layer of the plurality of input layers; and

if the input is a second type of input;

detect the input on a second layer of the plurality of input layers.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the input subsystem is a first input subsystem, the first type of input is a touch input determined via the first input subsystem and the second type of input is a hover input determined via a second input subsystem.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein prior to the display of the first image, the device is further operative to:

display, on the small display of the device, one or more second images associated with a predetermined textual hint and a predetermined input action;

display, on the small display of the device, the predetermined textual hint;

detect an input action with respect to the one or more second images; and

provide access to the first image based on a verification that the input action with respect to the one or more second images corresponds to the predetermined input action.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein prior to the display of the first image, the device is further operable to:

display, on the small display of the device, one or more second images comprising a plurality of objects, wherein each of the plurality of objects is associated with class designation information indicative of one or more of at least two separate and perceptibly distinct classes;

highlight an object from the plurality of objects associated with class designation information;

receive an input with respect to the object from the plurality of objects; and

provide access to the first image based on a verification of the input with respect to the object by using the class designation information of the object from the plurality of objects.

29. The device of claim 1, wherein prior to the display of the first image, the device is further operable to:

display, on the small display of the device, one or more second images comprising a plurality of objects;

display, on the small display of the device , a predetermined textual analogy;

highlight an object from the plurality of objects;

receive an input with respect to the object from the plurality of objects; and

provide access to the first image based on a verification that the input with respect to the object satisfies the predetermined textual analogy.

30. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a communications interface, and prior to the display of the first image, the device is further operative to:

display, on the small display of the device, one or more prospective images provided from a web server over a network via the communications interface of the device;

receive an input indicative of a selection of one of the one or more prospective images; and

designate the one of the one or more prospective images as the first image.

31. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a handheld mobile device and a wearable device.