Abstract:
A method and system for verification of a pattern based passcode. User input of a series of key inputs to a keyboard is received from a user. A registered pattern for the user of a sequence of keyboard direction movements is retrieved, wherein the pattern based passcode is the registered pattern. A first character in a first key input of the series of key inputs is identified, wherein the first key input is the first key, of the series of key inputs, that was inputted by the user. It is determined is made that that the identified first character is not in an excluded group of characters and in response, it is verified that a pattern of directional movements from the first character to the remaining characters after the first character in the series of key inputs matches the registered pattern for the user.

Description:
This application is a Continuation application claiming priority to Ser. No. 14/732,957, filed Jun. 8, 2015. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to passcodes, and more specifically, to verification of a pattern based passcode. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Passcodes are a series of characters that are entered by a user to provide a form of authentication of a user Passcodes may be used in a wide range of situations to protect websites, applications, remote services, financial services, etc. Passcodes are often referred to as passwords, however the term passcode is used herein to make it clear that the passcode may be formed of or include numbers and other characters as well as letters. The term passcode therefore includes personal identification numbers (PINs). 
     A passcode is a knowledge factor of authentication as it is something the user knows. Two-factor authentication is often used which requires something a user has and something a user knows. For example, a user may have a bankcard and may know a PIN. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for verification of a pattern, which includes the following steps. One or more processors of a computer system receive a user input of a series of key inputs. The one or more processors retrieve a registered pattern for the user of a sequence of keyboard direction movements. The one or more processors identify a first character input in the series of key inputs. The one or more processors determine that the identified first character is not in an excluded group of characters, where the excluded group of characters are previously used first characters in a defined period or number of instances for the user. In response to having determined that the first character is not in the excluded group of characters, the one or more processors compare the series of key inputs after the first character input with the registered pattern for the user. 
     The present invention also provides a computer system and computer program product that implements the preceding method for verification of a pattern. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a flow diagram of an example embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of an example embodiment of an aspect of a method in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are schematic diagrams showing two embodiments of keyboards as used in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIGS. 4A to 4C  are schematic diagrams showing three embodiments of boundary actions in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are schematic diagrams showing two embodiments of a series of inputs in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is block diagram of an example embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an embodiment of a computer system in which the present invention may be implemented. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Passcodes are vulnerable to interception and fraudulent use. Passcodes may be hacked if they are seen by another party when being entered, or if they are written on a piece of paper. Hacking of passcodes also occurs by trying multiple passcodes using predefined series of common words. 
     One-time passwords (OTP) have been development to provide a higher level of security and to overcome the risk of a passcode being compromised. An OTP is a password that is valid for only one login session or transaction. For example, the OTP may be generated by a small device with an OTP calculator in it or this may be sent to a user out of band. A potential fraudster who intercepts an OTP cannot use it in a subsequent session or transaction. 
     However, is not always convenient for a user to carry an OTP device or to receive an OTP out of band when doing a transaction. 
     Therefore, there is a to address the aforementioned problems of the prior art. 
     A passcode may take the form of a password that is made up of letters, a number which is made up of digits, or a combination of the two. The term passcode is used broadly to define any set of characters that may be input into a device using a keyboard or number pad input interface. 
     A user may conventionally receive or know passcode characters that are then entered into a user interface such as a keyboard, number pad, etc. 
     In embodiments of the described method and system, a passcode is entered into a user interface by a user by communication of a pattern of input. The pattern of input may be communicated as a sequence of relative movements subsequent to the first character. 
     A pattern of input may be interpreted and extracted by the direction and distance of movement between key inputs. A direction may be from one key towards an adjacent key and the direction between the keys may be given a notation for recording the pattern. A distance may be a distance moved in the direction which may be measured by movement in a single direction by one or more keys. An additional notation may be provided to indicate the distance in combination with the direction. For example, a notation may take the form 2NW indicating a movement of two keys in the direction of north west from the current key as described further below. 
     A user may enter the passcode into a user interface and the input may be forwarded to a server which holds or has access to registration information for the user. The user interface may be provided at a merchant premises such as a point of sale machine, at an automated teller machine, at a user&#39;s personal computer, tablet or mobile device, or any other form of user interface at which a passcode verification may be made. 
     The user may be registered with a service and a server may hold or have access to the registration information. The server may interpret the sequence of inputs made by the user and may extract a pattern from the inputs which is compared to a registered pattern for the user. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a flow diagram  100  shows an example embodiment of the described method as carried out at a server as a backend passcode verification system. A user may be identified (step  101 ) at a server, for example, by inputting a user name or providing a payment card, etc. Registered information for the identified user is retrieved, for example, from a database at or accessible by the server. The registered information may include a registered pattern for the user of a sequence of keyboard direction movements. 
     A series of key inputs is received (step  102 ) at the server as input by the user into a user interface. A first character input in the series of key inputs is identified (step  103 ). The first character may be compared (step  104 ) to an excluded group of characters and if the first character is in the excluded group the authentication may be declined. The excluded group of characters may be the previously used first characters of a last number of authentications of the user. 
     The backend passcode verification system may confirm that the first character not in a rotating blacklist. Check first character is not in the n (default, n=10) last first characters entered. The backend system may maintain a list of n previously used characters, where n may be a defined number of characters, for example, typically n would be between 3 and 10 characters. 
     The method at the server may then compare (step  105 ) the series of key inputs after the first character input with the registered pattern for the user. 
     The registered pattern may be a sequence of keyboard direction movements. The keyboard direction movements may be a movement from a first key input to a next key input. The movement may be in a direction between the keys and may have a distance of one or more keys. 
     In one embodiment, the movements may be from the first character input to each of the series of input keys. In another embodiment, the movements may be between each of the keys in the series of input keys. Further details of these embodiments are given below. 
     In one embodiment, the server applies the registered pattern starting from the identified first character to obtain an expected series of key inputs and compares the expected series of key inputs to the received series of key inputs. The backend passcode verification system may confirm that an entered pattern is correct. 
     In another embodiment, the server may generate a pattern defining an extracted sequence of keyboard direction movements as extracted from the series of inputs. The pattern may be generated using a notation for the pattern, for example, based on the direction and distance of each movement. The pattern may be compared to the registered pattern for the user which may use the same notation. The backend passcode verification system may confirm that an entered pattern is correct. 
     The backend passcode verification system ay also check for illegal moves. In the case of a hexagonal keyboard arrangement, only six directions are allowed and a no move. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a flow diagram  200  shows an example embodiment of a method of registration of a user with a service provided at a server. A user is registered (step  201 ) for a pattern passcode and the registration may be linked to a user name of the user or payment card which will be provided in combination with the passcode. 
     A first character input policy may be defined (step  202 ) in the form of a number of first characters that are stored by the server and blacklisted. 
     A boundary action may also be defined (step  203 ) to indicate to the user how to handle keyboard inputs where the pattern goes beyond the keyboard boundary. There may be various possible boundary actions some examples of which are described further below. 
     A pattern sequence may then be provided (step  204 ) to the user. The pattern sequence may be provided in various different ways but must be provided securely to the user. The pattern sequence may be provided using an agreed notation. 
     The server may register (step  205 ) the first character input policy, the boundary action to be used, and the pattern sequence in a database for the user such that the boundary action may be retrieved when a user provides the passcode pattern for authentication of a transaction or session. 
     The keys on a conventional “QWERTY”, “AZERTY”, or other language keyboards are arranged generally hexagonally. From a key that is surrounded by other keys, there are six directions of movement which are possible. Where keys are on the edge or corner of the keyboard, there are less options for direction of movement. 
     Other non-hexagonal keyboard layouts may use a grid or square arrangement of keys in which case there will be eight directions of movement from a starting key (N, S, E, W, NE, NW, SE, SW). The described method and system is equally applicable to different keyboard layouts. 
     A number keypad for entry of numerical digits is usually laid out as a grid of the number keys in which case there are eight directions of movement from the central key but any keys on the corners or edges of the keypad will have more limited directions of movement. 
     Equivalent methods may be used with keyboards for languages with other characters. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3A , an example embodiment is shown using a QWERTY keyboard  300  in which the keys are arranged generally hexagonally. 
     A selected key  310  may have six possible directions of movement from it which may be defined as follows: 
     North West (NE)  311 ; 
     North East (NW)  312 ; 
     West (W)  313 ; 
     East (E)  314 ; 
     South East (SE)  315 ; and 
     South West (SW)  316 . 
     One movement may be defined as a direction and the length or distance to be moved in that direction. For example, 2NE is a notation used to mean go two steps or keys in the NE direction. A length 0 may be used to mean that no movements made in that step. 
     A passcode pattern may therefore be a sequence of movements. For example, 2NE1SW3E4NW is the sequence of 2NE, 1SW, 3E, 4NW. The pattern itself is the passcode and not the entered keyboard characters. Many other forms of notation may be used to define the pattern. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3B , a numerical keypad  330  is shown which has a grid arrangement. 
     A selected key  320  may have eight possible directions of movement from it which may be defined as follows: 
     North (N)  321 ; 
     North West (NW)  322 ; 
     North East (NE)  323 ; 
     West (W)  324 ; 
     East (F)  325 ; 
     South (S)  326 ; 
     South East (SE)  327 ; 
     South West (SW)  328 . 
     With a keypad  330  which has limited keys, the movements may be limited to a single movement in each direction. 
     A given movement may go beyond the boundary of a keyboard. There are various methods of handling this including but not limited to: wrapping to the other side of a keyboard, bouncing to return in the opposite direction, or constraining the movement. The backend verification system and the user must use the same boundary action. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4A to 4C , three example embodiment of boundary actions are shown which may be specified for use by the user when entering a passcode pattern. 
       FIG. 4A , shows a diagram of a keyboard  410  illustrating a boundary action in the form of a wrapping action. A keyboard  410  is shown with imagined repeats  411 ,  412  to the right and below the keyboard  410 . Additionally, such repeats may be imagined above and to the left of the keyboard  410 . 
     In a wrapping action, if a movement  421 ,  431  goes outside the boundary  413  of the keyboard  410  it is wrapped to re-enter  422 ,  432  the keyboard  410  on the opposing side. It re-enters the keyboard  410  to point to the same key it would have pointed to in the imagined adjacent keyboard repeats  411 ,  412 . 
     For example, arrow  421  shows a movement in the 2E direction—two keys to the right. This takes the movement from the last key on the right side boundary of the keyboard  410  to the “S” key in the imagined keyboard  411 . The arrow  421  is handled by wrapping  422  to the left side boundary of the keyboard  410  where it re-enters the keyboard  410  and points to the “S” key in the real keyboard  410 . 
     Another example arrow  431  shows a movement in the 1SE direction one key diagonally down to the right. This takes the movement from the bottom row of keys of the keyboard  410  to the “7” key in the imagined keyboard  412 . The arrow  431  is handled by wrapping  432  to the top boundary of the keyboard  410  where it re-enters the keyboard  410  and points to the “7” key in the real keyboard  410 . 
       FIG. 4B , shows a diagram of a keyboard  440  illustrating a boundary action in the form of a bounce action. 
     In a bounce action, if a movement  441 ,  442 ,  443  goes beyond the boundary of the keyboard  440 , the movement  441 ,  442 ,  443  is bounced and reflected back  451 ,  452 ,  453  into the keyboard. The reflected movement  451 ,  452 ,  453  is the same distance as the movement was meant to go outside the keyboard  440 . 
       FIG. 4C , shows a diagram of a keyboard  460  illustrating a boundary action in the form of a restraint action. 
     In a constraint action, if a movement  461 ,  462 ,  463  goes beyond the boundary of the keyboard  460 , the movement  461 ,  462 ,  463  is constrained to stay  471 ,  472 ,  473  at the boundary key until another pattern sequence is entered. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , two embodiments are illustrated showing a user input of a series of inputs in accordance with a pattern passcode as described. In these two embodiments, they bath use a boundary action of a bounce action. In  FIG. 5A , all movements are made from the first character input key. In  FIG. 5B , the movements are made in a sequence moving on from the last key input. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B , show a keyboard  500  in which a user inputs a first character  510  of the letter “G”. The first character  510  may be input by the user based on a first key policy as defined by the server such that the first character  510  does not fall in an excluded list. 
     A user has a passcode pattern of the form “2NE1SW3E4NW”. 
     In  FIG. 5A  in which each movement is made from the starting key, this results in the following movements: 
     a first movement  521  a distance of two keys to the North East from starting key “G”  510 , landing on key “7”  511 ; 
     a second movement  522  a distance of one key to the South West from starting key “G’  510 , landing on key “V”  512 ; 
     a third movement  523  a distance of three keys to the East from starting key “G”  510 , landing on key “K”  513 ; and 
     a fourth movement  524  a distance of four keys to the North West from starting key “G”  510 , which bounces  525  at the boundary after a movement of two keys and moves two further keys in the bounce direction and lands on key “G”  510 . 
     This results in an entered series of inputs of “G7VKG”. The backend verification server may apply the known passcode pattern “2NE1SW3E4NW” registered for the user to the starting first character of “G” using this restart method returning to the first character for each movement and with a bounce action and will thereby verify that the series of inputs is correct. The server checks the expected characters from the first character input plus the known pattern. 
     In  FIG. 5B  in which the movements are made moving on from the last input key, this results in the following movements: 
     a first movement  541  a distance of two keys to the North East from starting key “G”  510 , landing on key “7”  531 ; 
     a second movement  542  a distance of one key to the South West from last key “7’  531 , landing on key “Y”  532 ; 
     a third movement  543  a distance of three keys to the East from last key “Y”  532 , landing on key “O”  533 ; and 
     a fourth movement  544  a distance of four keys to the North West from last key “O”  533 , which bounces  545  at the boundary after a movement of one key and moves three further keys in the bounce direction and lands on key “&gt;”  534 . 
     This results in an entered series of inputs of “G7YO&gt;”. The backend verification server may apply the known passcode pattern “2NE1SW3E4NW” registered for the user to the starting first character of “G” using this continuous method and with a bounce action and will thereby verify that the series of inputs is correct. 
     The described method has the advantage that someone intercepting the passcode cannot use it for the next n times the user enters the passcode as they will not know the starting character. The OTP modulo is the length of the black list (typically approximately 10); however, a much longer blacklisting may be provided. 
     Another advantage is that no challenge is required and the input is similar to regular passcodes and almost the same checking protocol. 
     The described method is hard to intercept as a hacker needs to know all of the pattern, the blacklist and its length, and the boundary protocol. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a block diagram shows a server  600  of a backend verification system. 
     The server  600  may include a receiving component  601  for receiving a user input in the form of a series of key inputs. 
     The server  600  may include a retrieving component  603  for retrieving a registered pattern for the user of a sequence of keyboard direction movements. 
     The server  600  may include a first character component  602  for identifying a first character input in the series of key inputs and for determining if the identified first character is in an excluded group of characters. The excluded group of characters may be previously used first characters in a defined period or number of instances for the user. 
     A boundary action component  606  may be provided for determining an agreed boundary action for the user and applying the agreed boundary action when comparing the series of key inputs after the first character input with the registered pattern for the user. 
     A verifying component  605  of the server  600  may compare the series of key inputs after the first character input with the registered pattern for the user. 
     The server  600  may include a registering component  607  for registering a user to use a passcode pattern including registering a first character policy, registering a bounding action policy, and registering a passcode pattern in association with the user. The registered information for a user may be stored in a database accessible to the server  600 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , an exemplary system for implementing aspects of the invention includes a data processing system  700  suitable for storing and/or executing program code including at least one processor  701  coupled directly or indirectly to one or more respective memory elements through a bus system  703 . The memory elements may include local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage during execution. 
     The memory elements may include system memory  702  in the form of read only memory (ROM)  704  and random access memory (RAM)  705 . A basic input/output system (BIOS)  706  may be stored in ROM  704 . Software  707  may be stored in RAM  705  including system software  708  such as operating system software  709 . Software applications  710  may also be stored in RAM  705 . 
     The system  700  may also include one or more storage devices (e.g., a primary storage devices  711  such as a magnetic hard disk drive and secondary storage device  712  such as a magnetic disc drive and an optical disc drive). The drives and their associated computer-readable media provide non-volatile storage of computer-executable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the system  700 . Software applications may be stored on the primary and secondary storage means  711 ,  712  as well as the system memory  702 . 
     The computing system  700  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers via a network adapter  716 . 
     Input/output devices  713  may be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers. A user may enter commands and information into the system  700  through input devices such as a keyboard, pointing device, or other input devices (for example, microphone, joy stick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like). Output devices may include speakers, printers, etc. A display device  714  is also connected to system bus  703  via an interface, such as video adapter  715 . 
     The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention. 
     The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire. 
     Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device. 
     Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention. 
     Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions. 
     These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. 
     A computer program product of the present invention comprises one or more computer readable storage devices storing computer readable program code, said program code containing instructions executable by one or more processors of a computer system to implement the methods of the present invention. 
     A computer system of the present invention comprises one or more processors, one or more memories, and one or more computer readable storage devices, said storage devices containing program code executable by the one or more processor via the one or more memories to implement the methods of the present invention. 
     Improvements and modifications can be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others or ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.