Abstract:
A method for granting access to change a security system from a locked state to an unlocked state is provided. The method includes: displaying a security access interface on a display unit, wherein the security access interface comprises a first image input field and a second image input field; selecting one first image and at least one second image; moving the at least one selected second image to the selected first image; recording at least one property in relation to the selected first image and the at least one selected second image; generating an input password according to at least one of the at least one recorded property; determining whether the input password matches a predetermined password; and granting access if the input password matches the predetermined password. A related security system is also provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to security systems, and more particularly to a security system and a method for granting access used by the security system. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A conventional password often includes numerical numbers and/or letters, such as, 0-9, and a-z/A-Z. However, input devices used for inputting password information are substantially similar, and locations of the numbers and the letters arranged in the input device are almost uniform and common. Accordingly, passwords can easily be figured out merely by observing how they are input. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The components of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of a security system and a method for granting access. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a security system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a security access interface generated by the security system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing a plurality of storage names of first images displayed on the security access interface of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing a plurality of storage names of second images displayed on the security access interface of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing one selected first image and a plurality of selected second images displayed on the security access interface of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of showing the selected second images of  FIG. 5  moved to the selected first image of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a method for granting access in accordance with the embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of a security system  1  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is shown. The system  1  generally includes a processor  10 , an input unit  20 , a display unit  30 , and a storage  40 . 
         [0014]    The processor  10  executes/runs various software components in the storage  40  to perform various functions for the security system  1 , and controls the operations of the security system  1 . 
         [0015]    The input unit  20  is configured to generate instructions in response to user inputs. In the embodiment, the input unit  20  includes at least one physical button. In an alternative embodiment, the input unit  20  can be a touch pad. 
         [0016]    The display unit  30  is configured to output graphical data. The visual outputs may include text, graphic, video, and any combination thereof. The display unit  30  can be a touch sensitive display unit. 
         [0017]    The storage  40  stores an operating system  41 , a graphical application  42 , an input application  43 , a recording application  44 , a password application  45 , a comparing application  46 , and a predetermined password  47  used for authenticating an inputted password. 
         [0018]    The operating system  41  (e.g., LINUX®, UNIX®, WINDOWS®, or an embedded operating system  41  such as VxWorks®) includes various procedures, sets of instructions, software components and/or drivers for controlling and managing general system tasks (e.g., memory management, storage control, and power management, etc.) and facilitating communication between various hardware and software components. 
         [0019]    The graphical application  42  includes various software components and/or set of instructions, which may be implemented by the processor  10  for rendering and displaying graphical user interfaces (GUI) on the display unit  30 . It should be noted that the GUI can include any object that can be displayed, including, text, web pages, digital images, videos, animations and the like. 
         [0020]    Referring also to  FIG. 2 , when the system is triggered to prompt for accessing/unlock operations (procedures), the graphical application  42  is implemented by the processor  10  to display a security access interface  301  on the display unit  30 . The interface  301  includes a user name input field  3010 , a first image input field  3012 , and a second image input field  3014 . The user name input field  3010  is configured for a user to input one user name. The first image input field  3012  is configured for the user to select one first image. As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the first image input field  3012  is triggered, a plurality of storage names of first images for example Apple tree, Orange tree, and School, is displayed on the interface  301  for the user to select one of the first images. The second image input field  3014  is configured for the user to select one kind of second image. Each kind of second image includes at least one image. As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the second image input field  3014  is triggered, a plurality of storage names of second images for example Apple, Orange, and Pupil, is displayed on the interface  301  for the user to select one kind of second image. As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the user selects one first image and one kind of second image, the selected first image and the at least one selected second image are displayed on the display unit  30 . In the embodiment, an image of an apple tree and four images of apples are selected. As shown in  FIG. 6 , when the selected first image and the at least one selected second image are displayed, the user can move the least one selected second image to the first image in sequence. In the embodiment, the images of apples are moved to the image of the apple tree in sequence. 
         [0021]    In an alternative embodiment, when the first image input field  3012  or the second image input filed  3014  is triggered, a plurality of thumbnail images of the first images or a plurality of thumbnail images of the second images is displayed on the interface  301  for the user to select one first image or one kind of second image. 
         [0022]    The input application  43  includes various software components and/or set of instructions, which can be invoked/implemented by the processor  10  for receiving instructions from the input unit  20 , and performing various functions for example moving the at least one selected second image to the selected first image according to the received instructions. 
         [0023]    The recording application  44  includes various software components and/or set of instructions, which can be invoked/implemented by the processor  10  for recording at least one property in relation to the selected first image and the at least one selected second image. In the embodiment, the at least one property includes at least one position relationship between the selected first image and the at least one selected second image. That is, the recording application  44  is invoked/implemented to record which position the at least one second image stays on the selected first image. The recording application  44  can also be invoked/implemented to record a sequence of moving the at least one selected second image to the selected first image. The recording application  44  can further be invoked/implemented to record the storage name of the selected first image, the storage path of the selected first image, the storage name of the at least one selected second image, the storage path of the at least one selected second image, the number of the at least one selected second image, and so on. 
         [0024]    The password application  45  includes various software components and/or set of instructions, which can be invoked/implemented by the processor  10  for generating an input password according to at least one of the at least one recorded property. In the embodiment, the password application  45  generates the input password according to the at least one position relationship between the selected first image and the at least one selected second image. In an alternative embodiment, the password application  45  is invoked/implemented to generate the input password according to the sequence of moving the at least one selected second image to the selected first image, or according to a combination of the at least one recorded position relationship and the recorded sequence, or according to a combination of the at least one recorded position relationship, the recorded sequence, the recorded storage name and the recorded storage path of the selected first image, the recorded storage name and the recorded storage path of the at least one selected second image, and the number of the at least one selected second image. In the embodiment, when a confirm instruction is received from the input unit  20 , the password application  45  is invoked/implemented by the processor  10  to generate the input password. 
         [0025]    Furthermore, the input password can be defined as a newly predetermined password to replace the previously predetermined password  47  stored in the storage  40 . 
         [0026]    The comparing application  46  includes various software components and/or set of instructions, which can be invoked/implemented by the processor  10  for comparing the input password with the predetermined password  47 . When the input password matches the predetermined password  47 , the security system  1  is unlocked. Otherwise, the security system  1  remains locked. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a flowchart illustrating a method applied using the security system  1  of  FIG. 1  for granting access is shown. The method includes the following blocks, each of which is tied to various modules contained in the security system  1  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0028]    In step S 701 , in operation, the processor  10  invokes/implements the graphical application  42  to display the security access interface  301  on the display unit  30 . In the embodiment, the interface  301  includes the user name input field  3010 , the first image input filed  3012 , and the second image input field  3014 . 
         [0029]    In step S 702 , the processor  10  invokes/implements the input application  43  to receive user instructions from the input unit  20 , thereby, inputting one user name, selecting one first image and one kind of second image, and moving the at least one selected second image to the selected first image. 
         [0030]    In step S 703 , the processor  10  invokes/implements the recording application  44  to record at least one property in relation to the selected first image and the at least one selected second image. In the embodiment, the at least one property includes at least one position relationship between the selected first image and the at least one selected second images. The at least one property can also include a sequence of moving the at least one selected second image to the selected first image. The at least one property can further include the storage name of the selected first image, the storage path of the selected first image, the storage name of the at least one selected second image, the storage path of the at least one selected second image, and the number of the at least one selected second image. 
         [0031]    In step S 704 , the processor  10  invokes/implements the input application  43  to determine whether a confirm instruction is received from the input unit  20 . 
         [0032]    In step S 705 , if the confirm instruction is received, the processor  10  invokes/implements the password application  45  to generate an input password according to at least one of the at least one recorded property. In the embodiment, the password application  45  generates the input password according to the at least one position relationship between the selected first image and the at least one selected second image. In an alternative embodiment, the password application  45  is invoked/implemented to generate the input password according to the sequence of moving the at least one selected second image to the selected first image, or according to a combination of the at least one recorded position relationship and the recorded sequence, or according to a combination of the at least one recorded position relationship, the recorded sequence, the recorded storage name and the recorded storage path of the selected first image, the recorded storage name and the recorded storage path of the at least one selected second image, and the number of the at least one selected second image. 
         [0033]    In step S 706 , the processor  10  invokes/implements the comparing application  46  to determine whether the input password matches the predetermine password  47  in the storage  40 . 
         [0034]    In step S 707 , the processor  10  triggers the security system  1  to grant access/unlock operations (procedures) if the input password matches the predetermined password  47 . 
         [0035]    As described above, the user is granted access by selecting one first image and one kind of second image, and moving at least one selected second image to the selected first image in sequence, thereby, protecting the password more safely and efficiently as it cannot be easily determined by mere observation since fixed patterns of input options are not being displayed. 
         [0036]    Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of the exemplary embodiment thereof, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.