Abstract:
An encryption device includes a card with a grid comprising multiple rows and columns defining boxes for receiving individual characters. One of the columns or rows contains a master password or code character string. Other columns or rows contain encrypted character strings. The individual characters of the master password can be offset with respect to corresponding, individual characters of the encrypted character strings. A sleeve slidably, reciprocably receives the card and assists with aligning the characters of the master password and the characters of the encrypted character strings, which are visible through a window in the sleeve. A method of storing, encrypting and retrieving character strings utilizes the encryption device.

Description:
PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION 
     Applicants claim priority based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/139,279 filed on Jun. 15, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a device and method for storing, encrypting and retrieving strings of alphanumeric characters, said strings of characters representing personal, private information such as bank PIN numbers, computer log-in codes, and credit card numbers, for example. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     With the ever-increasing use of computers and automated systems to provide a wide variety of services, consumers today often must remember a large number of passwords, log-in ID&#39;s, account numbers and the like. Consumers often must be able to recall and use this information at any time and at any location without access to records or documentation that contain the information. Thus, there is a need for a device and method to store important, personal information such as bank PIN&#39;s, charge account numbers, computer log-in ID&#39;s, calling card numbers, unlisted telephone numbers, and the like. 
     Much of the data that a consumer would want to store would be strings of characters which represent access codes. This might be a string of four numbers which represent a bank PIN that allows access to a bank account, or a string of eight letters which form a word that allows access to a computer system. Obviously, the consumer does not want unauthorized access to any accounts, computer systems, records, and the like. Thus, there is a need for a device and method that easily encrypts said information. 
     Consumers typically need to retrieve their access information when they are traveling, driving in their car, shopping and the like. Thus, it is important that said information can be quickly and easily retrieved. A consumer may get confused or forget how to use a complicated encryption/decryption device, or may have an electronic device that they either forgot to bring or that is not working properly. Thus, there is a need for a device and method that allow for quick and easy retrieval of said information and that is not subject to breakage or failure. 
     The Kohut U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,035 discloses a method of encrypting credit card PIN&#39;s using a 3 by 3 grid of preprinted numbers placed on the credit card itself. The four numbers comprising the PIN are placed in the 9-number grid in a location known only to the user and the card issuer. Although this method may work well for an individual credit card PIN number, it does not allow a user to store, encrypt or retrieve any other personal information. 
     The Vlaar U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,755 discloses a method of encrypting data which involves a slidable element contained within a cover element. The cover element is marked with locations for each of up to four numbers. The slidable element is then moved within the cover element to spell a codeword. The marked positions on the cover element then identify a number from one to ten on a number line also contained on the slidable element. This device and method appear to only be suitable for number codes up to four digits in length. This is because each number requires a position marker on its own line. Moreover, this method does not appear to be designed to handle letters or other characters. Also because a four digit number requires four separate lines for position markers, the cover element is severely limited as to how many numbers it can code because there simply is not enough room on the cover element. 
     Thus there is a need for a method and device that allows users to store, encrypt and retrieve a variety of personal information with a wide range of character lengths that is easy, quick, inexpensive, and convenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the practice of the present invention, an encryption device and method are provided for storing, encrypting and retrieving multiple encrypted character strings utilizing a single code character string or master password. The device includes a card with a grid printed thereon having multiple rows and columns. The master password can be located in any row or in any column. Encrypted character strings are then retrieved from the other rows or columns. A sleeve can be used to assist the user with locating the individual characters of the encrypted character strings where the characters being retrieved are offset from the corresponding characters of the master password by a predetermined number of columns. The master password and encrypted character strings can be oriented in various directions on front and back faces of the card on which they are encrypted. The device is user programmable, and reprogrammable, whereby security of the device is within the control of the user. 
     PRINCIPLE OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
     The principle objects and advantages of the present invention include: providing an encryption device and method; providing such a device and method for storing, encrypting and retrieving character strings; providing such a device which is user programmable; providing such a device which is reprogrammable; providing such a device which provides substantial security within the control of a user; providing such a device which can replace credit and debit cards; providing such a device which accommodates a wide variety of formats for character input; providing such a device which reduces the need to remember multiple character strings; providing such a device which can be utilized for promotional purposes by printing commercial messages thereon; and providing such a device which is economical to manufacture, efficient in operation in particularly well adapted for the proposed use thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an encryption device embodying the present invention. 
     FIGS. 2 a-e  are front elevational views thereof, showing the steps of the method of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of an encryption device comprising a first modified embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of an encryption device comprising a second modified embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 5 a,b  are front and back elevational views of an encryption device comprising a third modified embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 6 a,b  are front and back elevational views of an encryption device comprising a fourth modified embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 7 a,b  are front elevational views of an encryption device comprising a fifth modified embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 8 a,c  and e and FIGS. 8 b,d  and  f  are front and back elevational views respectively of an encryption device comprising a sixth modified embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of an encryption device comprising a seventh modified embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of an encryption device comprising an eighth modified embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     I. Introduction and Environment 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     II. Encryption Device  2  and Method 
     Referring to the drawings in more detail, FIG. 1 shows an encryption device  2  embodying the present invention and generally comprising a card  4  and a sleeve  6 . The card  4  may be made of paper, plastic, cardboard, or other suitable material which allows a user to imprint or mark on its surface. The dimensions of the card  4  should be such that it can be conveniently carried by the user. In the preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the card  4  are approximately the dimensions of a standard credit card. However, various other suitable dimensions can be used, including dimensions corresponding to the size of a note card or the size of a notebook. 
     Displayed on the surface of the card  4  is a geometric grid  12 . The geometric grid  12  is comprised of individual graphic boxes  14  of a size large enough to accept one or more characters  16 . The graphic boxes  14  are arrayed in five rows  10   a-e  and eight columns  8   a-h  forming the geometric grid  12 . The geometric grid  12  may be imprinted or otherwise affixed to the card  4  in any fashion. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a-e , three encrypted character strings  18  can be stored within the geometric grid  12  in the middle rows  10   b-d . The top row  10   a  is used for a master password or code character string  20  and the bottom row  10   e  is concealed by the sleeve  6 . 
     The sleeve  6  includes open and closed ends  22 ,  24 ; a three-row by one-column window  26  through which the grid  12  is visible and a recess  28  at the open end  22  to facilitate reciprocably sliding the card  4  within the sleeve  6 . 
     FIGS. 2 a-e  show the method of programming or encrypting stored character strings  18  (comprising “DOG” and “CAT”) for retrieval using a password or master code character string  20  (comprising “ABC”). FIG. 2 a  shows inputting the first letters of the code and encrypted character strings  20 ,  18 . The master string  20  is recorded in the boxes  14  in such a mixed or scrambled order that the correct order of the characters of the master string  20  is not readily apparent. Then, by aligning the open end  22  of the sleeve  6  with each character of the master string  20 , a character of the encrypted or data string  18  is recorded on the grid  12  through the window  26  of the sleeve  6  to establish a fixed geometric offset or correspondence between the characters of the master string  20  and the encrypted string  18 . More specifically, the first letter of the code character string  20  (“A”) is input on the upper row  10   a  and the first letters (i.e., “D” and “C”) of the encrypted character strings  18  are input in the upper two boxes  14  visible through the window  26 . The window  26  and the open end  22  of the sleeve  6  cooperate to automatically offset the characters  16  of the code character string  20  and the corresponding, respective characters of the encrypted character strings  18 . 
     FIGS. 2 b -d show the method steps for adding the rest of the characters  16  comprising the character strings  18 ,  20  and the resulting card  4 , which can be completely filled in with dummy characters as shown in FIG. 2 e . A user only needs to remember the code character string or master password  20  in order to retrieve the encrypted character strings  18  by repositioning the card  4  within the sleeve  6  whereby the code character string characters  16  are located adjacent to the sleeve open end  22  when the corresponding characters  16  of the encrypted character strings  18  are displayed in the window  26 . 
     Variations on the above device and method include encrypting character strings  18  with fewer characters  16  than the code character string  20 . This situation can be accommodated by using the first character  16  to identify the number of characters in an encrypted character string  18 , or by utilizing a specific, user-defined “end-of-string” character. 
     III. First Modified Embodiment Encryption Device  102  and Method 
     FIG. 3 shows a modified encryption device  102  comprising a first modified embodiment of the present invention. A modified card  4  includes a grid  112  with an upper row  110   a  of boxes  114   a  for a master password or code character string  120  and rows  110   b-e  of boxes  114   b-e  which are half the size of the boxes  114   a  whereby a 1-to-2 ratio of code character string boxes  114   a  to encrypted character string boxes  114   b-e  is provided. Thus, a master password or code character string  120  can yield encrypted character strings  118  with twice as many characters. 
     IV. Second Modified Embodiment Encryption Device  202  and Method 
     FIG. 4 shows an encryption device  202  comprising a second modified embodiment of the present invention. The device  202  uses a code character string  220  with two encrypted character string characters  216  for each character  216  of the encrypted character string  218 . The master password can be identified from either the left or right individual characters  216  in each of the boxes  214 . 
     V. Third Modified Embodiment Encryption Device  302  and Method 
     FIGS. 5 a,b  show an encryption device  302  comprising a third modified embodiment of the present invention. The encryption device  302  includes a modified card  304  with a front  304   a  and a back  304   b . Front and back windows  326   a,b  reveal front and back grids  312   a,b . The card  304  has portions of the encrypted character strings  318  imprinted in the front and back grids  312   a,b  respectively. The data encryption method utilizing the encryption device  302  involves alternating the encrypted character readings from the front  304   a  and back  304   b  of the card. For example, two characters  316  of the encrypted character string  318  can be obtained through the front and back windows  326   a,b  by aligning the card  304  with the respective character  316  of the master password and sequentially reading the exposed characters  316  of the encrypted character string  320 . 
     VI. Fourth Modified Embodiment Encryption Device  402  and Method 
     A two-sided encryption device  402  comprising a fourth modified embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 6 a,b  and includes a card sleeve  406  with a similar front  406   a  and back  406   b  with respective windows  426   a,b . A card  404  likewise has a similar front  404   a  and back  404   b . The front and back of the device  402  can be used independently or in conjunction with each other to store either twice as many encrypted characters strings or the same number of character strings with twice the length of character strings that can be stored with a single-sided device. 
     VII. Fifth Modified Embodiment Encryption Device  502  and Method 
     FIGS. 7 a,b  show an encryption device  502  with the encrypted two-character strings  518  arranged vertically within the window  526 . Thus, in practicing the method of the present invention with the device  502 , the master password “A 5 ” would yield the encrypted character string “Z9MR8V”. 
     VIII. Sixth Modified Embodiment Encryption Device  602  and Method 
     An encryption device  602  comprising a sixth modified embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8 a-f . The device  602  includes a card  604  with a front  604   a  and a back  604   b . A front grid  612   a  includes columns  608   a  and rows  610   a . A back grid  612   b  includes columns  608   b  and rows  610   b . A master password can comprise a predetermined sequence of alphabetical and numerical characters. For example, the master password “A 2B3A1” yields “MIGHTY” and “VECTOR”. “A 2 ” indicates read two letters (“MI”) on the front  604   a , beginning in row  2 . “B 3 ” indicates read three letters (“GHT”) on the back  604   b . “A 1 ” 1  indicates read one letter (“Y”) on the front  604   a . “VECTOR” is obtained in a similar manner from the adjacent columns on the front  604   a  and on the back  604   b.    
     IX. Seventh Modified Embodiment Encryption Device  702  and Method 
     FIG. 9 shows an encryption device  702  comprising a seventh modified embodiment of the present invention. The encryption device  702  comprises a card  704  with a grid  712  comprising multiple columns  708   a-k  and multiple rows  710   a-g  defining individual boxes  714 . The encryption device  702  operates in a manner similar to the encryption device  2  described above, except that no sleeve is provided and the user is thus able to program the master password and the encrypted character strings with any offset desired, or with no offset. Thus, the corresponding individual characters of the master password and the encrypted character strings can align vertically. For example, the master password “ABC” yields the encrypted the character strings “DOG” and “CAT”, with the corresponding characters of the master password and the encrypted character strayings aligning vertically. The rightmost column  708   k  can be used for abbreviated labels. 
     The encryption methods discussed above are generally available with the encryption device  702 . Thus, the encryption device  702  can be printed on both sides, and vertical master passwords can be employed. Among the variations available for operating the method are encrypting the character strings to read from left-to-right, right-to-left, top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top. 
     X. Eighth Modified Embodiment Encryption Device  802  and Method 
     FIG. 10 shows an encryption device  802  comprising an eighth modified embodiment of the present intention. The encryption device  802  is similar to the sleeveless card  702  described above, with the addition of a magnetic strip  804  adapted for identification and verification purposes. The encryption device  802  functions as a credit or debit card whereby the strip  804  can be swiped. The master password can be used for retrieving multiple encrypted character strings, which can correspond to the numbers of various credit and debit cad accounts. Thus, a single encryption device  802  can replace a number of credit and/or debit cards. 
     It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present intention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of components and/or steps described and shown.