Abstract:
A method for granting access to change a security system from a locked state to an unlocked state includes: displaying a security access interface, wherein the security access interface comprises a graphical region, the graphical region is filled with a plurality of colors; selecting at least one color in the graphical region; at least recording at least one color property according to the at least one selected color; generating an input password at least according to the at least one recorded color property; determining whether the input password matches a predetermined password; and granting access if the input password matches with the predetermined password. A related security system is also provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     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. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     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 
       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. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a security system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a security access interface generated by the security system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing a security interface generated by the security system of  FIG. 1 , slightly different from  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method for granting access in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     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 , a touch sensitive display  20 , and a storage  30 . 
     The processor  10  executes/runs various software components in the storage  30  to perform various functions for the security system  1 , and controls the operations of the security system  1 . 
     The touch sensitive display  20  provides both an output interface and an input interface between the security system  1  and a user. The touch sensitive display  20  is operable to receive inputs/contacts by one or more means, for example, a stylus and/or by touch. The touch sensitive display  20  is also operable to output graphical data. The visual outputs may include text, graphic, video, and any combination thereof. 
     The storage  30  stores an operating system  31 , a graphical application  32 , an input application  33 , a recording application  34 , a password application  35 , a compare application  36 , and a predetermined password  37  used for authenticating an inputted password. 
     The operating system  31  (e.g., LINUX®, UNIX®, WINDOWS®, or an embedded operating system  31  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. 
     The graphical application  32  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 touch sensitive display  20 . 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. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 2 , when the system  1  is triggered to prompt for accessing/unlock operations (procedures), the graphical application  32  is implemented by the processor  10  to display a security access interface on the touch sensitive display  20 . The interface provides a graphical region  22  for the user to input an input password. 
     The graphical region  22  is divided into three color regions  220 ,  222 , and  224 . The color region  222  is divided into three color cells  2220 ,  2222 , and  2224 , and the color region  224  is also divided into four color cells  2240 ,  2242 , and  2244 . The color region  220  is filled with one color, and each of the cells  2220 ,  2222 ,  2224 ,  2240 ,  2242 , and  2244  is also filled with one color. In the embodiment, the color region  220  is a circle, and the color regions  222  and  224  are annular rings concentric with the color region  220 . One or more colors selected in the graphical region  22  can be used to generate an input password. A sequence of selecting colors in the graphical region  22  can also be used to generate an input password. 
     The color regions  222  and  224  can further be rotated around the color region  220 . Before selecting one or more colors in the color region  222  or  224 , the user can rotate the color region  222  or  224  clockwise or anticlockwise. The rotation angle and the rotation direction can be used to generate an input password. Preferably, when rotating the color region  222  or  224 , an angle table  2202  (see  FIG. 3 ) is displayed on the color region  220  to indicate the rotation angle and the rotation direction. 
     The security access interface further includes a virtual confirm button  23  and a virtual cancel button  24 . The confirm button  23  is configured to generate a confirm instruction according to instructions from the touch sensitive display  20 . The cancel button  23  is configured to generate a cancel instruction according to input instructions from the touch sensitive display  20 . 
     The input application  33  includes various software components and/or set of instructions, which can be invoked/implemented by the processor  10  for receiving instructions from the touch sensitive display  20 , and performing various functions for example selecting one or more colors according to received instructions. 
     The recording application  34  includes various software components and/or set of instructions, which can be invoked/implemented by the processor  10  for recording at least one color property according to at least one selected color in the graphical region  22 . In an alternative embodiment, the recording application  34  can further be invoked/implemented to record a sequence of selecting at least one color in the graphical region  22 , or record at least one rotation angle and at least one rotation direction according to at least one rotation of the color region  222  or  224 . 
     The password application  35  includes various software components and/or set of instructions, which can be invoked/implemented by the processor  10  for generating an input password at least according to the at least one recorded color property. The password application  35  can also be invoked/implemented to generate an input password further according to the sequence of selecting the at least one color, the at least one recorded rotation angle, and the at least one recorded rotation direction. In the embodiment, when a confirm signal is received from the touch sensitive display  20 , the password application  35  is invoked/implemented by the processor  10  to generate the input password. 
     Furthermore, the input password can be defined as a newly predetermined password to replace the previously predetermined password  37  stored in the storage  30 . 
     The compare application  36  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  37 . When the input password matches the predetermined password  37 , the security system  1  is unlocked. Otherwise, the security system  1  remains locked. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a flowchart illustrating a method used by the security system  1  of  FIG. 1  for granting access is shown. The method includes the following steps, each of which is tied to various modules contained in the security system  1  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In step S 401 , in operation, the processor  10  invokes/implements the graphical application  32  to display the security access interface on the touch sensitive display  20 . The interface provides the graphical region  22 . The graphical region  22  is filled with a plurality of colors. 
     In step S 402 , the processor  10  invokes/implements the input application  33  to receive user instructions from the touch sensitive display  20 , thereby, selecting at least one color. In an alternative embodiment, the input application  33  can be further invoked/implemented to receive user instructions from the touch sensitive display  20  to rotate the graphical region  22 . 
     In step S 403 , the processor  10  invokes/implements the recording application  34  to record at least one color property according to the at least one selected color in the graphical region  22 . In an alternative embodiment, the recording application  34  can further be invoked/implemented to record a sequence of selecting the at least one color in the graphical region  22 , and at least one ration angel and at least one ration direction according to the at least one rotation of the graphical region  22 . 
     In step S 404 , the processor  10  invokes/implements the input application  33  to determine whether a confirm instruction is received from the input unit  20 . 
     In step S 405 , if the confirm instruction is received, the processor  10  invokes/implements the password application  35  to generate an input password according to the at least one recorded color property. In an alternative embodiment, the password application  35  is invoked/implemented to generate the input password further according to the recorded sequence of selecting the at least one color, the at least one rotation angle, and the at least one rotation direction. 
     In step S 406 , the processor  10  invokes/implements the compare application  36  to determine whether the input password matches the predetermined password  37  in the storage  30 . 
     In step S 407 , the processor  10  triggers the security system  1  to grant access/unlock operations (procedures) if the input password matches the predetermined password  37 . 
     As described above, the user is granted access by selecting at least one color in the graphical region  22 , 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. 
     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.