Abstract:
A method and associated computing device, A first arrangement of numeric characters 0-9 is displayed, on a touch screen of the computing device, for an entry of a confidential sequence of numeric characters by a user during display of the first arrangement of the numeric characters 0-9 in ten respective regions of the touch screen. Each region includes (i) a unique numeric character and (ii) a graphical design that does not include the unique numeric character. The graphical design in each region is a different graphical design in each region. Each region has a closed exterior boundary and is totally filled with the graphical design consisting of a background pattern or no pattern. A graphical characteristic is instantiated differently for each numeric character displayed in the first arrangement. User touches are received on the displayed first arrangement of the confidential sequence of numeric characters to authenticate or authorize the user.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation application claiming priority to Ser. No. 13/093,141, filed Apr. 25, 2011. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to system and method for secure data entry on a touch-sensitive screen. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Touch-sensitive screens or touch screens are commonly used in a myriad of devices as a user interface, such as smartphones, personal digital assistants, tablet computers, kiosks, ATM terminals, point-of-sale terminals, and other computing devices. A touch screen enables the coupling of data entry with the display so that the user may enter data and make selections by directly touching displayed elements on the screen. The use of the touch screen is especially popular with mobile devices because of the elimination of the keyboard to yield more real estate to a larger display screen. 
         [0004]    The entry of security data such as passwords and PIN data is often required to gain access to certain resources such as websites, financial accounts, shopping accounts, other protected data, or the use of the device itself. When a keypad is displayed on a touch screen to enter such security data, the user may unwittingly yield a fingerprint pattern or finger movement pattern that may be used to decode the security data by malicious criminals. Accordingly, a need arises for a solution to greatly minimize such unauthorized access to confidential and protected data and resources. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    An electronic device and method have been envisioned to increase the security of data entry on a touch-sensitive screen. 
         [0006]    An electronic device comprises a CPU, and a touch-sensitive screen operable to display a plurality of keys. Each of the plurality of keys are associated with and exhibit a predetermined value, where the keys are arranged so that the predetermined values of the keys are displayed in a random manner. The predetermined values of the plurality of keys have different predetermined display characteristics associated therewith so that the plurality of keys have varied appearances. 
         [0007]    An electronic device comprises a CPU, and a touch-sensitive screen operable to display a plurality of sequential values arranged in a randomized manner, where the displayed sequential values are operable to be displaced by a user&#39;s input to at least one predetermined location on the screen to effect data entry. 
         [0008]    A method for secured data entry on an electronic device comprises displaying a plurality of keys on a touch-sensitive screen, wherein the plurality of keys are displayed such that the keys each shows and is associated with a predetermined value, the keys are arranged so that the predetermined values of the keys are displayed in a random manner, and the keys are each displayed to exhibit a predetermined display characteristic associated with the predetermined value of each key. The method further includes receiving a user input via the plurality of displayed keys. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an electronic computing device; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a diagram representation of a touch screen displaying exemplary successively random keypads for receiving user input of security data; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is s a diagram representation of a touch screen displaying an exemplary random keypad using various background patterns for the keys; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a diagram representation of a touch screen displaying an exemplary random keypad using various fonts for the keys; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a diagram representation of a touch screen displaying an exemplary random keypad using various shapes for the keys; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a diagram representation of a touch screen displaying an exemplary random keypad using three slidable key arrays; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a diagram representation of a touch screen displaying an exemplary random keypad showing one of the three slidable key arrays in a locked state; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a diagram representation of a touch screen displaying exemplary randomly arranged keys in a wheel format. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an electronic device  10 . The electronic device  10  may not be any device or terminal employing a touch-sensitive display screen  12 , such as smartphones, personal digital assistants, personal computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, tablet computers, kiosks, ATM terminals, point-of-sale terminals, and other computing devices. Such electronic devices  10  include a CPU (central processing unit)  14  for executing software that performs processing, computing, decision, and communicating functions. A memory  16  in the form of RAM (random access memory), ROM (read-only memory), hard drive, mod/or any suitable data storage device is used to store information needed for later retrieval and computation. The electronic device  10  may include other peripheral devices as desired. The term “computer-readable storage device” does not mean a signal propagation medium such as a copper transmission cable, an optical transmission fiber, or a wireless transmission media. 
         [0018]    The electronic device  10  may require a security code such as a password or PIN to operate and/or access information, accounts, or other protected resources. For example, a smartphone, personal digital assistant, or tablet computer may require a password to unlock the device to enable use. As another example, an ATM may require the correct entry of a PIN in order for the user to access a bank account. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a diagram representation of a touch screen displaying exemplary successively randomly arranged keys in a keyboard format for receiving user input of security data. The random arrangement referenced by numerals  20 - 24  represent three separate and successive times in which the user is requested to enter a security code. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the keys exhibit and we are associated with values that are scrambled each time the user accesses the protected resource. Accordingly, because the positions of the security code digits are different each time, the user&#39;s finger movements and the fingerprints left on the touch screen are also different each time. These random variations may thwart malicious attempts by criminals to decode the finger movements and/or fingerprints to acquire the security code. 
         [0020]    However, studies show that the use of a random keypad is often confusing to users and causes mis-entry of the security data. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a diagram representation of a touch screen displaying an exemplary random keypad  26  using various different background patterns for the keys. Each key is associated with a particular value, such as a numerical or alphanumerical value, which is in turn associated with a particular background pattern. Therefore as shown in the example in  FIG. 3 , the numerical value “1” is always displayed with a pattern-less background although its location in the keypad varies each time. Similarly in the example, the numerical value “3” is always displayed with a grid background pattern, the numerical value “7” is always displayed with a series of horizontal dashed lines, the numerical value “2” is always displayed with a dotted background, and so on. The background pattern in the region containing the numerical value “5” is a pattern of dots characterized by a spatially uniform dot density throughout the region, the background pattern in the regions containing the numerical value “6” and “8” is a pattern of continuous solid lines spaced uniformly apart from each other and characterized by an orientation pattern of the solid lines, background pattern in the region containing the numerical values “7” and “9” is a pattern of broken lines spaced uniformly apart from each other with gaps of constant gap size between successive segments of each broken line and characterized by an orientation pattern of the broken lines. When displayed in this manner, although the positions of the numerical values in the same background patterns over time, the confusion that leads to mis-entry can be greatly reduced. 
         [0022]    In a similar manner, variations in other display characteristics such as the background color and/or the foreground color of the keys can also be used to decrease the amount of user confusion. For example, the numerical value “5” is always displayed with a red background color, the numerical value “7” is always displayed with a yellow background color, the numerical value “6” is always displayed with a blue background color, and so on. In another example varying the foreground colors, the numerical value “2” is always displayed with a red foreground color, the numerical value “6” is always displayed with a blue foreground color, the numerical value “8” is always displayed with a green foreground color, and so on. Color combinations of foreground and background colors can also be used effectively in the same manner. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a diagram representation of a touch screen displaying an exemplary random keypad  28  using various fonts for the keys, As shown in  FIG. 4 , each key is associated with a particular value, such as a numerical or alphanumerical value, which is in turn associated with a particular font type to further differentiate the keys and reduce confusion. 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a diagram representation of a touch screen displaying an exemplary random keypad  30  using various shapes for the keys. In another embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , each key is associated with a particular value, such as a numerical or alphanumerical value, which is in turn associated with a particular shape to further differentiate the keys and reduce user confusion that lead to erroneous entry of security data. Accordingly as shown in  FIG. 5 , the numerical value “1” is always displayed with a rectangle-shaped key, the numerical value “2” is always displayed with a triangle-shaped key, the numerical value “3” is always displayed with the geometric-shaped key of shape depicted in  FIG. 5 , the numerical value “4” is always displayed with an octagon-shaped key, the numerical value “5” is always displayed with a rhombus-shaped key, the numerical value “6” is always displayed with a rhombus-shaped key approximating a square-shaped key, the numerical value “7” is always displayed with a circular-shaped key, the numerical value “8” is always displayed with a pentagon-shaped key, the numerical value “9” is always displaced with a trapezoid-shaped key, the numerical value “0” is always displayed with a hexagon-shaped key, and so on. 
         [0025]    The various display characteristics including the foreground color, background color, background pattern, font, and shape may be used in combinations to distinguish the appearance of the keys from one another. 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a diagram representation of a touch screen displaying an exemplary random keypad using three slidable key arrays  32 - 36 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , each array includes numerical values arranged in a random manner, and the numerical values in the three arrays are arranged in different sequences. Each of the arrays functions as a virtual rotary dial that receives the user&#39;s fingers movement along the axis of the array to effect a displacement of the displayed numerical values. For example, the user&#39;s finger movement on the array to the right would cause the displayed numerals to be shifted to the right, and the finger movement on the array to the left would cause the displayed numerals to be shifted to the left. A data entry may thus be achieved by placing or displacing the numerals so that the desired digit is moved to a predetermined location in the array, such as for example, the center point of the arrays marked by the vertical marks  38 . Thus, for the example shown in  FIG. 6 , the three arrays may be used to receive the user&#39;s input of a three-digit security code. 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a diagram representation of a touch screen displaying an exemplary random keypad showing one of the three slidable key arrays  32 - 36  in a locked state. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the arrays  32  displays a predetermined character, such as an asterisk, “*”, that indicate the entry for the first digit of the security data has been received and locked in place. In this way, inadvertent brushing on the touch screen would not alter the first digit that has already been entered correctly. Once locked, the user may still change the entered digit by some other predetermined entry, such as by tapping on the displayed asterisk, for example. 
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a diagram representation of a touch screen displaying exemplary randomly arranged keys in a wheel format  42 . Similar to the array format in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , data entry on the wheel may be performed by “sliding” the keys bearing the numerical values. For example, the user&#39;s finger movement on a selected key toward the center  44  of the wheel  42  would cause the entry of that numeral displayed on the displaced key. Asterisks or another suitable symbol may be displayed to indicate how many digits have been entered. As shown in the example of  FIG. 8 , one digit of the security code has been entered and there are three remaining digits to be entered. 
         [0029]    As described above, a security code needed to unlock a device or gain access to a resource may be entered on a touch screen in a more secure way, without revealing telltale finger movements or fingerprints that may be used to determine the security code. 
         [0030]    The features of the present invention which are believed novel are set forth below with particularity in the appended claims. However, modifications, variations, and changes to the exemplary embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the electronic device and secure data entry method thus encompass such modifications, variations, and changes and are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein.