Abstract:
A method for determining an access code comprising a predetermined number of input symbols. The access code is determined from input symbols and the position thereof when inputted. The number of possible input positions for the input symbols is greater than the predetermined number of input symbols. An input device detects the input symbols and the positions thereof in an input field. An access code is determined therefrom and compared in a comparator with a references access code. If compatibility is established, access to the system is authorized.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the determination of an access code comprising a predetermined number of input symbols which particularly include code numbers, code words and code characters.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In the past, in many security systems were encountered enormous deficiencies concerning the security of an access code. For example, many codes can be decoded through viruses or similar. Likewise, computer experts have developed programs for the decoding of codes. Standardized input methods of the code, e.g., at log-on windows, with credit cards etc., facilitate every hacker the developing of viruses and programs to decode diverse codes.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a user friendly method for determination of an access code.  
           [0004]    The method for determination of an access code with a predetermined number of input symbols determines the access code from input symbols and their positions at input time. Thereby, the number of possible input positions of the input symbols is larger than the predetermined number of input symbols. Both, the input symbols and their respective positions in an input field are detected and taken into account for the determination of the access code.  
           [0005]    This may be performed advantageously by the presentation of the login screen of a computer system. Instead of the password input at the log-in of a user, the presentation of the input field for the input symbols takes place. The user inputs the input symbols, e.g. numbers or characters, in input positions determined by the user. Thereby, he can use a scheme easily to remember, e.g. from top to bottom, diagonal, or crosswise. The method is particularly user friendly since the user has to remember only a few input symbols. Through the variety of the geometric arrangement of the input symbols, the security is increased without burdening the user with a huge number of input symbols to remember. However, it is more simple to remember geometrical arrangements.  
           [0006]    The possible input positions of the input symbols can be arranged in the form of a matrix. Other arrangements of the input symbols in the input field are also possible.  
           [0007]    The input symbols may be numbers, characters, text symbols, graphical symbols, figures and other representable symbols. These can be registered through the keypad of an input device, or selected by the user, e.g., by means of a pointing device or touch screen. These symbols, e.g., can be representations of chess figures or other symbol sets selected by the user. An access control especially for children, e.g., can use the representation of comic figures. The children place the selected comic figures in the input field to determine their access code. That is easier to remember than combinations of numbers with more than one digit. By repeating the placement of the selected comic figures, children can get access to, e.g., a telephone, a computer, a room, or a building.  
           [0008]    The method is sufficiently secure through the diverse variation possibilities, so that it can be done without a separate user registration, for instance the input of the user name. The user log-in can be performed at the same time and in one step with the determination of the access code.  
           [0009]    Additionally, the colour of the input symbols may be used for the determination of the access code. This further increases the variation possibilities and, hence, increases the security. The user can select the colours from a predetermined selection while inputting of input symbols, and assign them to the input symbols.  
           [0010]    To increase the access security, the sequence of the input of the input symbols can be used for determination of the access code. Additional variation possibilities of the access codes result, thus increasing the security of the method.  
           [0011]    Various input positions can be combined to cells and provided with a frame. This increases the clearness and facilitates the use through easier to remember input positions. The cell frames can be in form of simple geometrical figures, particularly rectangles, triangles or circles. The cell frames and/or the presentation of the data input into the cells can be coloured.  
           [0012]    In addition to the input data, the user can change the form and/or colour of the cell frames during the input. This may take place, e.g., through selection of a predetermined list of possible colours and/or forms. In addition, the forms and/or colours of the cell frames can also be used for the determination of the access code. The characteristic cell features (colour, form and frame colour) thus represent another symbol for determination of the access code. Thus, further variation possibilities of the possible access code arise, and the security of the method increases.  
           [0013]    The advantage of the method and the apparatus is to provide a user friendly and secure access control. The geometrical arrangement of the input symbols and the coloured arrangement as well as the cell frame form and colour of the cell frames are easier to remember by people than long rows of numbers and characters. Because of the resulting additional variation possibility, the number of the input symbols to be input can be reduced with constant security of the access control, or the security of the access control is clearly increased when the number of input symbols to be input is constant.  
           [0014]    The scheme according to the present invention (e.g., the presentation of several geometrical or asymmetrical symbols, also interlaced with each other) is different from known methods for code input, and there is the possibility to achieve very high variation possibilities only by specifying a one-digit number, or a symbol, or a figure. By using a large number of numbers/ symbols/ figures, this can result in a great extent of variation possibilities for decoding, that this code is not as easy to decode as in the past.  
           [0015]    Because of the variety of variation possibilities, the method according to the present invention can be used for many access controls, e.g., credit cards, cellular phones, machines, operating systems, software, hardware. The method can be used in form of a specific device or through integration into existing computer applications.  
           [0016]    The method according to the present invention may be used, e.g., in systems for access control for rooms or buildings, nowadays frequently used. Thereby, a touch screen display at the outside of an entrance monitoring system is provided. The user now inputs on the touch screen display by the selection of positions and input symbols the necessary data for the method for determination of the access code according to the invention. On grounds of the variety of variation possibilities by the consideration of the input symbols positions, the input of only a few easy to remember input symbols is adequate for an effective and secure access control. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 shows several examples for arrangement of input positions of the method according to the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 shows another example for arrangement of input positions of the method according to the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram for a conventional method for determination of an access code.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the method for determination of an access code according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]    The enclosed FIG. 1 shows several examples for arrangement of possible input positions of the method according to the present invention. In this embodiment three possible input positions are respectively combined to a cell, and the cells are arranged in a 3×3 matrix. During input of the input symbols, the cell frames can be changed by the user in form and/or colour, thereby representing another symbol to be used for the determination of the access code. This increases the variety of the possible codes, and allows the user an easy handling.  
         [0022]    In a presented symbol for the cell frame (e.g. a square), it is possible to get a chance to input, e.g., by three input positions, in the symbol up to three input symbols, e.g., various numbers/symbols/figures (example 1). Because several symbols are to be presented for each of the presented symbols, there is the possibility to either input in a single cell an access code of three input symbols or to divide the three numbers/symbols/figures over the entire presented cells/symbols (example 2). In addition, all arranged cells or input symbols can be marked up in colour, which results in an additional increase of the selection possibilities for the input of a code.  
         [0023]    While inputting a keyword, e.g., ones name, divided over the existing scheme, it should be almost impossible, even under the condition that it is the same name, to encounter exactly the symbols, the positions and the colours of the same name (FIG. 1, example 3+4).  
         [0024]    Another example for arrangement of input positions of the method according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram for a method for determination of an access code. The detection device  1  presents the input positions for the, in this example, 4-digit access code in an input field  2 . Conventionally, e.g., for registration of a PIN code for use at an automatic cash dispenser, the input positions for the input symbols are arranged linear next to each other. The 4-digit access code  3 , e.g., input via a keypad, is usually subject to an encrypting method  4  for security increase. The encrypted access code is then checked for identity with a reference access code  6  in a comparator  5 . Beforehand, the reference access code  6  is determined once and is thereby subjected to the same encrypting method. It can be stored, e.g., either on a magnetic card given to the user or within the access control system. If the comparator  5  determines an identity between the input and encrypted access code  3  and the reference access code  6 , the access to the device to be secured is given.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the method according to the present invention. The detection device  10  presents the possible input positions for the input symbols in an input field  20 . In this example, the possible input positions are arranged in a matrix form with four rows and four columns. Four input positions respectively next to each other may be combined to cells. The arrangement of the input positions in cells may increase the clearness and further improve the user friendliness of the method according to the present invention. In this example, likewise an access code comprising four input symbols is determined. The input positions selected by the user for input are marked with a cross. The detection device  10  detects the input input symbols and their respective positions in the input field  20 . If necessary, the sequence of the inputs may also be detected. The detected data are now used for the determination of an access code.  
         [0027]    A possible example for an access code determined from these input data is presented in field  30 . Here the input positions of the input field  20  are linearized and unfilled fields are filled with a specific symbol. In this example, the input of four input symbols results in a 16-digit access code. It may be encrypted by means of an encrypting method  40  and compared with a reference access code  60  in a comparator  50 . If the input access code  30  is identical to the reference access code  60 , the access to the system is given.  
         [0028]    In case of an equal number of input symbols, a very secure access code may be determined by the method according to the present invention. In the example for input of a 4-digit numerical PIN code, the number of possible access codes increases from 1000 for the known method (e.g., FIG. 3) to [16!/(16−4)!]*1000=43.680.000. Thereby, the user has additionally to remember only the arrangement of the input symbols in the input field.  
         [0029]    For another possibility for the determination of the access code, the input positions of the input symbols, e.g., the position numbers of the selected fields, are used together with the input symbols directly for the determination of the access code. As in this example, the possible input fields may be simply numbered, or other methods may be applied, which use, e.g., the XY-coordinates of the input field and/or the coordinates within a cell.  
         [0030]    Field  31  shows an access code determined by this method for the above mentioned example. The inputs were performed at positions  7 ,  11 ,  2 , and  9 . The four input symbols x1 to x4 each get their respective position numbers placed in front of them, and these pairs are entered into the access code in the sequence of the position numbers. The resulting 8-digit access code provides the same variation possibilities as the previous example, and allows a storing of the reference access code with saving of memory space.  
         [0031]    Field  32  shows another possibility for the determination of an access code for the above mentioned example, for which the sequence of the inputs are taken into consideration. In the example, first x1 is input at position  7 , then x2 is input at position  11 , etc. The input symbols are entered into the access code together with their respective position in the sequence of their respective input. Thus, the number of the variation possibilities can additionally be increased, and the security of the access code can be further increased.  
         [0032]    The above illustrated embodiments may be combined in every optional manner or reduced into stand-alone.