Patent ID: 7272723

Claim:
A compact personal token, comprising: a USB-compliant interface releaseably coupleable to a host processing device; a token memory; a token processor, communicatively coupled to the token memory and communicatively coupleable to the host processing device via the USB-compliant interface, the token processor for providing the host processing device conditional access to user private data stored in the token memory; and a user-input device, communicatively coupled to the token processor by a path distinct from the USB-compliant interface, for accepting an input for processing by the token processor to signal authorization of a token processor operation providing access to the user private data stored in the token memory, the input in response to a message received in the token from the host processing device via the USB-compliant interface invoking the token processor operation, wherein user authentication occurs on the token, the user input device comprising one of: a character input device integrated with the personal token, the character input device comprising a wheel having an input position for each character in an input character set; or a first pressure sensitive device actuatable from an exterior side of the token, and a second pressure sensitive device actuatable from the exterior side of the token, wherein actuation of the first pressure sensitive device selects a character from said input character set, and actuation of the second pressure sensitive device enters the character, the first and second pressure sensitive devices integrated with the token.