Patent ID: 8776200

Claim:
A method for inputting a password into an electronic terminal, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving, by an input unit, a character string of a password from a user, and storing the character string of the password in a storage unit; (b) randomly arranging, by a control unit, characters included in the character string of the password on two-dimensionally arranged input buttons wherein the number of the input buttons is larger than a number of characters included in the character string of the password, wherein adjacent characters in the character string of the password are arranged on adjacent input buttons—the adjacent input buttons being two input buttons that can be connected by a rectilinear line without intervention of another input button; (c) arranging, by the control unit, one or more characters that are not included in the character string of the password on the input buttons on which characters that are included in the character string of the password have not been arranged; (d) displaying, by a display unit, the input buttons on which the respective arranged character are indicated; (e) receiving, by the input unit, an input character string from a user; and (f) completing, by the control unit, a user authentication procedure if the character string of the password is identical to the input character string.