Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
  • G07F7/08—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means
  • G07F7/10—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means together with a coded signal, e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
  • G07C9/30—Individual registration on entry or exit not involving the use of a pass
  • G07C9/32—Individual registration on entry or exit not involving the use of a pass in combination with an identity check
  • G07C9/33—Individual registration on entry or exit not involving the use of a pass in combination with an identity check by means of a password

Definitions

• This invention relates to the visual recordal of codes and to the communication thereof to data processing machines.
• Patent Application W093/11511 (also GB2276967) describes personal identification devices and access control systems based on the use of complex images, typically images of human faces. Complex images are considered to be images that are recognisable if already known but not readily capable of unique description to a person to whom they are not known. Reference should be made to W093/11511 for further discussion and understanding of what is meant by complex images in this context, and for a discussion of the abilities of human subjects to memorize and recall images of human faces.
• the invention described in O90/11511 is concerned with the integrity of security systems.
• the present invention in contrast, is concerned with providing assistance to an individual to record or remember his PIN in a relatively secure manner.
• faces stored by a computer are displayed in shifting positions.
• the images are continually displayed in fixed positions. In one implementation they can be printed permanently on the card itself.
• the feature in common with W093/11511 is making use of the ability of the human mind to recognise images, and to pick out remembered images from a group of images, even if they are not wholly memorized in all their details.
• a four digit PIN can in effect be securely recorded on one face of a card by encoding each digit of the PIN in an array of, say, 9 or 10 images of different human faces.
• the PIN holder memorizes four faces.
• Each array of images is formed in a regular manner, for example as a three by three or five by two grid, so that each element of the array can be assigned a number from 1 to 9 or from 0 to 9 respectively.
• the four arrays can be set out in a defined sequence. Then, the set of four arrays serves as an aide memoire: the user can easily learn to recognise the four key faces, pick them out of the different grids, and by their position and sequence reconstruct the PIN.
• the images may be numbered explicitly, or implicitly by the order in which they appear in the arrays. Likewise, the sequence of the arrays can be explicitly numbered or can be implied by the order in which they are displayed. For convenience, a numeric code can be assumed, and this can be entered by a standard numeric keypad marked with the numbers . Of course, the images can be labelled with other characters or symbols, and the keypad marked accordingly, or a separate concordance can be provided.
• keyboard is used for convenience in this description and claims, but it should be assumed to have a general functional meaning. It might be a simple array of 9 or 10 keys, operated in a standard way, or part of a larger keyboard, a touch screen, a mouse or track ball and associated screen display, or any other input device capable of performing a keypad function.
• a method of communicating an authentication code, comprising a plurality of digits in sequence, to a data processing machine comprises: providing a data processing machine with a terminal including a data entry keypad having a plurality of keys corresponding to different digits including the digits of the authentication code; providing a portable display device adapted to display a sequence of arrays of elements, each element of an array comprising a different image of a human face; providing a concordance between the respective elements of each array and corresponding keys of the keypad; entering the consecutive digits of the authentication code by selecting an image from each array in sequence, identifying the element of the array in which the selected image occurs, and actuating the key corresponding to that element, whereby to communicate the authentication code to the data processing machine.
• a portable display device provided with means to store and display an authentication code, consisting of a plurality of digits in sequence, in encoded form to a user of a data processing machine, wherein said data processing machine is provided with a terminal including a data entry keypad having a plurality of keys corresponding to different digits including the digits of the authentication code; said personal display device comprising means for displaying a sequence of arrays of elements, each element of an array comprising a different image of a human face, wherein there is a concordance between the respective elements of each array and corresponding keys of the keypad; so that by selecting an image from each array in sequence, identifying the element of the array in which the selected image occurs, and actuating the key corresponding to that element, a user can enter the consecutive digits of the authentication code and thereby communicate the code to the data processing machine.
• the concordance can be overtly expressed, or implicit in the arrangement of the elements of the arrays.
• the portable display device is provided in combination with a mask and with registration means for positioning the mask with respect to the displayed sequence of arrays of elements, so that, when the mask is registered with the arrays, the mask identifies those images that correspond to the authentication code.
• the mask acts as a key to reveal the images to be remembered by the user, and to assist the user in memorizing the correct images.
• the mask may be a perforated or at least partially transparent overlay and may identify the images by exposing them through apertures in the overlay or through transparent portions of the overlay.
• a card supplier can use such a mask to communicate the PIN to the user.
• the portable display device can be combined with a blank mask having a plurality of window portions that are either temporarily occluded or transparent, whereby a user can either clear selected occluded window portions or mark selected transparent window portions to make a mask to subsequently identify the images that correspond to the authentication code.
• a user can either clear selected occluded window portions or mark selected transparent window portions to make a mask to subsequently identify the images that correspond to the authentication code.
• the occluded window portions can be cleared by pressing them out of the mask, if they are delineated by perforations or scores, or by locally peeling a removable latex or similar coating from a transparent base, or transparent window portions can be marked by ringing them round, or tinting them, with a drawing or writing instrument such as a pen or the like.
• Registration may make use of the edges of the card and of the mask, and the mask may comprise an envelope dimensioned to receive the device in a defined relative position.
• the invention provides the combination of a portable display device as aforesaid and a data processing unit provided with a terminal including a data entry keypad having a plurality of keys corresponding to different images including the digits of the authentication code.
• Figure 1 shows one face of a printed card, with an insert indicating the numerical concordance between the elements of each of four 3 x 3 arrays of faces and the numeric keys of a keypad (not shown) ;
• Figure 2 illustrates a mask placed over the card of Figure 1 in correct registration to show one image of a human face from each of the four arrays.
• the card may be supplied with a cover 10 serving as a mask ( Figure 2) which when properly registered with the card 6 allows the user to see only four particular images through four transparent window portions 11, 12, 13, 14, one from each array, which in this case correspond to an existing PIN number 4217 as defined by the concordance. That is to say, image 4 in array 1, image 2 in array 2, image 1 in array 3, and image 7 in array 4.
• the eight other window portions in each array are occluded and hide the underlying images.
• the user can choose a new PIN according to which faces the user wants to use.
• Registration is defined in this instance as the alignment of the edges of the mask 10 with the edges of the card 6.
• the mask may be a simple overlay, or may be an envelope for the card.
• the display of arrays of elements may be a printed surface in any convenient form, bearing the sequence of arrays visibly imprinted thereon, and can of course be generated by other means.
• the printed surface is currently the preferred form, and can be on a separate card to be stored apart from the identify card, benefit card, or other device to which it relates.
• display devices can be collected together in the form of a book with multiple pages, one for each different PIN of the user.
• Separate display devices may also be printed in larger sizes than standard credit cards, for the benefit of those with poor eyesight. If not constrained by the size, shape or surface features of a card, the number of arrays can easily be increased without losing visibility, to enhance the security level.
• the display of the faces serves as a PIN reminder to be carried by the user without revealing that authentication code to a third party.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)
• Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
• Collating Specific Patterns (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=10832896

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (7)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 1998
  • 1998-05-30 GB GBGB9811550.4A patent/GB9811550D0/en not_active Ceased
• 1999
  • 1999-05-27 JP JP2000552634A patent/JP2002517841A/ja active Pending
  • 1999-05-27 BR BR9910803-8A patent/BR9910803A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-05-27 CN CN99806822A patent/CN1303506A/zh active Pending
  • 1999-05-27 AU AU41550/99A patent/AU4155099A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-05-27 CA CA002333589A patent/CA2333589A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-05-27 EP EP99925160A patent/EP1082708A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-05-27 WO PCT/GB1999/001688 patent/WO1999063492A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events