Displaying security information based on segmenting an image into parts visible at a specific reading distance

Abstract

Devices and methods are provided for displaying security information to a user. The invention may include a security device configured to display security information on a display surface. The security information may include at least one component having two images based on a division of its representation visible from a corresponding viewing angle. The image may be fused into a representation of the at least one component by a user's visual system viewing the image at a reading distance that causes the user's eyes to view the image from a corresponding viewing angle. Corresponding methods for displaying security information to a user are also provided.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of security. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to security information. [Background technology]

[0002] The following provides a background to the present disclosure, along with a discussion of techniques relevant to that context, although this discussion, when referring to documents, acts, works, and the like, is not intended to imply or represent that the techniques discussed are part of the existing solution or are common general knowledge relevant to the present disclosure.

[0003] Security is paramount in some situations, especially when services are provided only to users who are authorized to receive them. A typical example is the e-payment required in electronic commerce to purchase goods over the Internet through online merchants. Typically, e-payments are made using a credit card. However, each payment of this type involves a card-not-present (CNP) transaction, where the credit card cannot be physically presented by the cardholder to the merchant for visual inspection, and therefore other security measures should be implemented to ensure that the actual cardholder has indeed authorized the electronic payment.

[0004] A common technique for restricting the provision of a service to its (authorized) users is to require the user to provide security information that the user must possess to prove his / her eligibility to receive the service. In particular, in the case of electronic credit card payments, in addition to the credit card number, cardholder name and expiration date, a card security code (CSV) must be entered. The (card) security code is used by the merchant to verify that the user has the credit card in his / her possession.

[0005] When security information must be transmitted remotely over a public network (e.g., the Internet), several techniques are available to secure the transmission. For example, encryption protocols such as the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol are commonly used to provide privacy and data integrity for communications over the network. This protects the security information from sniffing attacks, since even if the transmission of the security information is intercepted, the security information is in encrypted form and the actual content cannot be recovered.

[0006] However, in most practical situations, the security information is read by the user from the enabled device. For example, this occurs when the security information is very difficult to remember by the user. In particular, in the case of a credit card, the identification numbers (i.e., the credit card number, the credit card holder name, and the credit card expiration date) are embossed on the front of the credit card, whereas the security code is usually printed on the back of the credit card.

[0007] Therefore, using a credit card in a public place (such as a store) exposes the cardholder to the risk of interception. Indeed, every time a cardholder takes his / her credit card out of his / her wallet and hands it over to a cashier in a store, anyone in the vicinity of the cardholder may peer at the credit card in an attempt to obtain the corresponding information. Even more dangerous, when the credit card is exchanged between the cardholder and the cashier, a camera may be used to photograph the credit card from a relatively long distance, which may allow the information related to the credit card to be stolen in a way that is completely unnoticed by the cardholder.

[0008] Similar risks exist for security information retrieved by a user from a mobile computing device such as a smartphone. Indeed, several security apps and online services are available to store several pieces of security information in an encrypted database. In particular, the security information often includes the personal identification number (PIN) of the user's payment card (e.g., debit / credit card), which is used to authorize transactions with the corresponding payment card, such as payments at point-of-sale (POS) terminals and withdrawals at automated teller machine (ATM) terminals. In particular, security apps store the encrypted database locally on the smartphone (directly accessible), while online services instead store the encrypted database remotely (accessible over the Internet). In both cases, a single master password is used to unlock the encrypted database and access the security information stored therein.

[0009] Whenever a user needs to use one of his payment cards, he unlocks the encrypted database (by entering his master password) and selects the corresponding entry in the encrypted database to display the PIN of that payment card on the smartphone screen, and then the user reads the PIN and enters it, if necessary, into the POS / ATM terminal to complete the corresponding (payment / withdrawal) transaction. Thus, even in this case, anyone in the vicinity of the POS / ATM terminal could sneak a peek at the smartphone screen to obtain the PIN or use a camera to take a picture of the smartphone screen when it displays the PIN. The payment card could then be stolen and used fraudulently together with the PIN so obtained to make a payment / withdrawal. Summary of the Invention

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure discloses a device and method for displaying security information to a user. Generally, the disclosure is based on the idea of ​​providing an image that is visible from different viewing angles.

[0011] In particular, one aspect provides a security device including a display surface and security information integrated with the display surface. In one embodiment, the security information may include at least one component having a first image and a second image. In one embodiment, the first image and the second image may be associated with splitting a representation of the at least one component. In one embodiment, the first image may be visible from a first viewing angle relative to the display surface and the second image may be visible from a second viewing angle relative to the display surface. In one embodiment, the first image and the second image may be configured to be fused into a representation of the at least one component by a user's visual system responsive to the user viewing the first image from the first viewing angle and the second image from the second viewing angle.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, the security information may include a plurality of components having corresponding first images and corresponding second images associated with dividing the representation of the plurality of components. In an embodiment, the corresponding first images may be visible from a corresponding first viewing angle relative to the display surface, and the corresponding second images may be visible from a corresponding second viewing angle relative to the display surface. In an embodiment, the corresponding first images and the corresponding second images may be successively fused into the representation of the plurality of components by the visual system of the user in response to a change in the relative position of the security device with respect to the user viewing the display surface from the corresponding first viewing angle and the corresponding second viewing angle.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment, a corresponding first viewing angle associated with a corresponding first image and a corresponding second viewing angle associated with a corresponding first image may be opposite to each other with respect to a normal defined by the display surface.

[0014] According to one advantageous embodiment, the plurality of components may include a corresponding progress element that provides an indication of the progress of a display of the plurality of components in response to changing a relative position of the security device with respect to a user.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, a first image associated with the at least one component may not be able to reveal a representation of the at least one component without a second image associated with the at least one component.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment, the security information integrated with the display surface may further include lenticular printing of the first image and the second image.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment, the display surface may further comprise a layer of lenticular lenses covering the first image and the second image.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment, the first image and the second image of the at least one component may further comprise a plurality of alternating pixel columns. In an embodiment, the first image and the second image of the at least one component may comprise a compression effect to compensate for lenticular lens distortion.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment, the first image may include a first color and the second image may include a second color. In an embodiment, the first image and the second image may be fused into at least one component representation by a user's visual system viewing the display surface with a pair of anaglyph glasses. In an embodiment, the pair of anaglyph glasses may be configured to filter out the second color for a first eye of the user and to filter out the first color for a second eye of the user.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment, the at least one component may be selected from the group consisting of characters, symbols, words and graphic symbols.

[0021] A further aspect provides a corresponding method for displaying security information to a user. According to one embodiment, a security device may be provided to a user. In one embodiment, the security device may include a display surface configured to display security information. In one embodiment, the security information may include at least one component having a representation split between a first image and a second image. In one embodiment, the first image and the second image may be visible from a first viewing angle and a second viewing angle, respectively, relative to the display surface. In one embodiment, in response to a user viewing a display surface of the security device at a reading distance, the first image and the second image are fused to a visual system of the user into a representation of the at least one component such that a first eye of the user views the first image from the first viewing angle and a second eye of the user views the second image from the second viewing angle.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment, in response to a user viewing a display surface of the security device at a first location, the user may detect only a representation of a first component of the plurality of components, and in one embodiment, the user may not be able to view corresponding first images and corresponding second images associated with other components of the plurality of components from the first location.

[0023] More specifically, one or more aspects of the disclosure are set forth in independent claims and advantageous features thereof are set forth in dependent claims, the language of all of which is incorporated herein by reference (wherein any advantageous feature is provided by reference to any particular aspect that applies mutatis mutandis to all other aspects).

[0024] The solutions of the present disclosure, as well as further features and advantages thereof, will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description thereof, merely as a non-limiting indication, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, for simplicity, corresponding elements are indicated with equal or similar reference signs, their descriptions are not repeated, and the name of each entity is generally used to indicate both its type and its attributes, such as value, content and expression. In this regard, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale (some details may be exaggerated and / or simplified), and it is expressly intended that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely used to illustrate the structures and procedures conceptually described herein. In particular, as follows: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1A] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a front side of a card, according to at least one embodiment. [Figure 1B] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the back side of a card, according to at least one embodiment. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a card in a first position, according to at least one embodiment. [Figure 2B] FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a card in a second position, according to at least one embodiment. [Figure 2C] FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a card in a third position, according to at least one embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary application, according to at least one embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an implementation of the solution according to at least one embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a particular implementation of the solution according to at least one embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a further implementation of the solution according to at least one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Although detailed embodiments of the claimed structures and methods are disclosed herein, it can be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the claimed structures and methods that can be embodied in various forms. However, the present invention can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In this specification, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments.

[0027] According to one embodiment, a secret code (e.g., security information) may be printed on the card in a specific manner, which makes it readable only to the user who actually has the card in his / her possession. In one embodiment, a process known as "lenticular printing" may allow the overlap of different images in the same area, so that the different images are seen separately depending on the viewing angle. The image may be divided into infinitesimal rows of pixels arranged horizontally in an alternating manner. In one embodiment, a plastic corrugated surface may be provided on top of the composite mosaic to act as a lens that focuses on one of the embedded images by selecting the correct row. It is further contemplated that the user's two different eyes may form two different angles of incidence and thus perceive two different images. The images captured by the two eyes are fused into a single image by the visual system in the brain, so that the final superimposed result is what the user can actually see. According to one embodiment, these mechanisms may be implemented to distribute the characters of the secret code into different pairs of frames that can be viewed in sequence simply by slowly rotating the card along the vertical axis.

[0028] According to one embodiment, an example security code may be one that is made up of five numeric digits. In one embodiment, each digit may be embedded separately into the card, so that the user can see five different images when the card is rotated. Each of these images may be encoded as a pair of successive images that can be seen by the user's left and right eyes due to the different angles of incidence of the two eyes.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the actual printing that goes under the plastic lens can be constructed in the following manner: In one embodiment, each secret digit can be considered as an individual frame. Thus, in a five-digit code, five image frames are implemented: D1, D2, D3, D4, D5. In one embodiment, each original image can be split into two images that, when overlapped, encode the original image (visual encryption). Thereby, the five original images can be split into ten different images: D1a, D1b, D2a, D2b, D3a, D3b, D4a, D4b, D5a, D5b. In one embodiment, a compression effect can be applied to the ten images to compensate for the different viewing angles. Applying the compression effect to the ten images can result in a set of modified images: MD1a, MD1b, MD2a, MD2b, MD3a, MD3b, MD4a, MD4b, MD5a, MD5b. According to one embodiment, the modified images are embedded into the card and a lenticular print can be created which when rotated shows the modified images in sequence from left to right, i.e. from a lenticular print perspective the final configuration may include MD1a, MD1b, MD2a, MD2b, MD3a, MD3b, MD4a, MD4b, MD5a, MD5b.

[0030] According to one embodiment, an intended observer may hold the card at a distance of about 20-30 centimeters (cm) from the eyes. The angular parameters of the lenticular technology may be calibrated such that two viewers, about 6 cm apart, perceive two different successive frames. Since the left and right eyes of a human are typically 6 cm apart, the left eye can see frame MD1a and the right eye can see frame MD1b. The two frames overlap in the brain's perception, giving the user the perception of a composite frame D1, in which the digits of the secret code are recognizable. The user may then slowly rotate the card along a vertical axis. In one embodiment, the next alignment may provide a pair of images MD1b and MD2a, but the pair may not combine into something visually recognizable. Continuing the rotation, the pair of images MD2a, MD2b may provide a composite D2, in which another secret digit becomes legible. According to one embodiment, the process for reading the security information may include slowly rotating the card to obtain a series of digits. Each digit image D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 may also include a progress marker that may provide an indication regarding that digit's combination number (e.g., dots moving from left to right to give the same idea as a progress bar).

[0031] According to an embodiment, the card will not reveal the code even if photographed or copied, since only one observation angle is captured. It is contemplated that only one of the MDxy images, not even a single digit of the secret code, may be revealed at a single angle. According to an embodiment, an unauthorized observer may not be able to eavesdrop, since the observation geometry does not work. More specifically, a large distance from the card may disrupt the overlap of the left and right eyes, and even if the card is rotated by the owner, a poor observation angle may not allow observation of all subframes. Thus, in an embodiment, a strong secretive arrangement can be obtained with a plastic grid fixed to the card, without the need for electronics, batteries, or other expensive technology.

[0032] The present invention may be a device / apparatus, a system, a method, and / or a computer program product at any possible level of technical detail. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program instructions for causing a processor to perform aspects of the present invention.

[0033] A computer readable storage medium may be a tangible device capable of holding and storing instructions for use by an instruction execution device. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the above. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of computer readable storage media includes portable computer diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), static random access memory (SRAM), portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD), memory stick, floppy disk, mechanically encoded devices such as punch cards or ridges in grooves structures having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the above. As used herein, computer storage media is not intended to be understood as transitory signals per se, such as electric waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission medium (e.g., light pulses passing through fiber optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through wires.

[0034] The computer readable program instructions described herein may be downloaded from a computer readable storage medium to the respective computing / processing device or to an external computer or storage device over a network, such as the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, or a wireless network, or a combination thereof. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fiber, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers, and / or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing / processing device receives the computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium in the respective computing / processing device.

[0035] The computer readable program instructions for carrying out the operations of the present invention may be either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state setting data, configuration data for an integrated circuit, or object oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk®, Python, C++, and procedural programming languages ​​such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may be executed entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, a programmable logic circuit, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or a programmable logic circuit (PLA), can execute computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to perform aspects of the present invention.

[0036] Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions.

[0037] These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions / acts specified in one or more blocks of the flowcharts and / or block diagrams. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored on a computer readable storage medium, capable of directing a computer, programmable data processing apparatus, or other apparatus, or combination thereof, to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium on which the instructions are stored comprises an article of manufacture including instructions that implement aspects of the functions / acts specified in one or more blocks of the flowcharts and / or block diagrams.

[0038] The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded into a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a computer-implemented process to perform a series of operational steps on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device, such that the instructions, which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device, implement the functions / acts specified in one or more blocks of the flowcharts and / or block diagrams.

[0039] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowcharts or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, including one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. In some alternative implementations, the functions shown in the blocks may occur out of the order shown in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be accomplished as one step, may be executed simultaneously, substantially simultaneously, partially or fully overlapping in time, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in reverse order depending on the functionality involved. It should also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and / or flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowchart illustrations, may be implemented by a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified functions or acts or executes a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0040] 1A and 1B, there are shown diagrams of a payment card 100 to which a solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied. In particular, FIG. 1A shows the payment card 100 in a front view and FIG. 1B shows the payment card 100 in a rear view.

[0041] The payment card 100 is a plastic card issued by a financial institution (issuer) to a corresponding user (cardholder) that allows the cardholder to make payments to merchants to purchase goods (products / services), either at a POS terminal or online, and to withdraw funds from an ATM terminal. For example, the payment card 100 is a credit card that is linked to a credit limit provided by an issuer (such as a bank or credit union). The credit card 100 has a body formed by a plastic card 105. The plastic card 105 is an element made of a plastic material (such as PVC) that has a standard size (relatively thin and generally rectangular).

[0042] 1A, plastic card 105 has a surface 110f. Surface 110f has printed thereon an issuer name 115 and an issuer logo 120. Surface 110f is embossed with a card number 125, a cardholder name 130, and an expiration date 135. If credit card 100 is a smart card, an integrated chip 155 is embedded in plastic card 105 to implement processing functions in either contact or contactless modes.

[0043] 1B, the plastic card 105 has a back side 110r. On the back side 110r, a card security code (CSV) 140 is printed. A signature area 145 is provided for adding the cardholder's standard signature. A magnetic stripe 150 is embedded in the plastic card 105 for storing the credit card 100's identification information (i.e., credit card number, cardholder name and expiration date) and its (card) security code 140.

[0044] 2A-2C, a conceptual representation of the general principle of a solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0045] From FIG. 2A, a solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure aims at making the display of (security) information enabling the use of the credit card 100 more secure. For example, a security code 140. In general, the security code 140 is formed by a sequence of characters (e.g. three digits). One or more components of the security code 140 are each represented by two different (partial) images based on a division of its representation. In the illustrated example, the components are represented by a corresponding (full) image D containing a graphical representation of the digits of the security code 140. i (i=1...3). For each digit, its subimage MDa i -MDb i is based on the partitioning of the corresponding full image Di, e.g., the partial image MDa i -MDb i is the whole image D i When the back 110r of the credit card 100 is viewed from a first position, the partial image MDa i is the specific viewing angle (cone) Va i Visible from the subimage MDb i is the different viewing angles (cones) Vb i Each viewing angle Va i -Vb i is defined by a range of values, and the corresponding sub-image MDa i -MDb i Thus, when the cardholder, designated by reference numeral 205, looks at the back surface 110r, his / her left eye 210a sees the corresponding viewing angle Va i From partial image MDa i The right eye 210b sees the corresponding viewing angle Vb i Partial Image from MDb i When viewing, the (left) eye 210a sees the partial image MDa i Only the right eye 210b can see the partial image MDb i The cardholder's 205 visual system 215 (the visual cortex of the brain that is specifically dedicated to processing visual information) sees only the corresponding image D i To restore the partial image MDai and partial image MDb i and the back surface 110f are fused (in a sort of stereoscopic image processing) to enable the reading of the digit. The back surface 110f is configured so that this (reading) operation is possible under standard conditions of use of the credit card 100. In particular, the cardholder 205 views the back surface 110r at a reading distance RD of typically 150-250 mm. Furthermore, the cardholder 205 has an interpupillary (interpupillary) distance PD between the pupils of the eyes 210a-210b of typically 50-70 mm. For example, the cardholder 205 looks at the back surface 110r at opposing viewing angles Va relative to the normal 220 of the back surface 110r. i and Vb i Considering this, when the reading distance RD = 200 mm and the pupil distance PD = 60 mm, the viewing angle Va with respect to the normal 220 i and viewing angle Vb i The (common) absolute value of is:

number

[0046] Instead, when another observer looks at the rear surface 110r at a different reading distance, the reading operation is not possible. In particular, in the case of the person 225, at most only one of the eyes 230a and 230b is positioned at a viewing angle Va i and Vb i For example, as shown in the figure, the eye 230b can see the rear surface 110r through a corresponding viewing angle Vb i Partial Image from MDb i When viewing, the eye 230a has a corresponding viewing angle Va i From partial image MDa i Therefore, eye 230b does not see partial image MDb i , but the eye 230a sees the partial image MDa i Therefore, the person 225 can only see a single partial image (in the illustrated example, the partial image MDb i ), which generally means that only the corresponding full image D iThe same can be considered when a camera (not shown) is used to photograph the back surface 110r. In fact, in this case too, the camera photographs the back surface 110r from a single direction, but this angle is at most the viewing angle Va i and viewing angle Vb i Therefore, in this case too, the camera can capture at most a single partial image MDa i or MDb i Again, only the corresponding full image D i It is not possible to reveal the digits.

[0047] The above solution significantly improves the security of the credit card 100 and, more generally, of any other device for displaying security information (used to obtain one or more services) to a user. For example, the same solution may also be applied to a mobile computing device such as a smartphone (not shown). In this case, a small (security) screen portion may be dedicated to displaying security information (such as a payment card PIN). In particular, the smartphone runs a security app and / or accesses (locally or remotely, respectively) an online service (or more) that is used to store security information in an encrypted database. Whenever a user of the smartphone needs to see certain security information (such as a payment card PIN used for making payments at a POS terminal or for withdrawing money at an ATM terminal), the user unlocks the encrypted database by entering (for example, via a touch screen) the corresponding master password and selects the desired security information. In this case, as described above, the information is displayed on the security screen portion. This information can therefore only be seen by the user of the smartphone (looking at the screen at the assumed reading distance) but not by any other observer looking at the screen from a different reading distance.

[0048] The solution according to an embodiment of the present invention substantially reduces the risk of interception of security information.

[0049] This is particularly useful whenever a corresponding device is used in a public place (e.g. when a credit card is used in a store or when a PIN is read from a smartphone at a POS / ATM terminal, etc.). Indeed, the solution according to the embodiments of the present disclosure allows the user to read the security information by actually holding the device (in the described examples, the credit card or smartphone). However, this is not possible (or at least very difficult) in other conditions (e.g. by a person in close proximity to the user or by a remote camera, etc.). This significantly reduces the risk that the security information can be stolen and subsequently used fraudulently (e.g. for making payments / withdrawals, etc.).

[0050] In a particular implementation of the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the security code 140 is composed of multiple components (i.e., the three digits are the whole image D i , they can be viewed successively by changing the relative position of the credit card 100 to the cardholder 205 (e.g., by moving the credit card 100). i and partial image MDb i are the corresponding viewing angles Va with corresponding common values i and viewing angle Vb i (opposite to each other in the illustrated example). Thus, in the conditions shown in the figure, the cardholder 205 can only see the full image D1, and cannot see the partial images MDa2-MDb2, MDa3-MDb3 of the other full images D2-D3 (because he is looking at the back surface 110r from a different direction than his viewing angles Va2-Va3).

[0051] 2B, the cardholder 205 slightly moves the credit card 100 to another position (e.g., a second position) by rotating and / or translating the credit card 100 with respect to the back surface 110r until the eye 210a sees the partial image MDa2 from a corresponding viewing angle Va2 and the eye 210b sees the partial image MDb2 from a corresponding viewing angle Vb2. As a result, the eye 210a sees only the partial image MDa2 and the eye 210b sees only the partial image MDb2. As described above, the visual system 215 of the cardholder 205 fuses the partial image MDa2 with the partial image MDb2 to reconstruct the corresponding full image D2 and then allows the digit to be read.

[0052] 2C, the cardholder 205 further slightly moves the credit card 100 to another position (e.g., a third position) by rotating and / or translating the credit card 100 with respect to the back surface 110r until the eye 210a sees the partial image MDa3 from a corresponding viewing angle Va3 and the eye 210b sees the partial image MDb3 from a corresponding viewing angle Vb3. As a result, the eye 210a sees only the partial image MDa3 and the eye 210b sees only the partial image MDb3. As described above, the visual system 215 of the cardholder 205 fuses the partial images MDa3 and MDb3 to reconstruct the corresponding full image D3 and then allows the digits to be read.

[0053] As a result, only a portion of the security code (or, more generally, any other security information) can be seen at any one time. This adds an extra layer of security, since it is very difficult (if not impossible) to see the entire security information at the same time.

[0054] Referring now to FIG. 3, an exemplary application of the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0055] In particular, the figure shows a full image of the common security code 140 ("947" in the example shown). iIn a particular implementation of the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, each full image D i represents the corresponding digit (in this case "9" for full image D1, "4" for full image D2, and "7" for full image D3) plus the corresponding progress element 305 (not shown in the figure, but which similarly contributes to the definition of the corresponding partial image). i Includes Progress Element 305 i provides an indication of the progress of the display of the digits of the security code 140 if this occurs continuously (by changing the relative position of the credit card 100 with respect to the cardholder, not shown in the figure). i There is a marker 315 inside it. i Bars 310 (e.g., dark rectangles) i Includes 315 markers i All images in security code 140 D i According to the position of the digits of bar 310 i moving from left to right along the bar 3101 at marker 3151 at the left end of bar 3101, at marker 3152 in the middle of bar 3102, and at marker 3153 at the right end of bar 3103. This makes it much easier to read the digits of the security code 140 in the correct order.

[0056] Referring now to FIG. 4, a schematic representation of an implementation of the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0057] In this case, the security code 140 is provided by lenticular printing on the back 110r of the credit card 100. A lenticular lens 405 covers the security code 140.

[0058] More specifically, each full image of security code 140 D i The image (only one of which is shown in the figure) is divided into relatively small strips (e.g., pixel columns), for example with a pitch of 2 to 10 strips per mm. Then, the entire image D icontains alternating odd and even strips, and together forms the coded image Da i and the encoded image Db i In order to compensate for the compression effect applied by the lenticular lens 405 (e.g., lenticular lens distortion), the encoded image Da i -Db i This provides corresponding alternating (warped) odd and even strips, which together form the partial image MDa i and partial image MDb i Then, the partial image MDa i -MDb i is printed on the rear surface 110r (by a lithography offset printing process with a high resolution, for example, on the order of 5-20 μm).

[0059] Each lenticular lens 405 is designed to reveal a different portion of the image beneath it when viewed from a slightly different viewing angle. In this particular case, the sub-images MDa i Strip or partial image of MDb i Each lenticular lens 405 represents a partial image MDa, as shown in FIG. i -MDb i For example, the lenticular lenses 405 may be comprised of a substrate of a plastic material (such as PETG, PMMA, or PS) that is shaped to form a series of partial cylindrical elements that define the lenticular lenses 405. This implementation may be cost effective as it simply requires adding a layer of lenticular lenses 405 (a purely passive component) to the credit card 100.

[0060] Referring now to FIG. 5, a functional representation of this implementation detail of the solution according to this embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0061] This figure shows the corresponding partial image MDai and MDb i The lenticular lens 405 covers the entire viewing angle (cone) V i It has a full viewing angle V i is defined by a range of values, outside which nothing is visible through the lenticular lens 405. i is the viewing angle Va i (Inside, the partial image MDa i can be seen) and the viewing angle Vb i (Inside, the partial image MDa i If the lenticular lens 405 is symmetrical with respect to the normal 220 to the back surface 110f of the credit card 100, the viewing angle Va i and Vb i Similarly, the viewing angle Va is symmetric with respect to the normal 220. i and Vb i has the same range of absolute values, equal to 0 to 17°, preferably 0 to 15°, more preferably 0 to 12°, for example 0 to 10°, relative to the normal 220. i When the lenticular lens 405 is viewed from a more inward direction, as indicated by reference numeral 505a in the figure, the viewer sees a partial image MDa i On the other hand, the observer sees a field of view Vb i When the lenticular lens 405 is viewed from a more inward direction, as shown by reference numeral 505b in the figure, the viewer sees the partial image MDb i You will see the following.

[0062] Referring now to FIG. 6, a schematic representation of a further implementation of the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0063] In this case, the anaglyph technique is applied. More specifically, the partial image MDa i and partial image MDb i are provided in different colors, which are usually chromatically opposite to each other, such as red and cyan. i -MDai is viewed with anaglyph glasses 605. The anaglyph glasses 605 have a left lens 610a that causes corresponding eye 210a to perceive red to cyan gradations as light to dark gradations, and conversely, the anaglyph glasses 605 have a right lens 610b that causes corresponding eye 210b to perceive cyan to red gradations as light to dark gradations. Thus, the (left) lens 610a and the (right) lens 610b filter out areas of the opponent colors (cyan and red, respectively), so that eye 210a sees partial image MDa i Only the eye 210b sees the partial image MDb i As described above, the visual system 215 of the cardholder 205 sees only the partial image MDa i and partial image MDb i and fuse them into the corresponding full image D i , and then allows it to be read. This implementation further improves security.

[0064] Of course, those skilled in the art may make many logical and / or physical modifications and alterations to the present disclosure to meet local and specific requirements. More specifically, although the present disclosure has been described with a certain degree of specificity with reference to one or more embodiments thereof, it should be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in form and details, as well as in other embodiments, are possible. In particular, different embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without specific details (such as numerical values) set forth in the above description to provide a more complete understanding thereof, and conversely, well-known features may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the description with unnecessary details. Furthermore, it is expressly intended that specific elements and / or method steps described in connection with any embodiment of the present disclosure may be incorporated into any other embodiment as a general design choice. Moreover, items presented in the same group and different embodiments, examples, or alternatives are not to be construed as being equivalent to each other in nature (although they are separate and autonomous entities). In each case, each numerical value should be read modified according to the applicable tolerance, and in particular, unless otherwise indicated, terms such as "substantially," "about," "approximately," and the like should be understood to mean within 10%, preferably within 5%, and more preferably within 1%. Moreover, each numerical range should be intended as explicitly specifying any possible numerical value along a continuum within the range (including its endpoints). Ordinal numbers or other modifiers are used merely as labels to distinguish between elements having the same name and do not in themselves imply a priority, precedence, or order.Words such as "include," "comprise," "have," "contain," and "involve" are intended in an open, non-exhaustive sense (i.e., not limited to the listed items); words such as "based on," "dependent on," "according to," and "function of" are intended as non-exhaustive relationships (i.e., additional variables may be involved); the term "a / an" is intended to refer to one or more items (unless expressly indicated otherwise); and "means for" (or any means-plus-function form) is intended to refer to any structure adapted or configured to perform the relevant function.

[0065] For example, one embodiment provides a device for displaying security information, although the device may be of any type (e.g., passive devices such as payment cards, active devices such as plastic cards with multiple second level passwords, etc., smartphones, tablets, etc.) for displaying any security information (e.g., security codes, card numbers, cardholder names, expiration dates, PINs, passwords, etc.).

[0066] In one embodiment, the security information is used by a user of the device to obtain one or more services, however many and of any type (e.g., electronic payment, payment at a POS terminal, withdrawal at an ATM terminal, access to a UserID, access to a protected site, etc.).

[0067] In one embodiment, the device comprises a display surface, although this display surface may be of any type (e.g. a surface such as a physical support, a screen, a panel, etc.).

[0068] In one embodiment, the display surface is configured to display corresponding first and second images based on a division of a representation of one or more components of the security information, although those components may be of any number and type (e.g., characters, symbols, words, graphic symbols, etc.), and further, each pair of first / second images may be based on a division of the representation of the corresponding components in any manner (e.g., obtained by dividing into strips, blocks, tiles, etc. and applying any number and types of processing, up to and including nothing, to the portions so obtained, etc.).

[0069] In one embodiment, the first and second images are viewable from corresponding first and second viewing angles, respectively, relative to the display surface, although the first / second viewing angles may be defined in any range, including down to a single value, and furthermore, this result may be achieved in any manner (e.g., lenticular lenses, parallax barriers, stereoscopic displays, holographic displays, etc.).

[0070] In one embodiment, the first and second images of each of the components are fused into a representation of that component by the user's visual system viewing the display surface at a reading distance where a first eye of the user views the first image from a corresponding first viewing angle and a second eye of the user views the second image from a corresponding second viewing angle, although this "reading distance" may have a range including down to a single value.

[0071] Further embodiments provide additional advantageous features, which may be omitted altogether in the basic implementation.

[0072] In one embodiment, the display surface is configured to display corresponding first and second images based on a division of the representation of multiple components, although treating the entire security information as a single component is not excluded.

[0073] In one embodiment, the first and second images of the components are successively fused into representations of the corresponding components by the user's visual system in response to changes in the relative position of the device with respect to the user, such that the user successively views the display surface with the first and second eyes from corresponding first and second viewing angles, respectively, although this relative position may be altered in any manner (e.g., by moving the device, the user, or both, rotating about any axis, translating along any direction, combinations thereof, etc.).

[0074] In one embodiment, the first image and the second image are respectively viewable from corresponding first and second viewing angles, which are a common first viewing angle and a common second viewing angle, respectively, although the common first / second viewing angles may be of any type (e.g., symmetric with the same absolute value, asymmetric with different absolute values, etc.), and in any case, it is not excluded that the first / second viewing angles may differ between the components.

[0075] In one embodiment, the components are provided with corresponding progress elements that provide an indication of the progress of the display of the component in response to said changes in relative position, although this progress element may be of any type up to none (e.g., graphical elements such as moving markers, length adjustment bars, alphanumeric elements such as progressive numbers, consecutive letters, etc.).

[0076] In one embodiment, the first and second images of each component may not reveal the component, although the first / second images may not reveal the component completely but may only hinder its recognition etc. Furthermore, it is not excluded that a component (or part of it) may be envisaged from its first or second image (e.g. the components are not visible together in their entirety).

[0077] In one embodiment, the display surface comprises a lenticular printing of the first and second images, although the lenticular printing may be of any type (e.g., dividing each component representation into any number and type of portions, leaving portions of the first / second images interleaved, grouping portions of the first / second images together, etc.) and may be provided in any manner (e.g., directly on the screen of a device, behind a layer of lenticular lenses, etc.).

[0078] In one embodiment, the display surface comprises a layer of lenticular lenses overlying the first and second images, although the lenticular lenses may be of any number (e.g., one for each pair of adjacent portions of the first / second images, one for each group of two or more pairs of adjacent portions of the first / second images, one for each component, etc.), of any shape (elongated, circular, etc.), and of any size, and further, the layer of lenticular lenses may be made of any material and provided in any manner (e.g., glued, laminated, etc.).

[0079] In one embodiment, the first and second images of each of the components are formed by distorting alternating strips of the representation of the components to compensate for lenticular lens distortion (e.g., lenticular lens distortion), although the strips may be of any number and width, and they may be distorted in any manner (e.g., to compensate for perspective, warping, zooming, etc.).

[0080] In one embodiment, the display surface comprises a first image and a second image in a first color and a second color, respectively, although the colors may be of any type (e.g., red / cyan, red / blue, red / green, etc.).

[0081] In one embodiment, the first image and the second image of each of the component devices are fused into a representation of the component by the user's visual system viewing the display surface with anaglyph glasses that filter out the second color for the first eye and the first color for the second eye, although the anaglyph glasses may be of any type (e.g., red sharp anaglyph glasses, anachrome filters, etc.).

[0082] In one embodiment, the components are the corresponding characters, although the characters may be of any type (numbers, letters, symbols, etc.).

[0083] In one embodiment, the first and second viewing angles of each of the components are spaced 50-80 mm apart at a reading distance of 150-350 mm, although any other definition of the viewing angles is possible and furthermore the possibility of referencing different values ​​to obtain the desired result is not excluded.

[0084] In one embodiment, the viewing angle is 5-12° relative to the normal to the display surface, although different values ​​of the viewing angle are not excluded (e.g. for use by visually impaired people).

[0085] In one embodiment, the device is a card having a display surface, although the card may have any shape, size, and material, and the display surface may be any of them (e.g., back, front, etc.).

[0086] In one embodiment, the device is a payment card, although the payment card may be of any type (e.g., credit card, debit card, rechargeable card, etc.).

[0087] In one embodiment, the security information includes a payment card security code, although this security code may be of any type (e.g., having any length, format, etc.).

[0088] In general, similar considerations apply when devices have different structures or comprise equivalent components or have other operational characteristics. In any case, each of the components may be separated into more elements, or two or more components may be combined into a single element, and further, each element may be replicated to support parallel execution of corresponding operations. Moreover, unless otherwise indicated, interactions between different components generally need not be sequential, but may be either direct or indirect through one or more intermediaries.

[0089] An embodiment provides a method for displaying security information. In an embodiment, the security information is for use by a user to obtain one or more services. In an embodiment, the method includes providing a device to a user. In an embodiment, the device includes a display surface. In an embodiment, the display surface is configured to display corresponding first and second images based on a segmentation of a representation of one or more components of the security information. In an embodiment, the first and second images are visible from corresponding first and second viewing angles, respectively, relative to the display surface. In an embodiment, the method includes the user viewing the display surface at a reading distance where a first eye of the user views the first image from a corresponding first viewing angle and a second eye of the user views the second image from a corresponding second viewing angle. In an embodiment, this causes the user's visual system to fuse the first and second images of each of the component devices into a representation of the component. However, the same considerations noted above with respect to the device also apply to the corresponding steps of the method.

[0090] Further embodiments provide additional advantageous features, which may be omitted altogether in the basic implementation.

[0091] In one embodiment, the method includes using security information by a user to obtain one or more services, although this security information may be used in any manner (e.g., entered into a web page, a POS terminal, an ATM terminal, etc.), and in any case does not exclude the possibility of displaying the security information for different purposes (e.g., storage, authentication, etc.).

[0092] In general, if the same solution is implemented in an equivalent manner (by using more steps or similar steps having the same functionality of a portion thereof, by removing some non-essential steps, or by adding further optional steps), similar considerations apply, and furthermore, steps may be performed in a different order, simultaneously, or alternating (at least partially).

Claims

1. 1. A security device comprising: A display surface; and security information integrated with the display surface, the security information including at least one component having a first image and a second image, the first image and the second image associated with dividing a representation of the at least one component, the first image being visible from a first viewing angle relative to the display surface and the second image being visible from a second viewing angle relative to the display surface, the first image and the second image being configured to be fused into the representation of the at least one component by a user's visual system in response to the user viewing the first image from the first viewing angle and the second image from the second viewing angle.

2. 2. The security device of claim 1, wherein the security information further includes a plurality of components having corresponding first and second images associated with dividing the representation of the plurality of components, the corresponding first images being visible from a corresponding first viewing angle relative to the display surface and the corresponding second images being visible from a corresponding second viewing angle relative to the display surface, and the corresponding first and second images being continuously fused into the representation of the plurality of components by the visual system of the user in response to a change in a relative position of the security device with respect to a user viewing the display surface from the corresponding first and second viewing angles.

3. 3. The security device of claim 2, wherein the corresponding first viewing angle associated with the corresponding first image and the corresponding second viewing angle associated with the corresponding first image are opposite to one another relative to a normal to the display surface.

4. 4. The security device of claim 2 or 3, wherein said plurality of components further includes a corresponding progress element that provides an indication of the progress of a display of said plurality of components in response to changing the relative position of said security device with respect to said user.

5. 5. A security device as described in any preceding claim, wherein the first image associated with the at least one component cannot reveal the representation of the at least one component without the second image associated with the at least one component.

6. 6. A security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the security information integrated with the display surface further comprises lenticular printing of the first image and the second image.

7. 7. The security device of claim 6, wherein the viewing surface further comprises a layer of a lenticular lens covering the first image and the second image.

8. 8. The security device of claim 7, wherein the first and second images of the at least one component further comprise a plurality of alternating pixel columns, and the first and second images of the at least one component include a compression effect to compensate for lenticular lens distortion.

9. 9. A security device as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first image comprises a first color and the second image comprises a second color, and the first image and the second image are fused into the representation of the at least one component by the visual system of the user viewing the display surface with a pair of anaglyph glasses configured to filter out the second color for a first eye of the user and to filter out the first color for a second eye of the user.

10. 10. The security device of claim 1, wherein the at least one component is selected from the group consisting of characters, symbols, words, and graphic symbols.

11. 11. A security device according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second field of view angles associated with the at least one component are spaced apart by 50-80 mm at a read distance of 150-350 mm.

12. 12. A security device according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second viewing angles associated with the at least one component are in the range of 5 to 12 degrees relative to a normal defined by the display surface.

13. 13. A security device according to any preceding claim, wherein the display surface corresponds to a surface of a card.

14. 14. A security device according to any preceding claim, wherein the card further comprises a payment card and the security information further comprises a security code of the payment card.

15. 1. A method for displaying security information to a user, comprising: providing to the user a security device, the security device comprising a display surface configured to display security information, the security information including at least one component having a representation split between a first image and a second image, the first image and the second image being viewable from a first viewing angle and a second viewing angle, respectively, relative to the display surface; and in response to the user viewing the display surface of the security device at a reading distance such that a first eye of the user views the first image from the first viewing angle and a second eye of the user views the second image from the second viewing angle, causing the user's visual system to fuse the first image and the second image into the representation of the at least one component.

16. the security information further includes a plurality of components having corresponding first images and corresponding second images associated with a division of the representation of the plurality of components, the corresponding first images being visible from a corresponding first viewing angle relative to the display surface, and the corresponding second images being visible from a corresponding second viewing angle relative to the display surface; 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising detecting that in response to the user changing a relative position of the security device to view the display surface from the corresponding first viewing angle and the corresponding second viewing angle, the corresponding first image and the corresponding second image are successively fused into the representation of the plurality of components by the visual system of the user.

17. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said plurality of components further includes a corresponding progress element that provides an indication of a progress of a display of said plurality of components in response to changing the relative position of said security device with respect to said user.

18. The method of any of claims 15 to 17, further comprising viewing the display surface of the security device at a reading distance of between 150 and 350 millimeters (mm).

19. 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising detecting only the representation of a first component of the plurality of components in response to the user viewing the display surface of the security device at a first location, wherein the user is unable to view the corresponding first image and the corresponding second image associated with other components of the plurality of components from the first location.

20. 20. The method of any of claims 15 to 19, wherein the at least one component is selected from the group consisting of characters, symbols, words, and graphic symbols.

Images